Scientific Name: Ambystoma mexicanum.
Common Names: Axolotl, Mexican Salamander, and Water Monster.
Distribution: The Xochimilcho and Chalco lakes in central Mexico.
Size: 20-30cm (8-12").
Sexing: Males have more swollen cloaca, females are often plumper when viewed from above.
Colouration: The normal colouration (Wild Type) is dark brown with sooty brown to blackish blotches and spots. Captive breeding has created several colour variants including leucistic, melanoid, pied & many forms of albinism.
Requirements: These aquatic Salamanders are rather large animals and so require a rather large aquarium. A 15-gallon tank would be adequate for 2 adults. They require a totally aquatic set-up with no land area. If you wish to use a substrate gravel, pebbles or sand may be used. Furnishings such as rocks, terracota pots, plastic pipes, and aquatic plants (live or plastic) can be arranged to provide a number of hiding places. The water should be clean de-chlorinated or spring water at a depth of 15-30cm (6-12"). The water will need to be filtered to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria in the water using either an external filter or a submersible filter, Axolotls don't like much water movement so the flow will need to be diffused to prevent a strong current. Partial water changes should also be carried out at regular intervals. The water may be lightly oxygenated with the use of an airstone. Axolotl's require an optimal water temperature of 15-20°C, they are very hardy animals and will easily cope with temperatures down near freezing over winter, and can usually tollerate short periods at tropical temperatures (24/25°C) during the summer but these are best avoided if possible.
Feeding: Juvenile Axolotl's should be fed daily with a mixture of suitably sized insects including Daphnia, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, tubifex, earthworm, whiteworm & pellets. Adult Axolotl's should be fed every other to every third day with a mixture of pellets, earthworms, slugs, maggots, mealworms, crickets, etc. small fish & chunks of raw meat may also be provided occasionally.
