Axolotl
The axolotl (or Ambystoma mexicanum) is an amphibian found exclusively in freshwater lakes in Mexico, with only Lake Xochimilco remaining as their natural habitat.
Its wild type is green and brown in colour, with dark speckles across the body, however axolotls in the pet trade are often leucistic (white) or come in a number of other, vibrant colourmorphs. They have prominent gill fans protruding from their necks, a feature common in all salamander larvae, although due to their more aquatic lifestyle, the axolotl keeps these external gills. Its face is wide, with small eyes and a large mouth.
They range between 15cm and 45cm in length, and average at around 300g of weight.
Ambystoma mexicanum
Exhibit needs
- Exhibit types
- Box, Cylinder, Box large, Cylinder large, Box large angled
- Terrain
- Semi aquatic, Aquatic
- Temperature
- 15–20 °C (variance 5 °C below, 5 °C above)
- Humidity
- 80–90% (variance 5 below, 5 above)
- Food
- Fruit and vegetables
- Litter
- 2–3
- Overpopulation at
- 5 (extreme 12)
- Breeds in
- Spring
Overview
- Scientific name
- Ambystoma mexicanum
- Class
- Amphibia
- Conservation status
- Critically Endangered
- Enclosure
- Exhibit
- Temperature
- 15 °C – 20 °C
- Humidity
- 80% – 90%
- Lifespan
- 6 yr – 15 yr
- Content
- Deluxe Edition