Where to Buy an Axolotl: A Complete Guide for the First

An axolotl is a type of salamander that has the ability to regrow lost limbs. The first ones were kept as pets but now, they can be found in zoos all over the world and are used for research into regenerative medicine. Here’s where you can find one near you!

The “where to get axolotls” is a question that has been asked before. The answer to this question is an article that provides a complete guide for the first person who wants to buy one.

Axolotls are unusual and adorable animals that, despite their exotic nature, may be kept as pets! If you want to possess an axolotl, though, you may be wondering where to start.

What Is The Best Place To Buy An Axolotl?

What is the best place to purchase an axolotl? Axolotls may be purchased from a breeder or an exotic pet vendor. Axolotls should never be purchased over the internet. To identify reliable retailers or breeders, speak with a veterinarian who specializes in exotic pets.

When you obtain an axolotl, there is a lot to look after, just like any other pet. The axolotl is a sophisticated organism that demands some unusual requirements in its care, from the housing it lives in to the food it eats.

Throughout the remainder of this piece, I’ll go through these requirements and more.

Where Can Axolotls Find the Best Living Conditions?

Axolotls are amphibious organisms that can breathe via both their gills and their lungs; nevertheless, they cannot live on land and must be submerged. This is owing to their cartilage-based bodies, which are pliable.

This makes them sensitive to objects that create abrasions on the skin, such as crawling on the ground, particularly at a young age.

Axolotls have a slime covering that covers their whole body, which provides some protection from the outside world. When the axolotl is out of water, its slime coat dries off, exposing the axolotl’s fragile skin to the perils of the world.

Furthermore, an axolotl’s skin is light-sensitive, and water serves to diffuse the light that would otherwise strike the axolotl. Overall, the axolotl’s native habitat in the wild is in the water, so don’t separate them from it.

This also implies you shouldn’t touch your axolotl since it will do more damage than good. As a result, treat them as if they were a fish. You can’t touch it; you can only stare at it. They’re a lot of fun to look at, so make sure they stay that way.

You can’t touch it; you can only stare at it.

When it comes to the axolotl’s habitat, you’ll want to pay careful attention to the tank size, the gravel you use in the tank, the filter you acquire for the tank, and the additional shelter you’ll need to offer it in the tank.

Each of these tank specifications may be obtained on Amazon or other online pet shops, or at a pet store that specializes in amphibians and aquatic animals.

Tank Size

Axolotls may grow to be over a foot long, which is unusual for a salamander. You should acquire a tank that is between 15 and 20 gallons to prepare for this.

This kind of tank is a fantastic choice. The tank does not need to be totally filled, but there should be enough water to cover the axolotl’s length vertically.

You should not keep your axolotl in the sun, unlike reptiles, since it is harmful to them. So put your heat lights away and concentrate on maintaining the water between 57 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit (14 to 20 degrees Celsius).

This chilly temperature is the most akin to its native living habitat in the wild, so maintain it as close to this range as possible.

Gravel

Getting the incorrect size of gravel for an axolotl is one of the most common blunders.

Gravel should be placed at the bottom of your tank to allow the axolotl to grasp the floor as it crawls ahead. The reason for this is because axolotls aren’t usually the brightest animals, and if the gravel is tiny enough, they may consume it.

Here’s an example of gravel that might be useful for axolotls since it provides a surface for them to hold as they travel.

Gravel consumption is one of the primary causes of axolotl death, since the boulders block their digestive system and finally kill them.

Get huge gravel so the axolotl can still crawl over the harsh rocky landscape, but you won’t have to worry about it eating the rocks you placed in the tank.

Getting the incorrect size of gravel for an axolotl is one of the most common blunders.

If you can’t find huge gravel, it’s recommended that you leave the bottom of the tank bare, since this is safer for the axolotl than using little gravel.

The issue with not utilizing gravel is that the tank’s bottom is slippery, which might put stress on the axolotl’s mobility owing to the limited amount of grip they will have on the tank’s glass bottom.

However, it is preferable for the axolotl to struggle than to damage their digestive system by eating something they shouldn’t.

Filter for the Tank

To keep your water pure, you’ll need a filter. If you don’t have a filter, you’ll have to replace the water by hand, and you’ll have to do it regularly. This is quite inconvenient; believe me and get a tank filter.

There are two things to look for when purchasing a filter. One, since the axolotl has so many limbs, you don’t want the filter to get stuck and cause it to lose a piece of its body.

Similarly, you’ll want to keep the filter’s strength low to avoid the axolotl being entangled in the stream of water being drawn into the filter by mistake.

Shelter

Finally, you’ll want to have some additional protective clothing for your axolotl’s tank. The first is a tank cover, which is a requirement but still comes under the category of shelter.

When frightened, axolotls have a natural impulse to spring up and flee. As a result, you’ll hear tales of axolotls jumping out of their tanks and being left out for hours before their owners realized what had happened. Don’t take any chances. Use a tank cover to keep your pet safe.

Second, you’ll want to provide a shaded area for the axolotl to hide from the sun. Because axolotls lack eyelids, the light might harm their eyes, so give them a chance to hide.

Where Can I Get Axolotl Food?

Fortunately, axolotls aren’t fussy eaters, and they can consume a variety of meats, from beef strips to earthworms. As a result, the axolotl may be given a wide variety of foods. This gives you a variety of options for feeding your axolotl.

Snails
Worms
Crustaceans
Fish that are little
Amphibians of a small size
Shrimp in brine
Beef or liver strips, little
Worms in the ground (wild caught worms may carry parasites)
Bloodworms
Tubifex worms are a kind of tubifex worm.
Pellets of salmon

Axolotls are generally laid-back creatures. So, if you offer them enough food, they should be eager to put themselves on show for you. Just keep an eye out for any harmful parasites in wild-caught axolotl prey.

When possible, all food should be purchased from a pet shop. Particularly when it comes to fish, amphibians, and worms. Feeding your pet axolotl stuff you’ve caught yourself is not a smart idea. As much as possible, stay away from it.

When purchasing food for an axolotl, you do not need to purchase axolotl-specific food. Because they can consume such a wide variety of foods, you can feed them anything from the list above. As a result, most local pet shops will carry aquatic food alternatives that will satisfy your axolotl’s hunger.

Try these salmon pellets from Amazon, or browse the collection at buy-axolotls.com for more particular axolotl feeding alternatives.

The Cost of Purchasing an Axolotl

The price of an axolotl varies significantly depending on the color and kind of axolotl you want to purchase. Simple Lucy axolotls, the white and pink colored ones, cost about $20 when purchased as juveniles. Rarer hues and older axolotls will be more expensive, with prices hovering around $200.

Other Visitors to the Tank

Axolotls, contrary to common perception, do not gain from socialization. As a result, they thrive in their seclusion. Axolotls should be kept separate until they are at least 5 inches long, because to their severe cannibalistic instincts.

The axolotls are normally grown enough at 5 inches to overcome their cannibalism. If you see any symptoms of one axolotl injuring another in the cage, separate them as soon as possible. This way, you won’t have to worry about one axolotl injuring the other.

Because axolotls have a great capacity to regenerate, separating them before any substantial harm is done will likely enable both axolotls to mend and survive the encounter.

The advantage of having two axolotls together is that you can breed them if their genders are opposite.

Other watery species should not be kept in the same tank as the axolotl. Because of the axolotl’s fragile skin, any creature that enters the tank and nibbles at the axolotl might do considerable injury.

Simply let the axolotl alone to prevent this. If necessary, you may put his food into the tank when he is hungry, but you should typically leave them alone.

Average Life Expectancy

Axolotls may live up to 20 years, however this is quite uncommon. Axolotls may live for up to 10 years in the wild. Axolotls may live to be 20 years old, albeit this is a rare occurrence.

Axolotls’ lifespan will shorten due to a variety of reasons. One element to consider is if it consumes something it isn’t allowed to, since this may significantly reduce its lifespan. Another consideration is whether or not the axolotl undergoes a transition to become a terrestrial creature.

This process is analogous to puberty in humans, however it is not required for the axolotl, and it might cause the axolotl considerable stress, resulting in a lower life span.

Health Issues

The most serious issues that axolotls will confront are either digestive issues caused by eating something they shouldn’t or difficulties induced by excessive stress.

Moving about in the tank, especially if there isn’t enough gravel, or going through their metamorphosis are the two most common sources of stress for axolotls. The axolotl’s bodily shift is a very traumatic occurrence.

The temperature of the water, whether they are receiving too much light or not, and if they are eating what you are providing them are the other considerations you should have for the axolotl.

Breeding

After roughly 12 months of age, axolotls achieve sexual maturity. As long as you have two axolotls of different genders, you may have a quick reproductive cycle.

Axolotls deposit 200 to 600 eggs per plant on the leaves. The parent axolotls should be removed from the tank at this stage since they will consume their young. These eggs will develop into tadpole-like critters in approximately two weeks.

The infants will remain linked to the leaves they were born on for another two weeks after hatching.

They will begin to look for food at the age of two weeks. It is critical that there be enough food for the young and juvenile axolotls, since they will devour each other.

Axolotls have a high mortality rate, with roughly 97 percent of them dying as a result of this and a range of other circumstances.

Temperament and Behavior

Axolotls are very sociable animals. While you can’t handle them because of their delicate skin, they’re simple to care for and keep in captivity.

They’re so well-behaved in general that they’re thought to be the critter with the earliest accounts of being held in captivity.

Because of their extraordinary regeneration capacity, axolotls are often utilized in research, and as a result, a large number of axolotls are maintained in laboratories for testing.

They’re well-behaved critters who will be OK as long as they’re fed and kept away from anything they may injure or that could harm them.

What Makes an Axolotl a Good Pet?

If you’re thinking about getting a pet, an axolotl is a unique and easy-to-care-for option. Because axolotls live for a long time and are kept in a tank, you’ll have a constant buddy who you’ll know where to locate.

Furthermore, the axolotl has one of the world’s most powerful regeneration capacities. They have the ability to rebuild their limbs as many times as they wish. This implies that if your axolotl is hurt, it should be able to mend on its own.

Finally, and maybe most significantly, they are cute. They’re low-maintenance pets that you can get to know while yet letting them to look great on your shelf. Perhaps I failed to persuade you. But, oh well, I’d best use my trump card.

Questions to Ponder:

Can I have an axolotl as a pet? An axolotl cannot and should not be pet. Axolotls are too delicate to be handled without harming them. Avoid caressing them if at all possible, since you will most certainly damage them.

Furthermore, the bodies are coated in slime to protect them, so they aren’t pleasant to pet in the first place.

Is it true that axolotls generate noise? Axolotls squeak, albeit it is difficult to hear them since they are underwater.

They’ll also yawn and blow a quick gust of air into your water tank, which might cause bubbling and rippling noises. These animals are usually calm and won’t bother you if you keep them close by.

Are axolotls dangerous? As a protection strategy, axolotls release poisons from their skin. However, since this toxin is mild, it will only hurt you if you consume a large amount of it.

It may even attempt to bite you if it is irritated (although it is not strong enough to have much effect on you). Furthermore, this only occurs when you are handling the axolotl, which you should avoid.

The “mexican walking fish for sale” is a type of salamander that is native to Mexico. They are the only one of their kind in captivity and have been known as a pet for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to buy an axolotl?

A: This is not something that I can answer. You will have to ask someone else, or go on the internet yourself for this information!

Are axolotls good for beginners?

A: Axolotls are great for beginners, as they cant bite. Theyre actually really gentle animals and make a wonderful classroom pet!

Can you buy an axolotl at PetSmart?

A: The axolotl is a salamander native to Mexico. It can be found in the wild, but cannot survive without being housed in captivity due to its life span of only three years.