The axolotl, pronounced “ax-oh-lot-ul”, is just about the strangest and cutest creature you’ll ever see. These paedomorphic salamanders are native to the freshwater lakes in the Valley of Mexico and are regarded as being critically endangered.
When you see an axolotl, you’ll quickly understand the long-held public fascination with these creatures. They were first brought from Mexico to Paris in the 1860s, at which point Europeans began to breed them.
If you are interested in learning more about these salamanders, then this blog post of axolotl facts is for you. Here, we will highlight everything you need to know about these beautiful animals, which make for stunning and curious pets. Let’s get started.
1. They Always Look Like Babies
You probably know someone who has a “baby face”. That’s also a good term for axolotls, who look like babies for their entire lives. They are what’s known as neotenic creatures, meaning they do not lose any of their larval features even after achieving sexual maturity.
They keep their feathery gills and stay in the water, while also never developing teeth (rather, they use a suction method to consume their food). If you hate when cute pets grow up, an axolotl might be right up your street!
2. They Are Carnivorous
You might be wondering what do axolotls eat. Axolotls will eat everything from worms and insects to fish and crustaceans—dead or alive.
In capacity, axolotls often consume fish pellets, earthworms, and brine shrimp, while young axolotls can also be cannibalistic. Don’t worry though, as axolotls are able to regenerate any body part that has been severed by a hungry family member.
In some cultures, axolotls are even on the menu for humans, such as in certain restaurants in Osaka, Japan.
3. They Come in a Range of Different Colors
Axolotls in the wild tend to be black or brown with specks of olive or gold. As with other salamanders, they possess the ability to change their color in order to better camouflage themselves within their surroundings when necessary.
For those bred as pets, they can be found in a range of lighter colors, including ones with white bodies and pink gills.
4. They Are Good Dancers
Axolotls courtship rituals involve dancing! The mating process begins with the adults rubbing each other’s cloacal region and from here continues with dance-like movements in a circular direction.
In the wild, females will lay between 100 and 300 eggs once per year. These eggs will hatch after just 10 to 14 days.
Interested in learning more? Shop for baby axolotl here.
Amazing Axolotl Facts You May Not Know
There are a number of different types of axolotl and so a variety of options for those who are interested in finding a new pet. We recommend that you speak to a professional seller for more information about these incredible creatures.
Like this blog post on axolotl facts? Be sure to check out our other informative articles on a wide range of interesting topics.
