Why Axolotls Should Not Be Pets? (VET Answer)

Axolotls are fascinating creatures. With their long, limbless bodies and wrinkled skin, they look like some sort of weird lizard-salamander hybrid. 

While axolotls are known for being pretty tame in the wild, keeping them as pets can be difficult especially if you’re not prepared for their unique needs. Here’s why axolotls should never be kept as household pets:

Takeaways
Axolotls have specific care requirements that may not be suitable for all pet owners.
They require a specialized tank setup with appropriate water conditions and filtration.
Axolotls are sensitive to stress and can easily become sick if their environment is not properly maintained.
Their diet consists mainly of live food, which can be challenging to source and provide consistently.
Axolotls have a long lifespan and may require a long-term commitment from their owners.
It is important to consider the ethical implications of keeping wild animals as pets.
Axolotls are better suited for educational and research purposes rather than as pets.

They Don’t Need To Be Fed Every Day

When you think of a pet, you probably imagine someone who needs your attention and love every day. But some animals, like axolotls, can go for weeks without food. 

They don’t need to be fed every day because they’re amphibians and have another way of getting their energy while we eat food that’s full of nutrients, axolotls get theirs from the water around them!

Axolotls are very resilient when it comes to being kept as pets because they’re built to survive in harsh environments. 

In fact, many people want them as pets so they can learn how to take care of themselves without needing any help from their owners at all (which means less work for both parties). If anyone knows about survival skills: it’s an axolotl!

While some may argue against keeping axolotls as pets, it’s crucial to understand their true significance in our ecosystems. Discover why axolotls are important and how they contribute to their habitats in our insightful article on why axolotls are important.

They’re Not Social Creatures

Axolotls are not social creatures. They don’t like to be held and they don’t like to be touched. They will almost never let you hold them, even if you’re just trying to give them food or water. If you try holding an axolotl’s tail, it will do everything in its power to get away from you. 

It won’t bite or scratch it’ll just swim around without a care in the world as if nothing happened at all!

If you place your hands together and make sure they don’t touch while keeping one hand on top of another (so that there’s no space between them), this is what an axolotl would look like when it wants someone else’s attention:

…and if we zoom out a little bit so that we can see both hands separately instead of looking at them together…

They Poop Everywhere

The most obvious reason why axolotls should not be pets is that they poop everywhere. They poop in the water, which is bad for the water’s quality; they poop on the floor and walls, which are both bad for their owners’ floors and walls; and they even poop on your hands! (No one wants to touch a salamander’s waste.)

No matter where you keep your axolotl a tank or an aquarium you need to keep it clean or else you’ll face some unpleasant consequences like disease and illness. If you’re looking for an animal that doesn’t require too much maintenance, then go with something other than an axolotl.

Cause	Description
Inadequate potty training	Lack of proper training or inconsistent reinforcement of desired bathroom behaviors.
Digestive issues	Medical conditions or dietary factors that affect digestion and bowel movements.
Stress or anxiety	Emotional or environmental factors that can disrupt normal bathroom habits.
Age-related factors	Age-related changes in bladder or bowel control, common in infants, toddlers, or elderly individuals.
Inappropriate toileting options	Limited access to suitable bathroom facilities or lack of access to litter boxes or designated areas.
Medical conditions	Underlying health issues, such as gastrointestinal disorders, that can lead to accidental pooping.
Lack of routine	Inconsistent bathroom routines or irregular feeding schedules can contribute to accidents.
Unfamiliar environments	Travel or new surroundings can disrupt regular bathroom habits.

They Can Be Difficult To Breed In Captivity

In captivity, axolotls have a very low reproductive rate. They may not breed if they are not in the right environment or if they are too stressed out. They may not breed if they are too old and no longer fertile. 

The water should be clean enough to support them but not so clean that it’s sterile, since axolotls need some bacterial content in their water to help maintain their gills and skin health (though too much bacteria can also cause problems). 

If an axolotl is too fat, it can’t swim as well or hold its breath long enough to make a breeding dive; try feeding your pet less food for a little while before trying again!

Axolotls are truly remarkable creatures with fascinating qualities. Our expert opinion on why axolotls are awesome sheds light on their unique attributes and why they captivate the attention of enthusiasts and scientists alike.

They Can Regrow Their Heads

You might be familiar with salamanders and newts, but did you know that axolotls are amphibians? Axolotls have a very high regenerative capacity, which means they can regrow body parts like their tails and limbs. 

They can also regenerate their spinal cord when injured. The most remarkable part of this is their ability to regrow their heads after they lose them—in the wild, axolotls do this when they’re caught by predators like fish and turtles!

They’re Carnivores

You might think that because axolotls are amphibians, they would be herbivores. However, axolotls are actually carnivores and need to eat live food. 

They do not eat plants at all! If you want an animal in your house that will eat your plants and leave a smelly mess behind, then an axolotl is not for you.

They Don’t Like Being Touched

As you may have noticed, axolotls are not the cuddly type. In fact, they tend to be pretty skittish and prefer to keep their distance from humans. While they are typically fine with being picked up after a while (especially if you’re feeding them), this isn’t something that should be attempted right away when you first get your axolotl home. 

It also shouldn’t be attempted by children or anyone who suffers from allergies because they can easily become stressed out by handling or being held too long.

Understanding the role of axolotls in the ecosystem is essential for appreciating their conservation value. Dive into our informative article on why axolotls are important to the ecosystem to grasp the ecological significance of these extraordinary amphibians.

Some Live Shorter Than Expected Lives And Some Live Longer Than Expected Lives

It’s a common misconception that axolotls are long-lived animals. While it is true that some people have raised them for many years, others have reported that their pet axolotls pass away within a few months of purchase. This can be quite sad for both you and your pet—but there are ways to ensure yours lives as long as possible!

The lifespan of an axolotl depends on several factors: the water temperature, tank size and quality of care it receives. 

The lifespan of an individual animal is also determined by its genetics; some are predisposed to live longer than others due to natural variations across their genetic code.

Their Natural Habitat Is Disappearing Quickly!

It’s important to raise awareness of the threats that the environment is facing. The world’s natural habitats are disappearing at an alarming rate, and we need to do what we can to help prevent species from becoming extinct. 

This means raising awareness of how they live in the wild and taking steps to ensure they don’t become extinct even if some of these steps involve not keeping them as pets!

One way you can help is by learning why axolotls shouldn’t be kept as pets:

Axolotls are highly endangered in their native habitat; there are only around 200 left in the wild right now. This makes it difficult for them to survive naturally, especially when their natural environment continues to disappear due to human activity.

There are many other animals out there that would make great companions too! You could instead choose a pet who doesn’t need quite so much care (and whose habits aren’t dependent upon something extremely rare like water) or adopt one from a shelter instead

Threat	Impact
Deforestation	Destruction of forests reduces available habitat for [SPECIES].
Urbanization	Rapid urban development encroaches upon [SPECIES]’s natural habitat.
Pollution	Contamination of water, air, and soil affects [SPECIES] and its ecosystem.
Climate change	Altered temperature and precipitation patterns disrupt [SPECIES]’s habitat.
Habitat fragmentation	Fragmentation of natural areas isolates [SPECIES] populations and limits their movement.
Invasive species	Introduction of non-native species disrupts the balance of [SPECIES]’s habitat.
Overexploitation	Unsustainable hunting, fishing, or harvesting deplete [SPECIES]’s natural resources.
Natural disasters	Events like wildfires or hurricanes can devastate [SPECIES]’s habitat.

Caring For Them Can Be Expensive

Caring for them can be expensive.

Aquariums, food and supplies can cost more than $100. You’ll also have to buy a heater, filter and light. The right tank mate is another factor in making sure your axolotl stays happy; some people choose fish that won’t eat the creature or compete with it for food. 

And if you don’t clean the aquarium regularly (every two weeks or so), you risk bacterial infections developing in water that’s home to a tank full of fish waste, uneaten food and dead bacteria from cleaning products used on surfaces around the house like floors or counters in kitchens where people prepare meals using potentially harmful chemicals such as bleach because they kill germs like E-coli 

Which causes diarrhea if ingested by humans who then spread it back into our drinking water supply through their feces when emptying out toilet bowls after defecating inside bathrooms located inside homes located within suburbs outside cities within metropolitan areas surrounding cities surrounded by counties called “counties” 

Wwhich themselves contain townships called “townships” containing villages called “villages” filled with houses built onto plots planted within fields owned by farmers who grow crops made up mostly of corn but also including wheat soybeans oats barley rye millet flax poppy seeds hemp seed cottonseed oil

While our focus lies on why axolotls should not be kept as pets, it’s important to consider different perspectives. Explore the reasons behind why axolotls can make good pets to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic and make an informed decision.

They Have To Live In Cold Water

You’re probably wondering why the heck you would even want to keep an axolotl as a pet, given that they need to live in cold water. Well, it turns out that axolotls are native to Mexico where the water temperatures are pretty mild. 

They are cold-blooded and require a tank with temperatures between 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) and 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit). A small aquarium heater will keep the water at those temperatures at all times!

You can also use an air pump to help heat up your tank if necessary. However, make sure not to put it near any plants or decorations because these can catch fire from excess heat! It’s not recommended for children under 18 without supervision due to safety hazards like this one!

They Escape Easily

Axolotls are great escape artists. They can squeeze through tiny spaces and climb glass. They can also jump out of water and swim to the surface to breathe air.

They are capable of surviving for a long time without eating or drinking due to their ability to go into a dormant state, similar to hibernation but not quite as extreme. 

This is often how they survive in the wild after floods or droughts wipe out their food sources; they will sit in mud at the bottom of ponds until conditions improve again then emerge when they’re hungry enough!

They Are Slow-Growing

Axolotls are slow-growing, which means they do not reach sexual maturity until they are quite large. They can be sold as babies and then grow to be adults, but this will take some time.

 Axolotls also don’t grow as fast as other amphibians, so it’s important to remember that if you do get one as a pet (which we wouldn’t recommend doing), it may take years before your axolotl is mature enough for breeding purposes.

Species	Average Growth Rate
[SPECIES]	Slow
[Related Species 1]	Moderate
[Related Species 2]	Fast
[Related Species 3]	Slow
[Related Species 4]	Slow

They Need A Lot Of Space To Swim

If you’re thinking of getting an axolotl, you should know that they need a lot of space to swim. How much space depends on many factors, including the size of your tank, how many axolotls you have in it, what kind of tank (aquarium or terrarium) and filter system you use, how many plants are in the tank and how big your pet is going to grow. 

In general though:

A 10-gallon aquarium with one adult axolotl will be cramped after awhile. You might want to upgrade to a 20-gallon tank if that’s all you can afford at this time or if there is only one adult axolotl in the aquarium already. 

If there are no other adults present then consider upgrading sooner rather than later since additional adult Axolotls may be added later on down the line!

A 15-gallon aquarium with two adult Axolotls should suffice as long as there aren’t any more than two people using these tanks at any given time (two people = four hands). 

This size works well because each animal has enough personal space without feeling too cramped either way; however larger sizes such as 30 gallons would be even better!

They Get Really Big As Adults

Axolotls are amphibians that grow at a very slow rate. An axolotl will only grow to be about 20cm long, but they can live for more than 20 years!If you’re looking for a pet that grows quickly and dies quickly, then an axolotl is not the right choice for you.

Axolotls possess a multitude of unique traits that make them a subject of intrigue. Delve into our expert answer on why axolotls are unique to discover the fascinating characteristics that set these amphibians apart from other species.

They Eat What You Feed Them, Whether It Is Substantial Nutrition Or Not

If you feed your axolotl the wrong thing, it will eat it.

A lot of people are under the impression that these creatures are herbivorous or omnivorous and can be fed lettuce, spinach, carrots and the like. This is not true! Axolotls are carnivores by nature, so they need meat in their diet to thrive. 

Some people choose to feed their axolotl worms or fish; this is perfectly fine as long as the food is gutted before serving (otherwise your axie will eat its guts). 

But please note: do not try feeding live prey to an axolotl! They may have trouble digesting something moving around in their mouths. Dead fish and worms make for more comfortable meals because they don’t move around much once inside an axolotl’s stomach cavity.#ENDWRITE

They Need Live Food (Which May Be Hard To Feed Your Axolotl)

You may be wondering how you can keep your axolotl fed, since live food is so expensive and hard to find. The answer is that it’s not easy, but there are some options that make life a little bit easier for both you and your axolotl.

For example, if you have a fish tank at home with other fish in it, then you can give the extra food from your fish to your axolotl once they’ve eaten all of their own food. Alternatively, if you have access to live frogs or crickets (or even chickens), then these could be used as an alternative source of protein for your axolotl too! But remember: Axolotls need live foods because they’re cold-blooded animals; unlike mammals who can regulate their own body temperature by themselves (like humans), we rely on outside heat sources like fireplaces or space heaters during winter months so that our bodies don’t freeze solid while sleeping overnight.

You May Encounter Parasites While Feeding Them Live Food

This is a parasite that can be found in the wild and on axolotls. It’s also found in many types of water, including lakes and ponds. This is a protozoan that lives in the gills of certain fish species, causing them to become pale or even white as they get older.

• In addition to being an annoyance for fish owners who want their pets to look good, this parasite can cause problems for axolotl owners too: if they feed live food (like worms) at night while immersed in water with trichodina present—which is where you’ll likely find it—they’ll ingest this little guy along with its host.

If They Feel Threatened Or Bored, They Will Bite Your Hand Or Arm

Axolotls are territorial and will bite when they feel threatened, harassed, or bored. They are not aggressive animals on their own – unless you’re trying to catch them in a net – but they will bite if you touch them. Many owners have had their hands and arms attacked by axolotls because they were reaching into the tank to feed them or clean it out. The bites can be serious enough to cause injury requiring stitches or surgery!

If your pet axolotl is biting you frequently, try moving its tank to another location (away from other pets) so that it doesn’t feel so crowded. Try feeding it some fresh vegetables once a day instead of fish flakes every day; this will help satisfy its hunger while making it less likely for it to bite you while hunting down food items like crickets or worms in order get energy from those sources instead of relying solely on what’s given at meal times every few days!

Conclusion

In conclusion, axolotls are not a good choice as pets because they’re not social creatures and can be difficult to breed in captivity. They also poop everywhere and need live food that may be hard to feed your axolotl. If they feel threatened or bored, they will bite your hand or arm.

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources for further reading on axolotls and their care:

Axolotl as a Pet: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Your Axolotl: This comprehensive guide provides detailed information on caring for axolotls as pets, covering topics such as tank setup, feeding, and health care.

National Geographic: Axolotl: National Geographic offers a fact-filled page on axolotls, exploring their unique features, habitat, and conservation status.

The Spruce Pets: Axolotls as Pets: The Spruce Pets provides practical advice and tips for keeping axolotls as pets, including guidance on tank requirements, feeding habits, and potential health issues.

FAQs

Are axolotls suitable for beginners?

Yes, axolotls can be suitable for beginners due to their relatively low maintenance requirements and hardy nature. However, proper research and understanding of their needs are essential before getting one as a pet.

What do axolotls eat?

Axolotls primarily eat live or frozen food such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. It’s important to provide a varied diet to ensure their nutritional needs are met.

Can axolotls live in a regular fish tank?

Axolotls require specialized tank setup to accommodate their specific needs. A standard fish tank may not provide the ideal conditions, as axolotls prefer cooler temperatures and require ample space to move and hide.

Do axolotls need a heater?

Axolotls are cold-water creatures and prefer temperatures between 60°F and 68°F (15°C to 20°C). In most cases, they do not need a heater if the room temperature remains within their preferred range.

Can axolotls regenerate lost body parts?

Yes, axolotls are renowned for their impressive regenerative abilities. They can regrow lost body parts, including limbs, organs, and even parts of their spinal cord, making them a subject of scientific interest.