Axolotl Tea Bath : Is Tea Bath Safe For Axolotl? 7 Cool Facts

Upon realizing that your axolotl has a skin problem, you may contemplate giving him a tea bath. The same may apply if your axolotl has fungus or some sort of skin injury. In this sort of situation, you may have questions like whether the tea baths are actually effective, what the right way to give the tea bath is and whether the tea baths are safe.

What purpose does an axolotl tea bath serve? Well, in axolotls, tea baths are mainly used to treat minor skin problems. Another area where tea baths are used is in the treatment of fungal problems in axolotls. But when it comes to the fungal problems, salt baths tend to be better.

Tea is rich in compounds known as tannins. These have some antibacterial and antifungal properties. So it is the antibacterial and antifungal properties we seek to tap into, when we give our Axolotls tea baths.

Is tea bath safe for axolotls? how often can you do to tea baths for axolotls? Read on, to find answers to all those and other related questions.

How Do You Give An Axolotl A Tea Bath?

The first step in giving an axolotl tea bath is that of obtaining pure (100%) black tea. It needs to be pure in the sense that it has no other flavoring or aromas. The emphasis is on giving an axolotl black tea bath, because black tea is richest in tannins.

The next step is to brew the tea with which you are to give the axolotl tea bath. Ideally, you need to brew the tea for 10 to 15 minutes. The objective is to get the tannins to dissolve in the water fully. The alternative is to first boil the water. Then introduce the black tea bag into the water, and let the tea bag remain there for 10 to 15 minutes.

Thereafter, you need to put the brewed tea into the container where you are to give the axolotl a tea bath. Allow the water to cool down to room temperature. Then introduce the axolotl into it. Let the axolotl remain there for 10 to 15 minutes. Then remove him, and take him back to the quarantine tank (where he should be, if he is sick).

Repeat the tea bath, ideally on a daily basis, for two to three days, until the axie gets better. So that is basically how to give axolotl tea bath.

There is another set of axolotl tea bath instructions, in which, after brewing and cooling the tea, you put it into the axolotl’s tank (one mug per 10 liters of axolotl tank water). Because in this case there is less tea concentration, it becomes possible for the axolotl to remain in the water where tea has been introduced for longer. That is till the next water change (which should be the next day).

Are Tea Baths Good For Axolotls?

Tea baths are good for axolotls inasmuch as they can help in healing minor skin problems in the axolotls. For instance, if you have an axolotl slime coat peeling, a tea bath may be helpful. Similarly, a tea bath can be an effective axolotl ammonia burn treatment. We also have those who recommend tea bath for axolotl fungus.

Still, it is important to point out that tea baths are not a panacea for all axolotl health problems. Indeed, the tea baths are only indicated for the treatment of minor skin problems in axolotls.

For other types of problems, tea baths may not be much good. Even when it comes to skin problems, and they seem to be serious, it may be better to take the axolotl to an exotic pets vet. This may be better than experimenting with tea baths and other similar remedies.

All in all, given the fact that tea baths do solve some problems in axies, and they are quite safe, then we can assert that they are good for axolotls.

How Long Can Axolotls Be In A Tea Bath?

One question that tends to arise in discussions on how to give an axolotl a tea bath is on how long an axie can be in a tea bath. Indeed, any set of instructions on how to do a tea bath for axolotl would be incomplete, if it doesn’t touch on how long the axie should be in the tea bath.

As it turns out, if the tea bath is taking place in a small container (with high tea concentration), the axie should be there for only 10 to 15 minutes. If you leave him there for too long, you will be running the risk of shrinking the axie’s gills. But if the tea concentration is low the axie can stay in the water containing it for longer. That is like where a cup of tea is diluted with 10 liters of water and put into the axolotl hospital tank. In this case, the axie can stay there till the next water change.

Even in the latter case, the water change should be daily.

In the final analysis, if you are giving an axolotl tea bath using a small container (as is typically the case), you should only allow the axie to remain in the tea for 10 to 15 minutes.

Are Tannins Good For Axolotl?

When you give an axolotl tea bath, you are mainly aiming to expose him to the tannins in the tea. The question that arises is as to whether tannins are good for axolotls. And the answer is yes, tannins are good for Axolotl.

Tannins have both antibacterial and antifungal properties. They can help solve quite a number of the minor skin problems axies face from time to time. For this reason, tannins are good for axolotls.

How Much Tea Does An Axolotl Need?

For a single bath, an axolotl may need two to three teabags. So you brew those for 10 to 15 minutes. Then you pour the tea into water in a container and allow the water to cool to room temperature.

Thereafter, introduce the axie into it and let the axie stay there for 10 to 15 minutes. So what you need, to make a mug of tea with which to give an axie a tea bath are two to three teabags. This has to be 100% pure black tea, without aroma.

Do Axolotls Like Tea?

Before proceeding to give an axolotl tea bath, you may find yourself wondering whether axies like tea in the first place. It is important to point out that we are making reference to tea for bathing purposes, not for drinking purposes!

The idea of giving axies tea to drink is out of question. When it comes to tea baths, axies may also not enjoy them. Indeed, tea baths seem to stress axolotls. But because the tea baths are beneficial to the axies, we just go ahead to give them.

Thus, most axolotls don’t seem to like tea (tea baths). Nonetheless, tea baths are beneficial to the axies – especially when it comes to treating their skin problems. This is why we go ahead to give the axies tea baths, in spite of them not always seeming to enjoy them.

What Kind Of Tea Should I Use For The Axolotl Tea Bath?

The tea that you use for axolotl tea bath needs to meet two conditions. Firstly, it needs to be black tea. Black tea is ideal because it is rich in tannins.

And, secondly, it needs to be 100% pure. So this is to say that it shouldn’t contain aroma/flavor substances. Some of those can be harmful to the axie. That is why 100% black tea is the only type of tea that is suitable for this use.

Is Fridging And Tea Bath The Solution For Fungus In Axolotls?

Well, fridging and tea baths can be effective at treating fungus in axolotls. We have seen axies with bad fungus (including axolotl fungus on gills) getting well after receiving fridging and tea bath treatments.

Besides fridging and tea bag bath for axolotl fungus, another viable option (for fungus treatment) is that of giving a salt bath. Once you learn how to give axolotl salt bath, this should be fairly easy. Ultimately, if you combine axolotl fungus tea bath with an axolotl salt bath as well as fridging treatment, chances are that you will end up solving the fungus problem once and for all.

Fridging can, admittedly, look as if it is an inhumane treatment. That is because it entails aspects like tubbing an axolotl, which can feel bad. But you have to remember that it is something you are doing for the axie’s benefit.

The alternative to it may be to let the fungal infection continue to get worse, and possibly kill the axie… When you think of the fridging treatment this way, you see that it is really not so inhumane.

Can Tea Baths Make Axolotl Stressed?

While contemplating giving an axolotl tea bath, one concern you are likely to have is on whether it will make the axie stressed. So, can tea baths make axolotl stressed? The answer, unfortunately, is ‘yes’. This is why, for instance, after the bath, you may notice the axolotl arched back condition: which is a classic sign of stress in axies.

Axies are creatures that prefer a sedate pace of life, without any upheavals. The logistics of getting the axie from his tank to the container where you are carrying out the tea bath, and then from that container back to his tank, can stress him a bit. Therefore, it is good to avoid giving axolotl tea bath unless it is really necessary.

Where necessary though, you should view the little stress the axie suffers as a small price to pay. That is, a small price to pay for the relief from skin conditions he is likely to get thereafter.

There are measures you can take, in the course of the tea bath, to minimize the axolotl’s distress. For instance, when it comes to getting the axie from his tank to the container where you are giving the tea bath, you need to be gentle.

Similarly, when returning the axie to his tank, you need to be very gentle. You also need to remember that axolotls can be very slippery, and ensure that you don’t drop (and hurt) the axie in the course of giving a tea bath.  

Is Tea Bath For Baby Axolotl Safe?

Much depends on how old the ‘baby’ axie is. If the axolotl is too young, a tea bath may be too distressing, and therefore unsafe. But then again, if the baby axie has a skin condition, and tea bath is the only treatment available, the cost-benefit analysis may be in favor of the tea bath nonetheless.

It is definitely better than letting the skin condition get worse. At least, this is the line of reasoning you are likely to get, if you go through a typical tea bath axolotl Reddit thread.

Final Verdict – Axolotl Tea Bath

As we have seen, an axolotl tea bath can be useful in the treatment of minor skin problems. The most important thing in giving a tea bath to an axolotl is to ensure that you use the right type of tea (which is 100% black tea).

Further, ensure that you don’t subject the axie to temperatures that are too high in the name of giving a tea bath. And see to it that the axie doesn’t remain in the tea for too long.

Where the skin problem doesn’t resolve after several tea baths, it may be time to consider having your axie reviewed by an exotic pets vet.

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️