Axolotls Facts: Origins, Habitat and Behavior (2024 Edition)
The origins of an axolotl
Where do they originate from? Can they be found in the wild, if so where? Upon further research, Axolotls can only be found exclusively in lakes such as Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco, which are situated along central Mexico City. Water temperature in Lake Xochimilco does not rise above 20°C (68 °F) across most seasons, but when it comes to winter, it can drop to as low as 6 to 7°C. Being a true native to these lakes (especially Lake Xochimilco), the Axolotl does not have to migrate at all since they are no natural predators in their lake habitat.
Axolotl and their nicknames
The word Axolotl derives from the Aztec language, “Nahuatl”. Its scientific name is “Ambystoma mexicanum” also known as the “Mexican walking fish”. Some claims that the Axolotl shares a mythological connection with one of the Aztec gods: Xolotl.
Xolotl was a god with a dog head, he is the god of grims, and everything that is depressing or gloomy. His role in the Aztec Mythology as a god is to lead the souls of the dead from where they were to the underworld.
Besides the fact that their names are quite similar, no doubt there have been many versions of all folklore, and as to how they could relate to each other, a popular tale found online mentions that Xolotl was being hunted down and chased, in fear that he might be destroyed, risking all odds, he metamorphosed into an Axolotl to hide from danger.
Axolotl sizes
Infancy
A baby Axolotl, upon hatching, will measure around less than half an inch, approximately 11 mm in length. They would immediately remind you of baby frogs; tadpoles as they look very much alike. Right after when they are born, hey will only start eating after 24 hours.
Juvenile
A Juvenile Axolotl is only considered to be juvenile when its limbs are growing visibly, at this stage, their front limbs should be out and their hind limbs should be developing. Juvenile Axolotls should measure at about 2 – 6 inches long.
Adult
Adult Axolotls should have all their sensory organs, limbs and everything else fully grown. They would be considered adults and ready for breeding once they are at least a year old and has an estimated length of around 10 – 12 inches where their cloacal region has been fully developed and prominent to differentiate the males and females.
Understand more about axolotls in our cheat sheet here.
Types of axolotls
When it comes to the types of Axolotls, there is a wide variety of them available and some breeders have even bred new variations throughout the years. Axolotls are classified by their colors as they all look the same when it comes to their physique but their colors vary instead. Let’s start off from the basics, where we have the wild types.
Wild-type
Wild-Type Axolotls can come in a variation of black, brown, and green (color may vary) with shiny gold speckles sprinkled throughout their body. The reason why they are considered to be wild types is due to the fact that this is the color combination you will get if you were to spot one in the wild (lucky enough). With maturity, they will eventually age into an almost black axolotl.
Melanoid
Melanoid Axolotls are very much similar when placed side by side with a wild-type axolotl. But it is not to be confused or regarded as a wild axolotl. Melanoid axolotls tend to have a darker shade as compared to the wild types, and they have more melanophores with dark pigmentation as compared to the wild types, but lack the shiny specks. Other than having a darker shade appearance, the rest of a melanoid is quite identical to the wild-type axolotl.
Albino
Albino Axolotls can be rare in some parts of the world such as New Zealand. An albino axolotl may sometimes look a little pink but white at most times. Their beady eyes should somewhat look pink or translucent since they have no color pigmentation throughout their body. But if you were to look closely, there are certain intricate details such as their veins running through their body, especially their dorsal fin.
Since there is an absence of color pigmentation, the gills of an albino axolotl would be red in color, because the gills are clear, you can tell that this axolotl is healthy with the blood flowing through its external gills. You should do something or be worried if your albino axolotl is showcasing pale or white gills as this may be a case of blood not flowing properly and sometimes can be life-threatening.
Leucistic
Leucistic Axolotls are somewhat similar to an albino at one glance. But you will be able to tell them apart like most fishes that come in albino or leucistic, instead of pink/translucent beady eyes, it would be black. It differs from one leucistic to another, but some would have more black patches and some would appear in freckles around their face. The rest of its appearance would typically look the same with an albino.
Yellow / Golden Albino
The yellow or golden albino axolotl would come in a vibrant strong shade of yellow with gold/yellow speckles throughout its body, again varying in the frequency of the speckles. Axolotl keepers who are inexperienced or new to axolotl keeping may be mistaken these pigmentation or gold patches to be some sort of fungus when it’s just like a birthmark to them. Due to the absence of melanophores (comprises hundreds of melanin-filled pigments), giving it a yellowish golden flush. This type of axolotl can be considered a variant of an albino.
Other special or unique types
There are more and more variants when it comes to Axolotls as they can be breed from the basic types and every genetic would morph your axolotl into a newer breed so on and so forth.
Axolotl’s Habitat
If you have a pet axolotl, it is always best to mimic and replicate your tank to its natural condition. Water temperature of Lake Xochimilco ranges from 20°C and below. Hence it is highly recommended to keep the water temperature capped at 20°C max.
Since their natural habitat is at a lake, you should aquascape your tank to have a lake feel to it. Slow or no currents at all as they do not thrive in fast strong currents because their limbs are not webbed nor are their claws sharp enough to cling onto any surfaces.
Lake Xochimilco is mostly covered with dense greenery, aquatic plants, and foliages. Axolotls love to hang around or snuggle in between plants as their hiding space.
Axolotl’s diet
The diet of an Axolotl is basically everything that can fit into their mouth. They consume food by swallowing or sucking it up whole as they do not have sharp teeth to chew or tear their food. Practically anything from earthworms, bloodworms, frozen bloodworms, small insects, prawn meat, axolotl pellets. Be sure not to feed them any insects or worms (e.g. mealworms) that can bite or have pincers as the build and frame of an axolotl is delicate to the touch because of the fact they do not have any natural predators, hence be sure to remove claws, pincers, and when it comes to mealworms I would suggest cutting off their head as they do have pincer-like mouths that may injury the axolotl.
Axolotl biology
The essence of an Axolotl is essentially revolved around the fact where they would bring along their larval physique and appearance, even till they mature. Despite preserving its cute and lovable look from its larval morphology, the drawback of it all is that it is not able to colonize and take over new habitats such as surviving on land like most other amphibians would. With neoteny, this is considered as a retrograde (backward) in terms of evolution because it has restricted the axolotl from going into the land. But this has not been a pressing issue for them at all, not until men came into the picture. Axolotls will retain their unique and adorable physique even when they mature sexually, ready for breeding. They do develop lungs that are primarily used for breathing hence you will sometimes see them ascending to the water surface to gulp air once in a while. This development will occur most probably after all their four limbs are out around the juvenile stages.
How do axolotls breed?
First and foremost, identifying whether your axolotl is a male or female is imperative before trying to match them and get ready for breeding. They have to be sexually mature in terms of length and age and several other external factors which can be identified from their exterior.
This will all be covered in depth under our breeding guide section.
One thing I would like to highlight and emphasize that axolotls should be ALLOWED to breed as long as they have not hit the age of 18 months at least. Because before 18 months, they may still have organs or other parts of their body still developing, and it could be quite taxing and stressful to its body if it breeds at any age younger. If breeding were to eventuate, there are accounts where their bodies might get stunted and not grow to their full length, and it might reduce their lifespans! I am sure you would not want any of this to happen to your adorable axolotls right?
Identify the gender of your axolotls through visible, prominent cloaca region where it is an indicator that your axolotl is ready for breeding. It is situated at the underside of your axolotl, in between or behind their hind limbs.
If it is a male, it will have a much swollen and distinctive bump whereas the female will have a much smaller bump without any swelling around its cloaca area. Another indicative feature to look out for would be its toes, as they age, their toes would turn black but this is not an accurate sign that it is ready to be bred.
Once you have established its gender and when it is ready for breeding, next would be to introduce them to each other. You would stand a higher chance of them breeding if both axolotls are kept in a different tank before introducing them. Natural breeding occurs several times in seasons for these axolotls in a year, varying from country to country.
Breeding would take place during seasonal transitions, by replicating and recreating the seasonal changes such as temperature changes, light exposure duration, and the dropping the water level it would provoke the axolotls and trick them into thinking that it is time to mate.
You will find out for yourself if the breeding is successful once you see your axolotls behaving unusually. The male will typically kickstart the whole process by laying its spermatophore all around the tank, these spermatophores are basically its sperm, which resembles small cone-like packets of jelly that have a white substance at the tip.
It will perform dances to entice and try to seduce the female with a tail boner (where its tail will look stiff and hard). The male will attempt to bump and come into contact with the female’s cloaca, in hopes that the female will be stimulated, at the same time directing her towards his spermatophores. Be sure to have a couple of plants lying around in the breeding area as this would be where the female would lay her eggs on.
How would you know if the breeding is successful or not? If the female is attracted to the male and wants to bear her eggs for him? From as short as a couple of hours to a couple of days, if she is ready to bear eggs, she will go around to pick up the spermatophores with her cloaca, lying around the tank and start fertilizing her eggs, laying it one by one as she goes.
Once there is a clear indication that she has finished laying all her eggs, you should remove the adults immediately.
Epilogue
To wrap things up, axolotl comes in different colors and pattern, while retaining their infant features their population has begun to nosedive throughout these years. While home and commercial breeders are breeding them to still keep this species thriving and available to the market.
What do you think of axolotls after understanding them? Would you want to keep one as a pet? Let us know in the comments below!