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Care sheet

Axolotl

Ambystoma mexicanum

Also known as: Mexican Walking Fish

Ambystomatidae · Caudata

IntermediateCITES IIIUCN CR
Temperament
Hands-off
Adult length
9–12 in
Lifespan (captivity)
10–15 yrs
Native range
Lake Xochimilco, Valley of Mexico (single wild lake system)

Care guide

Overview

Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) — a fully aquatic, neotenic salamander. The single most important rule is temperature: keep the water cool (about 60-68F) and never let it exceed roughly 72F — no heat lamp, ever, and a chiller is often needed. Use a bare bottom or fine sand only (gravel causes fatal impaction), gentle filtration, and a fully cycled tank. Handle only with a soft net; the skin is delicate.

Environment

Climate

Cool side
60–68 °F
Nighttime
60–68 °F

Housing

Enclosure

Orientation
Aquatic
Bioactive setup
Not ideal
Minimum size by life stage
  • HatchlingNot specified
  • JuvenileNot specified
  • Adult20 gal long min per adult (+10 gal each more). Water depth >= body length. Secure lid.

Housing

Substrate

Safe options
bare-bottom (best)fine sand (finer than the animal can swallow)
Avoid
gravel / small pebbles (impaction risk)

Nutrition

Diet & feeding

Dietary type
Strict carnivore
Feeding frequency by life stage
  • JuvenileDaily (1-2x)
  • AdultEvery 2-3 days; remove uneaten food
Supplementation

Varied whole prey (earthworms/nightcrawlers) + sinking pellets; ensure calcium-rich prey (MBD risk).

Care

Water & behavior

Water

Cold water 60-68F (keep BELOW ~72F; chiller often needed). Cycled tank, ammonia/nitrite 0, ~20-30% weekly water change, low flow.

Legal & ecology

Conservation

CITES
Appendix II
IUCN Red List
CR · Critically Endangered
Wild populations

Wild population Critically Endangered (Lake Xochimilco) though abundant in captivity; CITES Appendix II (an Appendix I uplisting has been proposed). Substrate note: consensus is bare-bottom or fine sand only; a minority veterinary view permits tiny fine gravel as gastroliths — default to bare/fine sand.

Citations

Sources

Every husbandry parameter on this page is backed by the references below. Click through to read the originals.

  1. Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) Care

    Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center

    veterinary

    60-68F (avoid >72F, chiller if needed), 20-gal-long min, bare-bottom/fine sand (avoid gravel), ammonia/nitrite 0, carnivore diet.

    Published: 2023-01-01

  2. Axolotl Care Sheet

    Unusual Pet Vets (Australia)

    veterinary

    17-18C ideal (tolerates 14-22C), pH 7.0-7.5, 78 L adult tank, avoid swallowable gravel, endangered wild, MBD risk.

    Published: 2025-01-01

  3. Ambystoma mexicanum — IUCN Red List / CITES

    IUCN / CITES

    government

    Wild population Critically Endangered (CR); Lake Xochimilco habitat loss; CITES Appendix II.

    Published: 2019-01-01

Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) care sheet — Herpetoverse