The axolotl
A fascinating aquatic curiosity — and a fragile one
The axolotl is a fully aquatic amphibian that keeps its external gills all its life (neoteny). Native to the lakes of Mexico City, critically endangered in the wild but widely bred in captivity, it is not a land salamander: it lives in a cold-water aquarium.
| Life expectancy | 10 to 15 years |
|---|---|
| Social life | Solitary, preferably (cannibalism between young animals) |
| Level required | Intermediate |
| Legal framework | No permit required — find out more |
Its essential needs
- Cold water (16–18 °C): above 22 °C, the axolotl becomes stressed and falls ill. Never use a heater.
- Filtered, dechlorinated water with a gentle current, and a floor with no gravel that could be swallowed (fine sand or a bare tank).
- No cohabitation with fish (stress, bitten gills, parasites).
- A carnivorous diet: earthworms, pellets made for axolotls.
Key health points
- The axolotl is a cold-water animal: above 22 °C it goes into heat stress, stops eating, its gills curl up and it falls ill — by far the leading cause of trouble. Keep its water cool (18-20 °C), if necessary with a fan or by moving the aquarium away from heat sources.
- If it swallows gravel while gulping down its food, it can block its digestive tract (an obstruction): it swells up, floats abnormally and stops eating. Choose a bare bottom or fine sand rather than gravel the size of its mouth.
- Poor water quality weakens its skin and opens the door to infections (white cottony patches of fungal origin, wounds or eaten-away gills of bacterial origin). Clean, well-filtered water that is renewed regularly is the best preventive treatment of all.
In Switzerland: no permit required Keeping captive-bred amphibians generally requires no permit, but is subject to the conditions of the TSchV; some species, such as the axolotl, are protected under CITES and require legal origin. Legal framework in detail →
A word from the Au Furet practice The axolotl regenerates its limbs, but no ability makes up for water that is too warm: aim above all for cool, clean water.
Need a vet for this species? Few practices are trained in exotic pets. Find an exotic pet vet · Au Furet practice.
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