Should Axolotls Be Sold In Pet Stores?
There is a growing demand for axolotls as pets, and for good reason. They’re extremely cute, hardy, and as far as exotic animals go, they’re very easy to take care of. This can make Axolotls an ideal exotic pet for people of all ages, from children to seniors.
What is an Axolotl?
Pronounced “ak-suh-laa-tul”, these cute little guys are a large breed of salamander native to Mexico. Axolotls are water dwellers, and require a large, deep tank to live happily and comfortably. Like Betta fish, there is a common misconception that axolotls are more content in smaller tanks. The minimum recommended aquarium size for a single axolotl is 10-20 gallons.
Until recently, axolotls have not been an easy pet to come by. Due to their increasing popularity, pet retailers everywhere have jumped on this trend and are now selling them more regularly. Axolotls are most commonly sold in certain pet retail chain stores, big box pet stores, as well as more specialized exotic reptile stores.
As easy as axolotls are to care for, they do have specific lifestyle requirements that need to be met in order to stay healthy. Axolotls commonly live up to ten years, however they have been known to live more than twenty years. In addition to a properly-sized aquarium, axolotls need plenty of fresh water to swim in since they do not crawl on land, despite having tiny legs. Axolotls are amphibians, and spend their entire lives in water. Their underwater environment should have plenty of sand, rocks, plants and places to hide.
Water temperature is an important factor, as axolotls do best in cool water. Many aquarium setups require a water cooler to ensure temperatures stay within a healthy range. The most ideal water temperature for an axolotl ranges from 60-70 degrees fahrenheit. Temperatures above 75 degrees fahrenheit are too warm and may result in health problems. Axolotls produce more waste than most fish, so the aquarium filter will need to be changed more frequently.
Young axolotls require dim lighting, whereas mature axolotls do well with brighter light, proving they have dark places to hide when needed. In terms of diet, axolotls love to eat bloodworms, bait worms, feeder fish, and even hamburger meat as a treat. They are carnivores, and need to eat meat in order to stay healthy.
Where Do Axolotls Come From?
While it’s easy to get caught up in how cute these little fellas are, there’s a darker side to keeping axolotls. Axolotls only come from one place in the world; the canals of Xochimilco, Mexico. Due to factors like urban development, water contamination, new predatory species, and more, their native population is currently facing extinction. In fact, there’s so few axolotls left, it is nearly impossible to find them in their natural, wild habitat.
As little as a decade ago, fishermen could cast nets into the water of the Xochimilco canals, and pull up dozens of axolotls every time. Now, locals claim they haven’t seen any for years. No one knows for sure if their wild population has been entirely wiped out.
Wild axolotls are nearly impossible to find, however there are hundreds of breeders around the globe who breed them for pets, as well as for biomedical research. Because of their unique abilities to heal, including regenerating entire lost limbs, axolotls may pave the way towards advances in modern medicine.
Trendy Pets Can Be Dangerous For Eco-Systems
While the vast majority of axolotl pets come from captive breeding, wild populations of many exotic species have been historically negatively affected when consumer demand is at it’s highest. These trends can have a catastrophic impact on an animal’s native ecosystem, and in many cases results in irreparable damage.
With that said, I do not agree with any pet store selling live pets, unless it is an adoption partnership with an animal rescue or shelter, because animals should never be used as inventory.
In an ideal world, pet stores that choose to sell exotic animals should be mandated to do their research first, to ensure the animals they’re selling come from professional, reputable breeders. Serious consideration needs to go towards supporting breeders that have a full understanding of proper care and humane handling/breeding practices, in addition to the environmental implications that come with perpetuating ownership of certain exotic pets.
Whether it’s a dog, cat, bird, or axolotl, all pets require specific care, and responsible pet ownership begins with having the right information to make informed choices. There is no doubt exotic animals like axolotls can make for some very unique pets, we just need to make sure we are asking the right questions, and giving consideration to the environmental implications that come from owning certain pets.
10 Responses
Just to clarify , axolotls are not that easy to care for. And the initial set up is complicated.. the water should be below 65 , not near 70 , they don’t eat most meat , worms are the staple …. also a single axolotl should be in a 20 Gallon tank
please do research before getting an axolotl
Great tips, thank you Crystal!
Agreed Tammy! They are prolific breeders. One might say the bread like rabbits but not even rabbits multiply that fast! Another good reason to not house multiples together. The pet trade has honestly no impact to the wild population. No one should forget that while this breed of salamander is suspended in juvenile state, if they get the right hormones they grow up to be a plain ole tiger salamander. The reason the existed in the wild was because the water in that area was void of normal balanced water needed to help them mature. But if you introduce a thyroid hormone into the brooding water you will end up with a tiger salamander. Oddly however, that shortens thier life span considerably. So allowing them to stay in perpetual childhood is better for them in the long run!
Hello, Stacey. Thank you for your post.
When you say “The pet trade has honestly no impact to the wild population”, what source(s) do you have to support this statement?
In 2006, axolotls were declared critically endangered. In 2015, axolotls were thought to be fully extinct in the wild, however researchers found one a few weeks later. Urban development, pollution, the pet trade, and other factors play significant roles in the critical decline of the wild axolotl population. \\
Any information you can provide is very much appreciated.
Thank you, Stacey.
This. They used to be caught and sold for food, had non-native fish species which feed on them introduced to their habitats, and have had their waters polluted. The axolotls being sold in pet stores are captive bred and not harmful to the native population in the least. It’s likely the captive population will be all that’s left some day.
My grandson is 13 and his teacher has one in class for all to see. As cool as they are now of course my grandson wants one & I being the more responsible adult explained to him why we don’t keep them in an aquarium because their are so few left. We also live in California where they are not allowed.
“The axolotl is just one example of an exotic animal becoming a trendy pet, causing them to all but disappear from the wild.”
It should be noted that destruction of the Axolotl habitat is the major contributor to their demise in the wild, not the pet trade. This is an easily researched fact.
Thank you for your comments, Steve!
I believe they shouldn’t be kept in pet stores. I’m not sure about other countries, but here in America smaller creatures are not always contained the right way. A lot of the times, parasites and unbalanced water levels go unnoticed in the aquatic creature section. I had a few mystery snails that infected my entire tank. I really don’t think axolotls should be kept in certain pet stores unless the pet stores can guarantee a healthy environment for the creature. I also feel that the buyers of the creatures should be well informed of how to care for them as well.
Well said, Nats! Thank you for your post.