Melanoid Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), Locally Bred!

We are now taking pre-orders for these Axolotls! Secure yours today before the deadline.

🛑 Pre-Order Cutoff: Tuesday, February 18th, at 7 PM Eastern Time
📦 Shipping Date: Wednesday, February 19th (Shipped via Next Day Air)
🏡 Delivery Date: Thursday, February 20th (Straight to your door!)

Don't miss out—availability is limited! Pre-order now to guarantee yours!

For the safety of our animals, we ship Axolotls exclusively via UPS Next Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS Next Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. Due to their unique low-temperature requirements, Axolotls cannot be shipped with other animals that require heat packs. However, they can be shipped with plants and dry goods.

Please order Axolotls separately from other animals. Orders containing Axolotls and other live animals will result in the cancellation of non-Axolotl items.

🚫 We cannot ship Axolotls to Hawaii, California, Maine, New Jersey, and New Mexico.

What We Love About This Animal:

✔ Striking Melanoid Morph – A deep, dark coloration with no iridophores, giving it a uniform, dramatic appearance.
✔ Locally Bred & Healthy – Raised in ideal conditions for long-term health.
✔ Coldwater Amphibian – Thrives in room-temperature water without a heater.
✔ Unique & Interactive – Fascinating behavior and a great single-specimen pet.

Natural Habitat:

The Melanoid Axolotl is a selectively bred variation of the wild Axolotl from Lake Xochimilco, Mexico, where it inhabits cool, slow-moving waters with dense vegetation and natural hiding spots. Due to habitat destruction, wild populations are critically endangered, but they are widely bred in captivity.

Aquascaping for Axolotls:

✅ Plants: Hardy, low-light plants like Anubias, Java Fern, and various mosses. Floating plants help diffuse light.
✅ Hardscape: Smooth driftwood, caves, and rounded stones. Avoid sharp decor to prevent injury.
✅ Substrate: Fine sand or bare-bottom tanks—no gravel, as Axolotls may accidentally ingest it.

Diet and Feeding:

Axolotls are carnivorous and require a high-protein diet. Suitable foods include:
🦪 Staple Foods: Live nightcrawlers (earthworms) and blackworms.
🥩 Additional Options: Frozen or cooked shrimp, meaty sinking pellets, and formulated amphibian diets.
⚠ Avoid: Mammal-based foods, which are too fatty. Uneaten food should be removed daily.

🔹 Currently eating: Soft, moist sinking pellets from Aquatic Foods and Black Worm Company, as well as live nightcrawlers.

Tank Mates and Compatibility:

⚠ Species-Only Setup Recommended – Axolotls are solitary and do not require companionship.
⚠ Juveniles Are Aggressive Toward Each Other – They may bite and damage limbs, leading to infection.
⚠ Adults Can Cohabitate With Caution – If keeping multiple, ensure similar sizes and separate males from females unless breeding.
⚠ No Small or Active Tank Mates – Axolotls will attempt to eat any animal that fits in their mouth, and fish may pick at their feathery gills.

Breeding:

Axolotls can breed in captivity, but careful management is required:

• Separate genders unless breeding is intended. Males will relentlessly pursue females.
• Females should not spawn more than twice per year to prevent health decline.
• Eggs should be removed and hatched separately for higher survival rates.

Recommended Tank Parameters:

📌 Temperature: 58° - 69° F (14.4° - 20.5° C), can tolerate as low as 40° F (4.5° C) temporarily.
📌 pH: 6.5 - 7.5
📌 KH: 5 - 20 dKH
📌 Minimum Tank Size: 29 gallons for a single adult

Care Guidelines:

🔹 Diet: Carnivorous. Requires a variety of meaty live, frozen, and formulated foods.
🔹 Social Behavior: Solitary, best kept alone.
🔹 Origin: Locally bred; native to Lake Xochimilco, Mexico.
🔹 Average Adult Size: 10 – 12 inches (25.4 – 30.5 cm), but some can reach up to 18 inches (45.7 cm).
🔹 Average Purchase Size: 4 - 6 inches (10 - 15.2 cm).
🔹 Lifespan: 10+ years, with some specimens living over 20 years.

Live Arrival Guarantee:

All Aquatic Arts brand plants and animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support!