Axolotls typically live 10-15 years in captivity, but they can live for over 20 years when they're well-cared for. The oldest axolotl is unknown but their age could surprise as they become more common pets as some salamander species have incredibly long lifespans (more on that below!)
Even though we don't have solid numbers for the oldest-known Axolotl, axolotls can live for up to 15 years in captivity. Some may even go for 20 years and longer if taken care of. Therefore, adopting an axolotl is a huge commitment that demands consistency and dedication.
Lifespan: In the wild, axolotls generally live 5-6 years but can reach 15 years in captivity. Breeding: Axolotls reach reproductive maturity after their first year of life. In the wild, axolotls breed once a year between March and June. Young hatch after 10-14 days.
There are only 50-1,000 axolotls left in the wild, though there are as many as 1 million in captivity worldwide.
Axolotls are known for their longevity, and baby axolotls can live just as long as their adult counterparts when provided with the proper care and maintenance. The average lifespan of a baby axolotl can range anywhere from 10 to 15 years, with some living up to 20 years or more.
Average Size and Life Expectancy of Axolotls
It usually takes them a year to reach eight inches, though some grow in as quickly as six months. On average, axolotls live to about 10 years old, although some do live considerably longer.
The larvae's rate of growth depends upon temperature, frequency and amount of food, and the number of animals per bowl. Larvae should be about an inch long by the time they are 1 1/2 to 2 months old.
Axolotls are not a social species, so they don't need a friend to be entertained. That being said, it is perfectly ok to house axolotls together, as long as they are roughly the same size.
Overfishing is now one of the biggest threats to axolotl numbers. Habitat loss – the rapid development of Mexico City has seen vast swathes of the Xochimilco lake complex drained and destroyed, including Lake Chalco, one of axolotl's principal historic habitats.
Unlike all anurans and most urodeles, axolotls are a salamander species that exhibit facultative metamorphosis. While axolotls are thought to rarely undergo metamorphosis in the wild, metamorphosis can be induced experimentally (Page and Voss 2009).
The axolotl has few predators in the wilderness, though they may be taken by storks and herons, as well as large fish (carp and tilapia), on occasion. Their biggest threat is urbanization and pollution of the freshwater lakes and ponds they inhabit.
Axolotls are notable as amphibians as they never undergo metamorphosis but rather stay in their “juvenile” form and retain their gills their entire lives. While they do look a lot like fish, axolotls are actually far from it! They are, in fact, amphibians, along with frogs, salamanders, newts, olms, and caecilians.
They have between 30-40 teeth in each jaw, which are small and inconspicuous. The teeth are not used for chewing, but rather for holding small prey items as the axolotl sucks them into its mouth.
Axolotls are among the most widespread amphibians on Earth. In the wild, they're almost extinct.
There are millions of axolotls around the world. Sadly, most of them inhabit pet shops and home aquariums as these cute amphibians with the appearance of a perpetual smile have become popular pets. In the wild, however, axolotls have become critically endangered and are on the verge of extinction.
There are many species of salamander that are part of the group Ambystoma. About a decade ago, Zalisko discovered a new kind of axolotl. These particular axolotls can hold their breath for a whole year! Axolotls breathe through their gills and lungs and sort of inflate like a balloon.
The axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is a type of salamander that doesn't go through metamorphosis. Salamanders are amphibians that, like frogs and newts, start off living in the water. Salamanders usually go through a process called metamorphosis to become adults - like a tadpole transforming into a frog.
The critical water quality parameters that directly affect the axolotl's health include water temperature, ammonia (NH3), nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), pH, carbonate hardness (KH, also known as alkalinity), general hardness (GH, also known as permanent hardness) and dissolved oxygen (DO).
This pink and red appearance is because of the absence of melanin within their skin. 3. Wild Type: These axolotls are similar in coloration to those found in the wild. They can range in colors from dark grey and green to black and brown.
To minimize the risk of axolotls trying to cannibalize each other, they have to be very well fed, have plenty of decorations in their tank to allow them to break line of sight of one another, and they need to be the same size because a larger axolotl will be likely to try and eat the smaller.
If a male and female axolotl are housed together, they will generally breed once a year. Sometimes they will breed even more often than this. If they are exposed to seasonal light and temperatures, they may breed at certain times, but usually, in a home aquarium, it will be unpredictable.
Some of the rarest axolotl colors include piebald, copper, lavender, firefly, chimera, and mosaic. The rarest of these is mosaic, which means the axolotl has spots or patches throughout its body.
Their poop has a thin sausage-like skin that contains the poop. It is often colored a dirt black or brown color, measures about an inch, and weighs about 0.04 ounces (1 gram).