Can I Take Care Of A Axolotl?

Are you familiar with the regulation in your state about owning an axolotl?

Do you mind having a pet with whom you won't be able to interact much?

Do you mind having a single axolotl in the aquarium?

Can you provide a large (15- to 20-gallon) aquarium for an axolotl?

Can you provide a consistent temperature between 57 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit?

Can you provide a varied diet rich in protein?

Do you have an exotics veterinarian that specializes in amphibians?

Axolotls are illegal to own in some states, including California, Maine, New Jersey, and Virginia. In New Mexico, they are legal to own but illegal to import from other states. Check your local exotic pet laws to verify that you may keep one.

Axolotls have delicate, soft bodies with permeable skin. Most of their body is made of cartilage rather than bone. That means they should not be handled unless necessary. And if you do have to move them out of their tank, do so with a fine mesh net that won't entangle any of their body parts.

Axolotls should not be kept with other species as axolotls might try to eat pet fish, and the fish sometimes nip at them, as well. You even should be cautious about housing them with other axolotls. Juvenile axolotls can be cannibalistic toward one another, so they are best raised in separate enclosures. Adults can potentially be housed together, but still, watch out for cannibalistic tendencies.

At least a 15- to 20-gallon fish tank is recommended for axolotls. Make sure the tank has a secure lid, as it's not uncommon for these animals to try to jump out of their enclosure. A land area is unnecessary in the tank for these fully aquatic animals. At a minimum, the water depth should be slightly more than the length of your axolotl.

Keep the tank in a cool room away from bright sunlight with a water temperature between 57 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, don't allow it to get above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the wild, axolotls feed on snails, worms, crustaceans, small fish, and small amphibians. In captivity, they can be fed a variety of brine shrimp, small strips of beef or liver, earthworms, bloodworms, tubifex worms, other frozen fish foods, and commercial fish pellets.

You can take care of an axolotl as a pet!

Axolotls are prone to some health issues that may require a veterinarian exam. Unsanitary tank conditions can lead to viral or bacterial infections, the signs of which include lethargy and a lack of appetite. Plus, ammonia buildup from waste in the tank can be toxic. If this occurs, you also might notice lethargy and a poor appetite, as well as gasping and inflammation around the animal’s body.