This page is all about axolotls, about their food/nutrition, their habitat and more of their special needs. Axolotls are easily one of the best pets ever owned, they are extremely unique in their own way. The axolotl, in the wild are an endangered species but are being bred in captivity, now they are not endangered all together.
WHAT IS AN AXOLOTL?
The axolotl also known as a Mexican salamander or a Mexican walking fish, is a neotenic salamander, closely related to the tiger salamander. Although the axolotl is colloquially known as a “walking fish”, it is not a fish, but an amphibian. The impossibly silly branches that grow from the axolotl’s head might not seem practical, but they’re actually the salamander’s gills. The filaments attached to the long gills increase surface area for gas exchange. While you can find axolotls in aquariums and laboratories all over the world, it’s much harder to find them in the wild. The animals can only be found in the lakes and canals of Xochimilcan, Mexico. It’s not unusual for amphibians to be able to regenerate, but axolotls take it to the next level. On top of being able to regenerate limbs, the animal can also rebuild their jaws, spines, and even brains without any scarring. Most axolotls reach about 10 inches total length (from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail). A few will pass 12 inches, but this is rare. Axolotls have been known to live past 20 years, but it is unusual to find an individual older than 10 years. They prefer a water temperature of 16C-23C.