18/10/2020
“𝗨𝗛, 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧’𝗦 𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗫𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗧𝗟?”
Are they fish? Are they salamanders (yes, but not the type you’re used to/picturing when classifying them as such!)? Are they lizards? Are they newts? None of the above? If you guessed the latter, ding ding ding, you win the million dollar prize - a gold medal for your basic knowledge of ambystoma mexicanum (the scientific term for axolotls)! So what ARE axolotls? Well, aside from painfully adorable, axolotls are critically endangered (in the wild), neotenous (meaning they remain in their “juvenile” state, skipping metamorphose into lung-breathing, land-living adults), strictly aquatic (water dwelling only!) amphibians that originated from ONE lake in the entire world... ONE, OF THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF LAKES IN EXISTENCE (approximately 117 million so like, 1 out of 117 million... kind of a big deal.) - Mexico City’s Lake Xochimilco.
While their status in nature is, unfortunately, quickly dwindling, in captivity they’re multiplying by the second and thriving quite wonderfully with proper care from knowledgeable, attentive, responsible owners all over the globe! In the scientific field, more specifically medical labs, axolotls are widely studied for their reveled ability to regrow fingers, toes and limbs, bits of brain, and segments of spinal cord (thank you BBC for this bit of info) when injured - something medical professionals marvel at, strive to recreate for human beings and have been making great progress with over the years. They come in a variety of morphs, the basic 5 being wild (the most dominant thus most commonly seen), leucistic, melanoid, axanthic and albino and countless variations of said morphs leaving you with endless possibilities when taking one of your own home!
Given all the necessities and a stable living enclosure with prime water parameters, axolotls can live 15-20 years in captivity and are, typically, pretty resilient creatures. That’s not to say they’re not sensitive - BELIEVE THEY ARE - but their turn around is incredible and if an owner is willing to put forth the effort, these animals are able to lead healthy, fulfilling lives longer than most cats and dogs! The key is to educate yourself THOROUGHLY before even considering one as a pet; learn about how big their tanks must be, the temperature and parameters of water they need to survive, what diet they need to maintain and the practices of husbandry that, at times, can become a LOT of work. Know what a cycle is, have the funds to purchase a chiller if living in a warmer climate, a constant supply of live foods, a vet visit if need be...
Ultimately, an axolotl is no different than owning a more standard domestic animal, like a kitten or a puppy, they’re just not quite as cuddly which makes them no less lovable, rest assured. They take time, patience, love, nurturing and most often forgotten - COMMITMENT. They are not a pet to be impulse purchased and learned about afterward, as you go. They are not as carefree or lax as some other aquatic animals, but not as difficult as you may think. Just know they WILL require some fore learning and preparation and that in the end, it’ll all be worth it!
𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗔𝗡𝗬 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗔𝗫𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪? 𝗗𝗥𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦👇🏻
