More people want axolotls since the salamander was added to Minecraft The axolotl has captured hearts thanks to TikTok and the popular video game Minecraft. More and more people have been getting them as pets, which is impacting how they're bred and sold.
Children are pestering parents to get them axolotls for Christmas after a craze for the exotic amphibians as pets was sparked by virtual creatures on the Minecraft video game.
“They can be great pets, but they aren't great pets for everyone – and children need to know that they can't handle an axolotl as they're very delicate and they can get injured. They also need a very quiet home with a lot of space – children aren't known to be very quiet”, Dr Beattie correctly says.
Often pink in color with feathery external gills, axolotls are also popular in laboratories: Scientists love studying them because they can regrow limbs, spinal cords, and even portions of their brains. Roughly 1 million are under human care worldwide, according to some experts.
The axolotl can regenerate (replace) almost any part of its body. In the wild they are usually dark brown with black speckles (small marks). However, albino and other color mutants are common, especially in captive axolotls. Like other salamanders, axolotls begin life in water in a form called larvae.
As with other amphibians, the axolotl has a three-chambered heart.
Like lizards that can regrow their tails, axolotls can regrow multiple body parts including its limbs and internal organs such as the brain, lungs and even heart! This makes them one of the most resilient animals on earth. Axolotls look like babies their whole life!
Increasingly popular as pets thanks to their appearance in the Minecraft computer game, axolotls are Critically Endangered amphibians endemic to Mexico. Axolotls are sought after by scientists for their powers of regeneration, dished up as deep-fried delicacies and prized as pets.
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.
As legend has it, the axolotl is the Aztec god of fire and lightning, Xolotl, which disguised himself as a salamander to avoid being sacrificed. But these Mexican amphibians are impressive enough on their own, with the ability to regenerate lost limbs and stay “young” throughout their lives.
Baby axolotls are called larvae!
The easiest way is to look for an enlarged cloaca. Both males and female axolotls have a cloaca (genital area), but the cloacae of male axolotls are larger than those of females. Look just behind your axolotl's back legs, under its tale. If there is a definite, rounded bulge, your axolotl is a male!
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.
Axolotls are very curious and appear to recognize their owners as food providers. It is common for these salamanders to actively swim toward people outside their tank. They are surprisingly interactive, but should never be handled as being taken out of the water is extremely stressful.
Only certain strains of axolotls transform into terrestrial adults. Some can be caused to change by injecting thyroid hormones into the axolotl. Other strains never metamorphose, instead always reproducing as neotenic salamanders. The North American mudpuppy is similar in its development and reproduction.
Lifespan – 10-15 years.
Can you tame Axolotls in Minecraft? Not quite but can you get them to follow you. Arm yourself with a bucket of Tropical Fish when you are near one or more and they will stay by your side as you enter a battle even if it is on land - they do love their fish food.
There are only 50-1,000 axolotls left in the wild, though there are as many as 1 million in captivity worldwide.
Axolotls can survive out of water for around one hour, provided that the area is moist and damp. Axolotls are pretty demanding creatures when it comes to their right environment.
Axolotls Look Like They Are Smiling
It is common after they swallow their food for their mouth to be open in what looks like a smile for a few seconds. Also, some axolotls have slightly upturned mouths, which make it look like they are smiling all the time. This is normal, too!
Pink and light-colored axolotls are bred by humans as pets for their “pleasing” shades. They are also used in laboratories to study another superpower: regenerating their limbs, lungs, heart, jaws, spines, and even parts of their brain!
The leading causes of Axolotl decline are human development, waste water disposal, and loss of habitat due to droughts. Despite their prevalence in the aquarium trade, these species are critically endangered in the wild.
The axolotl is a freshwater salamander that spends its entire life underwater. This highly intelligent amphibian's behavior can range among individuals from social to solitary and active to dormant.
The most common animal predators of the axolotl are birds, including storks and herons. However, the introduction of large fish into the lakes and channels has meant the addition of this natural threat to his survival as well.