Z's 

The axolotl, without the presence of a trapped human psyche, is a bizarre creature all on its own. Most creatures when they lose a limb, no longer recuperate it. Not so with the axolotl. Axolotls have the unique ability to regenerate or regrow whole limbs once they have been sloughed off, bitten or otherwise separated from the body.

 

The axolotls are also unique in their life cycle. Most amphibians, like frogs, spend a certain period of their lives in water as larva, before developing lungs and legs and growing into their adult form. Axolotls, however, remain in their larval form all of their lives, they do not develop eyelids, protruding eyes or any other land characteristic aside from rudimentary lungs used in conjunction with their larval gills and skin pores.

 

The axolotls also known as a Mexican salamander or a Mexican walking fish is a neotenic salamander.  Although the axolotl is colloquially known as a "walking wish” it is not a fish, but an amphibian. The species originates from numerous lakes, such as Lake Xochimilco underlying Mexico City.  Axolotls are unusual among amphibians in that they reach adulthood without undergoing metamorphosis. Instead of developing lungs and taking to land, the adults remain aquatic and gilled.

 

As of 2010, wild axolotls were near extinction due to urbanization in Mexico City and consequent water pollution. They are currently listed by CITES as an endangered species and by IUCN as critically endangered in the wild, with a decreasing population. Axolotls are used extensively in scientific research due to their ability to regenerate limbs.

 

A sexually mature adult axolotl, at age 18–24 months, ranges in length from 15–45 cm (6–18 in), although a size close to 23 cm (9 in) is most common and greater than 30 cm (12 in) is rare. Axolotls possess features typical of salamander larvae, including external gills and a caudal fin extending from behind the head to the vent.

Their heads are wide, and their eyes are lidless. Their limbs are underdeveloped and possess long, thin digits. Males are identified by their swollen cloacae lined with papillae, while females are noticeable for their wider bodies full of eggs. Three pairs of external gill stalks (rami) originate behind their heads and are used to move oxygenated water. 

Axolotls have four pigmentation genes which when mutated create different color variants.

 

• Wild type (brown/tan with gold speckles and an olive undertone)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Leucistic (pale pink with black eyes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Albino

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Melanoid (all black with no gold speckling or olive tone)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• GFP (all axolotls that glow under blacklight)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a popular exotic pet like its relative, the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigerinum). Axolotls live at temperatures of 12 to 20 °C (54 to 68 °F), preferably 17 to 18 °C (63 to 64 °F). As for all poikilothermic organisms, lower temperatures result in slower metabolism; higher temperatures can lead to stress and increased appetite. Chlorine, commonly added to tap water, is harmful to axolotls. A single typical axolotl typically requires a 40-litre (11-US-gallon). Axolotls spend a majority of the time at the bottom of the tank.  

 

In captivity, axolotls eat a variety of readily available foods, including t pellets, frozen or live bloodworms, many varieties of earthworms, and wax worms. Axolotls can also eat feeder fish, but care should be taken as fish may contain parasites.

 

There are persistent statements in pet care literature that axolotls cannot be kept on gravel because gravel causes fatal digestive impaction.  Axolotls deprived of appropriately sized gravel will ingest anything else they can find while attempting to satisfy their instinctive need for gastroliths and this behavior, combined with lack of appropriate gastroliths, may be a cause, among others, of fatal impaction.