Albino Axolotl Size 5-6”

(We Suggest Overnight Shipping for Axolotl)

Axolotl are a friendly, interactive aquatic pet that will give you years of enjoyment if kept properly. Fortunately, they are relatively easy to care for once they are properly housed and fed.  Then you can share your photos of your happy, meme-worthy salamander with the world. 

Axolotl are related to the tiger salamander.  They are fully aquatic amphibians who keep their gills for their entire lives.  Axolotls were originally found in two lakes in Mexico City, one lake which was drained and another that only exists in the form of canals.  If not for their ability to regenerate their limbs and thus their value to science, the axolotl would not be in the pet trade due to their threatened status in the wild.  Their native lakes are at a high elevation and the temperature rarely rises above 68 degrees F.  It is important to remember this. The axolotl can live for over ten years and grow to be over a foot long. They are a commitment, so proper care and research are important to prepare for them.

If you decide to buy an axolotl, here is what you will need:

• 20-gallon long tank for a single adult, at least 10 additional gallons for each additional adult
• low flow filter
• a proper way to keep the temperate down (either a chiller or a cold room)

Setting up an axolotl tank is easier than most other aquatic pets.  They cannot be on gravel as they tend to accidently ingest it, so the tank should be either have a bare bottom or sand as substrate. Their temperatures must stay below 70 degrees F, or their immune system will be suppressed and they will be prone to fungal infections and other illnesses.  Axolotl are not fond of light, so a dim light is best for viewing.  A low flow filter helps keep these rather messy amphibians clean.  They do not like flow but need a decent amount of filtration due to their high waste production.  Weekly partial water changes are also important to keep the water clean.

Axolotl eat high protein diets.  There are many options for feeding.  When young, thawed frozen bloodworms are a staple.  As they reach adulthood, they may eat specially formulated axolotl pellets, live blackworms, or live reptile quality earthworms. Avoid using worms for fishing, as they are raised in an environment that increases the likelihood of parasites.

Five Fun Fact About Axelotls:

1. Axolotls are incredible healers! 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. 
2. Axolotls look like babies their whole life! They are neotenic creatures which means they achieve sexual maturity without ever losing any of their larval features. So, while many amphibians like the salamander will eventually live on land, the axolotls reach adulthood without ever undergoing metamorphosis, so they keep their feathery external gills and remain aquatic. 
3. Axolotls are carnivores! Because they are neotenic, their teeth never develop so they must rely on suction to consume food. When it comes to the diet of an axolotl, they do not require daily feeding but when they do eat, they’re not picky. They’ll feast on anything from worms and fish to crustaceans and insects. 
4. Axolotls come in all sorts of colors! The patterns and pigmentations vary but most often you will see pink, brown or black with specks of olive or gold. But something even cooler is that they can adjust their color to camouflage themselves with their surroundings. 
5. Axolotls have a mating dance! Once they reach about six months old, they begin to mate and the process involves them moving together in a circular, dance-like fashion. It’s only right when courting a lady to invite her to dance, first!