General description

Warning!

Axolotls are ILLEGAL to breed or own in Maine, New Jersey, and California. They are illegal to import or ship into New Mexico. You must have a permit to own axolotls or import them in Hawaii and Virginia.

COMMON NAME:Axolotl, Mexican axolotl, Mexican salamander, Mexican walking fish, Mexican water dragon

KINGDOM:Animalia

PHYLUM:Chordata

CLASS:Amphibia

ORDER:Caudata

Axolotls are wonderful and unique creatures, which is why scientists commonly use them in laboratory experiments and hobbyists can't get enough of them!

These amazing amphibians can regenerate their limbs and even internal organs to an extent(not their heads, obviously)!

In the wild, this species of salamander is practically extinct, their numbers so low that they haven't even been seen in years. Axolotls as a species are primarily kept from extinction by hobbyists and Caudate enthusiasts world 'round.

Unfortunately, this means that nearly all captive pet/hobby Axolotls are inbred to some extent, much like Chinese Crested dogs. Unlike the canines, however, it is necessary to allow continued breeding(with far extended relatives and any fresh strains available) to preserve this amazing species. DO NOT mate known relatives as this weakens the gene pool and causes birth defects, shorter life spans, and health complications in the new generation.

Some laboratories possess pure, genetically unaltered gene pools, which they are attempting to reintroduce to the wild.

Captive Axolotls SHOULD NOT be placed in the wild, as genetic mutations occurring due to captive breeding/housing conditions make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to survive in a wild setting.

This website is dedicated to learning and teaching about these amazing creatures as well as providing information to help interested buyers find breeders.

Axolotls should not be confused with waterdogs, which are the larval stage of the closely related tiger salamanders (A. tigrinum and A. mavortium).

Neither should they be confused with mudpuppies(Necturus spp.), which are also fully aquatic salamanders that are barely related to the axolotl but bear a superficial resemblance.

A brief history of the Axolotl

As of 2010, wild axolotls were near extinction due to urbanization in Mexico City and consequent water pollution, as well as the introduction of invasive fish species such as tilapia and perch. They are currently listed by CITES as an endangered species and by IUCN as critically endangered in the wild, with a decreasing population. Axolotls were also reportedly sold as food in Mexican markets.

Surveys performed in 1998, 2003 and 2008 found 6,000, 1,000 and 100 axolotls(respectively) per square kilometer in the Lake Xochimilco, Mexico habitat. A four-month-long search in 2013, however, turned up no surviving individuals in the wild. One month later, two wild Axies were spotted in a network of canals leading from Xochimilco. The city is currently working on conserving axolotls by building "axolotl shelters" and applying restrictions concerning remaining and potential habitats for the neotenal salamanders.

In their native habitat axolotls are opportunistic ambush predators who eat a large variety of creatures, but in captivity many hobbyists forget or do not realize this fact. Some things a wild axolotl would eat may be less than optimal for their digestion, so axolotl keepers tend to restrict or even fully avoid these foods. However, in order to fully understand the species, we need to know what they would eat and how they would act in the wild.

A wild axolotl would consume the following;

- Zooplankton and Microorganisms such as euglena, paramecium, infusoria, baby daphnia, baby scuds, seed shrimp, cyclops, and other similar detritovores during the larval stage.

- Insect larvae such as mosquito and water beetle, dragonfly nymphs, water-breeding fly maggots, etc.

- Adult insects that fall into the water

- Aquatic worms and non-carnivorous leeches

- Chepultepic splitfin live bearing fish, both fry and adults.

- Acocil crayfish

- Terrestrial worms and slugs which end up in the water

- Tadpoles and small frogs

- Other salamander larvae

Many axolotl owners will warn others about feeding animals containing chitin to the axolotls. However, as you can see by this list, a wild axolotl would naturally consume this polymer. Chitin is similar to cellulose. Humans can not actually digest cellulose so it passes through our digestive tract and is commonly referred to as "fiber". It helps to keep your bowels clean. Chitin works the same way in axolotls and other similar caudates; it helps them pass their waste. In conclusion, a small amount of chitin is a good thing for your axolotl. A ghost shrimp, small cricket, or grub once in awhile helps to keep your axolotl from being constipated.

A varied diet is best for an axolotl, just like most other creatures.

The optimal diet would therefore include;

- Earthworms as the staple

- Ghost shrimp or other small varieties

- Soft bodied Insect larvae and certain grubs(without pincers)

- Young, small livebearers

- Grub pies

- Sinking carnivore pellets

To add further credit to this information, please feel free to verify by checking this article from Strohl's Herpetiles https://www.facebook.com/649407758493069/posts/4221997784567364/

Physical Characteristics and traits

A adult axolotl reaches sexual maturity between 18–24 months of age and ranges in length from 6–18 inches, although a size close to 9 inches is most common and greater than 12 in is extremely rare. Axolotls have been known to live past 20 years, but it is unusual to find a captive individual older than 10 years.

Axolotls possess features typical of salamander larvae, including external gills and a caudal fin( hence the discription of Caudate) extending from behind the head to the vent.

Their heads are wide and eyes are lidless. Their limbs possess long, thin digits.

Males are identified by their swollen cloacae lined with papillae, while females are noticeable for their rounder bodies full of eggs, and generally shorter tails compared to their body size.

Three pairs of external gill stalks(rami) originate behind their heads and are used to move oxygenated water. The external gill rami are lined with fimbriae to increase surface area for gas exchange. Four gill slits lined with gill rakers are hidden beneath the external gills.

Axolotls have barely visible teeth, which they use to grasp and pull food into their mouths. The primary method of feeding is by suction, during which their rakers interlock to close the gill slits.  Axies may lunge at your finger in a predatory manner, but do not be alarmed. The teeth are so small that they will not hurt you or punture your skin and their jaws are not meant for forceful biting or tearing.

External gills are used for respiration, although buccal pumping may also be used to provide oxygen to their lungs. When an Axolotl is unhealthy, the gill stalks will lose the frills and appear thinner and paler. You may notice an unhealthy Axie, or one in a dirty tank, swimming to the surface and gulping air more frequently. This is a sign that the tank most likely needs to be cleaned, although there are more causes for this behavior. Some Axies possess longer than normal gill stalk and are often termed "ridiculously long gilled," or RLG Axies.

Axolotls have fourteen pairs of chromosomes totalling 28 individuals. The chromosome is built from many units of DNA called genes. 

When an axolotl reproduces, the sperm from the male (which contains 14 chromosomes) and the egg from the female (which also contains 14 chromosomes) fuse to form the zygote, the first cell of the new axolotl. So every cell of this new animal has 28 chromosomes. However, these chromosomes paired in each larva are completely random and cross over in unpredictable ways. Not only that, but each set of genes from the parent also includes genes from their parents in a random assortment. One larva from a given clutch may have 4 chromosomes from the paternal side and all the rest from the maternal side or any combination you could posit. This means that out of a 500 egg clutch, each one is completely individual and unique from all of its siblings and it's parents.

 This is the essence of genetic variation. An animal's genotype is what its genes "say" it is, while its phenotype is the expression of the gene.

Axolotls have four pigment cells called chromatophores, which, when combined or mutated create different color variants. These cells are melanophores (containing eumelanin-black/brown pigment), xanthophores (containing carotenoids and pteridines- yellow and red pigments) and iridophores (containing crystalised purines- shiny, sparkly, iridescent spots).

The normal wild type Axie is closest to their natural coloring, being brown/tan with gold speckles(iridophores), an olive undertone, and possessing a gold eye ring.

The four primary mutant colors are;

leucistic- pinkish coloration with a gold eye ring,

albino- lacking melanin without eye ring

axanthic- light greyish color lacking xanthaphores, without eye ring

melanoid-dark grey, brown, or black lacking iridophores, no eye ring

In addition, there is wide individual variability in the size, frequency, and intensity of the gold speckling and at least one variant that develops a black and white piebald appearance on reaching maturity. Individuals possessing high amounts of iridophores are given descriptive titles along with their morphs. These include;

Sunburst- A high iridophore golden or copper axolotl (showing gold flecks in high amounts throughout the body from head to legs and tail).

Moonburst- A high iridophore Melanoid

Starburst- A high iridophore Wild-type

Further color variations include, but are not limited to;

GFP,

Golden albino,

Leucistic albino,

Melanoid albino,

Non-albino Golden,

copper,

Melanoid copper,

Melanoid axanthic copper,

Lavender melanoid,

Heavily marked (or black) melanoid,

Dirty leucistic,

Blue gilled leucistic

Black gilled leucistic,

High white (or Dalmatian) axanthic,

High Green/olive Wild type

Leopard wild type,

Mottled Mosaic,

Split Mosaic,

Low expression Mosaic,

Chimera,

Enigma,

Some Axolotls also have limited ability to alter their color to provide better camouflage by changing the relative size and thickness of their melanophores. An example of this is dirty leucistics. On a dark substrate with a dark background, they will remain spotted and may even become darker over time. On a light substrate they may lose their spots partially or even completely over time.

Axolotl keepers come in three varieties; "Purists," "Naturalists," and "Nominalists."

Let me explain;

A Purist is the closest you can get to being a scientist with out having the lab coat and degree. A Purist will faithfully check the ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels daily and make sure his Axie is fed exactly 2/3 of a garden worm, one blackworm and two white worms(not exact numbers) per day. Their 'Lotls are kept in a perfect 70/30 solution of R.O. water and Helferter's solution(again, not fact, simply example). This person keeps up to date on all the current events and newly published papers regarding Cuadates.

A Naturalist is all the way on the opposite end of the scale, a complete parallel to the purist. Naturalist Axie keepers let nature do its thing. They are content to fill their Axie tank with hose water, check for slime and excrement build-up every day or so and feed Lucy the 'Lotl the first worm to surface in the bait tub.

Nominalists are a good combo of the afore mentioned keepers. They learn from both other sides and apply bits of knowledge from each of them according to what they believe will work best for themselves and their little buddies.

Some people feel that Naturalist Axie keepers are irrisponsible with their little friends but the same could be said of a pet owner who allows his male mutt canine to breed with his purebred standard Poodle dog. If you care about your Axolotls you will do what it takes to keep them content and in good health regardless of your philosophy on how to raise them.