Ambystoma mexicanum
Axolotl
Axolotls are neotenic salamanders that never leave the water. They are charming and long-lived if you can reliably keep the tank cool.
AmbystomatidaeLifespan 10–15 yearsCare complexity 3/5Not a beginner animal
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Ambystoma mexicanum
- Family
- Ambystomatidae
- Origin
- Lake Xochimilco, Mexico — critically endangered in the wild
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Adult size
- 23–30 cm
- Weight
- 60–200 g
- Temperament
- Placid, curious and entirely aquatic
- Activity level
- Low; mostly resting on the bottom
- Social needs
- Solitary or same-size pairs only; they bite each other's gills
- Intelligence
- Learns feeding routines
- Noise
- Silent
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Minimum 75 litres for one adult, filtered with gentle flow and a lid
- Space requirement
- Floor area matters more than depth
- Temperature
- 16–18°C, never above 22°C
- Humidity
- Fully aquatic
- Exercise
- Gentle swimming space with low flow
- Grooming
- Not applicable; water quality is everything
Diet and feeding
Sinking carnivore pellets, earthworms and occasional bloodworm
Behaviour and compatibility
Bottom-walking, gulping surface air occasionally, regenerating lost limbs
- With children
- A wonderful observation pet; do not handle
- With other animals
- Keep alone — fish nip their gills and axolotls swallow small fish
- Training difficulty
- Not applicable
Health
- Heat stress
- Fungal infections
- Impaction from gravel
- Ammonia burns
- Gill damage from strong flow
Aquatic exotics vet; cooling equipment is often essential in warm climates
Special care requirements
Use fine sand or bare bottom; gravel causes fatal impaction