The axolotl is lentic, meaning it inhabits still-water lakes. They occur in only two: Mexico's Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco, where they are Critically Endangered due to pollution, habitat degradation, and water diversion from an ever-growing human population.
The axolotl is native only to Lake Xochimilco in the Valley of Mexico, as well as the canals and waterways of Mexico City. Because they're neotenic, their habitat reflects this: a high-altitude body of water. This is unique to axolotls, with other salamanders having a much wider distribution.
The best axolotl food is a combination of earthworms, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia (a small aquatic crustacean). They also seem to enjoy lean pieces of beef and chicken. However, you should avoid the temptation to feed them too much live food, which may accidentally spread parasites and diseases.
Axolotls love having plants in their aquarium. They love to hide in them, move them, and even sit on top of them. It is best to use silk or live plants because they are soft, plastic aquarium plants can have rough edges that could tear your axolotl's fins.
While most amphibians grow out of their aquatic phase to begin their lives on land, the axolotl largely retains its larval characteristics and spends its adult life in the water.
Can axolotls live on land? No! Axolotls are strictly aquatic animals that spend their entire lives in water. They can, however, spend a short time outside of water because they can breathe air, but won't survive without water for long.
Humans can touch an Axolotl anytime. There is nothing on their skin that can hurt a human. Keep in mind that before you touch an Axolotl, make sure to wash and disinfect your hands. Try to avoid transferring any type of bacteria or contaminants from human skin to the Axolotl.
While axolotls are relatively hardy to slight fluctuations in their environment, they also have delicate, soft bodies with permeable skin. In fact, most of their body is made of cartilage rather than bone. That means they should not be handled unless absolutely necessary.
During the day, they burrow into the aquatic vegetation and mud to avoid being eaten, and at night they become animated…and hungry. While they use their gills to breathe underwater, they may pop up to the surface for a quick gulp of air from time to time.
Axolotls Look Like They Are Smiling
The adorable axolotl smile you see in pictures is actually what they look like after swallowing their food. When they go to eat something, they open their mouths wide, and then a bunch of water and food rushes in.
Their adorable, wide-grinned face and clumsy nature makes them one-of-a-kind. They don't take any special care and attention, but they are susceptible to stress, so being disciplined with your tank maintenance is a must.
Their poop has a thin sausage-like skin that contains the poop. It is often colored a dirt black or brown color, measures about an inch, and weighs about 0.04 ounces (1 gram).
Axolotls especially like rocks and caves. You can also utilize pieces of driftwood and plastic decorations to create some safe spaces. Live plants are always appreciated too. Axolotls do well with Anubias and Java fern.
One of the most distinctive features of a baby axolotl is their head shape. They have a wide, smiling mouth, and their eyes are positioned high on their head, which gives them an almost cartoon-like appearance.
Axolotls typically live 10-15 years in captivity, but they can live for over 20 years when they're well-cared for. The oldest axolotl is unknown but their age could surprise as they become more common pets as some salamander species have incredibly long lifespans (more on that below!)
Like all other animals, axolotls benefit from enriching environments. A plain tank isn't going to be good enough. They'll get bored and lethargic. Instead, add some plants and decorations that can mimic their natural environment.
It may be tempting to buy an axolotl and put them in an existing fish tank, but most other aquatic creatures can not cohabitate safely with axolotls. Axolotls will try to eat anything that will fit in their mouths—including other axolotls! Any smaller fish in the aquarium will become food sooner or later.
You can gauge whether an axolotl is stressed when it is not eating and when its gills are forward-curled. The best way to avoid this is by fitting a spray bar or flow-spreading outlet.
The two main signs of a stressed axolotl are gills curved forward, and a curled round tail tip. Especially among young axolotls, the gills can curve forward because the water flow is too strong.
Axolotls range from $20 for juveniles up to $35 for adults.
They are not social animals, and do not need to be kept with a friend. Axolotls kept in groups should have multiple hides and visual barriers. Even so, similarly sized axolotls may still cause trauma to their tank-mates.