aloxyl FAQ

If an axolotl is not living in someone’s home or in an aquarium, they are lentic creatures – meaning living in still-water lakes. But not just any lake. Axolotls live in two lakes – Mexico’s Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco.

With their signature baby-like face, axolotls look a bit like a cross between a lizard and a frog. They have a few feathery gills on the sides of their head for breathing that give them their unique look. Adults have lungs but use their gills to breathe underwater. Baby axolotls aren’t born with legs but develop them a few weeks into their lives. Axolotls can grow up to a foot long but normally grow to about 9 inches. Their large heads and flat bodies have feathery, wavy gills. Axolotls have wide mouths that bend slightly into a grin and small round beady eyes. They weigh about as much as a can of soup. If needed, they can move as fast as 10 miles per hour. Axolotl colors Most axolotls are black or dark greenish brown, but some can have white skin with pink or red gills. Sometimes they have silvery highlights on their skin. Axolotls come in several color varieties, including:

You can keep them as pets, but unlike dogs or cats, most amphibians aren’t good for cuddling. Keep this in mind as you consider an axolotl as a pet. You’ll need to spend time (and money) on keeping their tank clean and water quality to a certain level. They also are illegal in some states, so also check before you decide to get one.

They may be small, but axolotls can live up to 15 years. Axolotl life cycle At 1 year of age, axolotls are ready to make some babies. Females can lay between 300 and 1,000 eggs. The mating season is between March and June when water temps are stable. Males and females mate in a twirling and circular motion until the male drops a cone-shaped “sperm cap.” Mama collects the cap, lays her eggs on rocks in a place that’s safe from predators, and two weeks later, baby axolotls are hatched. They swim off on their own.

Unfortunately, axolotls are endangered due to pollution, destruction of their habitat, and the growth of human populations around them. Scientists are working to protect these fragile species by building shelters in Mexico with rocks and plants to help filter and clean the water around them. The goal is to help them breed and survive.

On their own in the wild, axolotls are carnivores (meat eaters) and night hunters. When most of the world is asleep, they munch on worms, insects, mollusks, and small fish. They have small, tender, undeveloped teeth, so they eat by sucking their food. Axolotls even suck up some gravel, which helps grind their food. Their mouths may stay open for a few moments after eating, making them look like they’re smiling. A young axolotl can eat once a day, while an adult may only eat three or four times a week. Without enough food around, axolotls may bite off each other – an arm here, a leg there. But that’s what they eat. What eats them? Thankfully, axolotls don’t have as many predators as you might expect despite their tiny size. They must watch out for birds like herons or large fish like tilapia or carp. But their biggest danger is pollution of freshwater.