Ambystoma mexicanum
Axolotl
0 active listings · Amphibians · amphibians
Category
Amphibians
Origin
Mexico — Xochimilco / Valley of Mexico
About the species
The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is an aquatic salamander in Ambystomatidae. In the wild it is endemic to the lakes and canals of Xochimilco in the Valley of Mexico — not all of Mexico. Most captive animals never metamorphose and keep external gills (neoteny). Adults usually reach about 20–30 cm. Abundance in the hobby is not safety in the field: the wild population is critically endangered, and wild-origin trade is a CITES matter.
Origin and distribution
Mexico — Xochimilco / Valley of Mexico
The species is endemic; its range is restricted to Xochimilco / Valley of Mexico within Mexico.
Current listings
No active listings.
Care at a glance
Size
Adults usually approx. 20–30 cm total length
Enclosure type
Aquatic and cool, with rest sites and no strong current
Temperature
Usually approx. 15–20°C; avoid constant heat above about 22–24°C
Humidity
A life in water; quality and oxygen matter, not a dry shore
Furnishings
A long tank, smooth floor, hides, a gentle filter, no sharp gravel
Characteristics
Aquatic and neotenic, usually calm; delicate gills and skin
Care and behaviour
Ambystoma mexicanum lives in water. A typical minimum for one adult is about 80–100 cm tank length, longer rather than taller. Temperature stays cool: constant 24°C and above raises stress and disease. Filtration must be gentle — a strong current damages gills. Substrate is smooth or absent; sharp gravel ends in the gut. Pipe and cork hides give shade. A basking lamp is not the default.
Food is animal prey in water: earthworms, bloodworms, lean heart, and complete axolotl pellets. Juveniles eat daily; adults usually every 2–3 days. Leftovers are removed at once. Water is dechlorinated, changed regularly, and free of ammonia. Do not add “companion” fish — the end is nipped gills or a eaten fish.
The axolotl is usually calm and more active at dusk. Do not grip gills or limbs. Regeneration is famous, but a wound is not a reason to experiment. Captive lines dominate the trade; that is not evidence that the species is healthy in Xochimilco.
Good to know
Ambystoma mexicanum is on CITES Appendix II (Appendices valid 2026-03-05). Wild-taken commercial specimens have a zero annual export quota. Captive abundance is not a wild conservation status. The map shows approximate Xochimilco / the Valley of Mexico, not all of Mexico. This is not legal advice.