Why Did Axolotls Became Endangered?
Axolotls are considered to be an endangered species today and what led to their dying population above anything else, would be us, humans. Excluding the inevitable reality of natural disasters and predators, we play a significant role and threatened its livelihood, pushing them to the brink of extinction.
Humans have always taken interests when it comes to something that they are unfamiliar with. Time and time again, axolotls have been inadvertently the limelight to many and this is not necessarily a good thing.
Pet lovers see them as potential cute pets to rear, scientists deem that they are a species that can be studied and some would consider them to be a choice of food which is totally outright disgusting.
Let’s dive in deeper to see more in detail the causes for their extinction
Reasons for becoming endangered
Back in 1998, there were approximately 2,340 Axolotls recorded per square mile, but the once thriving Lake Xochimilco is not how it used to be anymore. In the year 2014, there was another sweep done to the Lake and it was recorded to be less than a mere 14 per square mile. Because of all the above mentioned external factors in play, the population of Axolotls, till date is unknown to us. But one thing is for sure, the Axolotl’s population is going downhill, plunging into the brink of extinction.
With an enduring lifespan of approximately 15 years in its lake habitat, they are on the top of the food chain with no natural predators, surviving with a typical diet of small fishes, crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and mollusks. But with the inception of larger invasive fish species such as tilapias and carps which are feeding on the Axolotl’s eggs, herons (Large eating bird) which will even prey on adult Axolotl to the lake of Xochimilco, their population is being threatened over several occasions, contributing to its declining population.
Furthermore, they have growing demands as aquarium pets, roasted axolotls are also regarded as one of Mexico’s delicacy due to its culture, plummeting these amphibia in numbers.
There used to be Axolotls all around Lake Chalco as well, but due to the constant flooding that was occurring, the call was made to have the lake artificially drained in order to prevent future flooding from happening. It was a decision that was to be made, the Axolotls or the Mexicans that were residing near Lake Chalco?
With a growing population in Mexico City, the city eventually transited into urbanization where pollution is bound to take place, not making it the better for those wild Axolotls to survive as they do not thrive in bad water conditions.
Not to mention that axolotl is also food on the table in some countries. Not only do they have to face the changes that are going on in their habitat, they have to face predators and more seriously poachers that would hunt them down in the herds to fulfill their selfish desires such as turning them into delicacies.
Long gone were those days where you would be able to spot Axolotls breaking the surface, gulping for air since their one and only natural habitat has been destroyed, they are rarely seen in canals around the vicinity of Lake Xochimilco if you were to get lucky enough.
Last but not least,
Did you know: Axolotl is the most scientifically studied animal in the world
Yes, you heard it right…
Due to their very distinctive ability to regenerate themselves like most amphibians do, Axolotls kicks things up a notch. Their regenerative abilities are exceptionally remarkable and have left many scientists speechless and in awe. Just like the movies, Deadpool and Wolverine, axolotl possesses healing abilities that heal decapitated limbs fully.
Using the common house lizards as a case in point, where they would be able to disconnect their tail and use it as a distraction to escape if they are in a tight spot. Their tail would then slowly regenerate by itself over time and this process can be repeated over and over again, this is a special trait that some lizards possess.
Do note that Axolotls may look very similar to that of a lizard’s build, it is not to be confused or mixed up as a reptile, it belongs to the class of amphibians.
Newts, Salamanders, and Axolotls have contributed to major breakthroughs in the health science industry where scientists work alongside with them to discover how they are able to tap into their regenerative mechanism and how it can further aid humans when it comes to medical care and several other areas. Among the tetrapod class, these amphibians display the most prominent regenerative ability out of the rest.
What separates Axolotls from the rest of the amphibians? They are able to NOT only regenerate all four of their limbs, again and again, this special animal is able to restore its own skin, tail, spinal cord, jaw, and brain for as long as they live. How much regeneration though? One may ask. A Professor who has spent years studying them mentioned that no matter which segment of the limb is being amputated, from the upper arm to elbows and wrists, they will always regenerate itself back to how it was originally, a tissue for a tissue, everything will be intact and back in place. They even went through great lengths of amputating their limbs, as many as a hundred times! But each time, the Axolotl regenerate its limbs, back in perfect condition! Another breakthrough that was discovered by also the same Professor Stephane Roy of the University of Montreal, where an Axolotl is able to accept translated organs from its fellow species without any rejection at all! If this is not astounding enough, an Axolotl is 1,000 times more impenetrable and immune to cancer as compared to mammals!
These precious little amphibians appealed to me when I first chanced upon pictures online where they were making comparisons at how a certain particular pokemon: Wooper look so alike!
What makes these Mexican Salamanders so adorable may be due to its distinctive tadpole-like dorsal fin which runs almost entirely throughout its body and their external gills which are feather-like.
Axolotls have this unique characteristic also known as neoteny where it is capable of retaining its adorable infant features even when they mature. Axolotls have gained quite a fair bit of popularity over the years with pet lovers having the perception that these little guys are pets that are relatively easy to maintain, plus the max size of one would be around 9” to 12” long, which is an acceptable size.
How can one not be mesmerized by an axolotl when it looks back to you with those beady puppy eyes, feathery-like gills, tadpole-like body, and sometimes, an endearing big smile! The whole anatomy and appearance of an axolotl are enough to intrigue and pique anyone’s interests, getting them fascinated to have a longer look.
Axolotls as pets
In recent years, the number of Axolotl keepers have surged and has been one of the most sought-after pets among many. People may be drawn to them for several reasons, its adorable baby-like features, the rarity of it, or being able to rear it in a tank which does not take up much space. This is a controversial topic that is quite subjective, is it easy to keep an Axolotl as a pet? Is it a low or high maintenance pet?
The answer to it all really varies from case to case. If you have years of fishkeeping experience, an Axolotl most probably should not be a challenge to you as the way to care it is quite similar to how you care for your pet fishes. If you do not have any prior experience when it comes to taking care of an aquatic pet, you should do your due diligence and homework, read up our comprehensive Pet Axolotl care guide which will inculcate and ensure that you are doing the right things and giving the proper care any Axolotl would need as a pet.
Our Axolotl symptoms guide is the GO-TO guide for any illness, diagnosis and treatment for your axolotls. We have spent countless hours scouring the internet, just to provide and cover an all-inclusive care guide that is suitable for beginners till experienced keepers.
Even when the population of Axolotls is seemingly declining, there are both home and commercial breeders who are breeding Axolotls throughout the years. Home breeders may breed Axolotls out of passion and hobby as they have been keeping them for many many years, while commercial breeders may breed them for sale as aquarium pets in their shops or supplying aquarium stores with Axolotls. With our breeding guide, you will be able to tell apart between male and female Axolotls, know what kind of conditions would they breed, the pre-care before breeding, the breeding process, and the after-care.
There are also some tips and tricks where you can learn and “trick” your Axolotls into thinking that it is breeding season and they will mate if all prerequisites are being done correctly.
Epilogue
A healthy axolotl should have a fat belly, thick feathery external gills showing that it is taking in oxygen adequately, and eating well. Regular water changes should be done to keep the water at optimal cleanliness as they breathe through their skin as well.
Axolotls are susceptible to even the slightest water contamination which can be told through their behavior and external gills. An ideal tank that you should scape for your axolotls would be one that replicates its natural habitat, lake Xochimilco, where you can search up on google, or any lake inspiration you can get with ample foliages where you know your axolotls will feel at home and comfortable in.
Do not just stick to one source of staples as its diet, try to switch up between various food among meals to ensure that it gets sufficient nutrients. For those who have their minds set at breeding them, make sure to read up our breeding section before doing so.
If you are interested to have an axolotl as a pet, take some time to digest before considering if this is the kind of responsibility and commitment you are willing to shoulder. We took the liberty to dirty our hands scour through all the available information there is and compiled the ultimate go-to care guide for axolotls as pets.
The purpose of this care guide is to ensure that beginners or anyone who has purchased an axolotl or wishes to potentially would be equipped with the right information and know-how through their process of keeping one.
If we have left out any information or areas where you think should be covered in this guide, do let us know under the comments section. Last but not least, happy axolotl keeping!