How Much do Axolotl Cost?+Tank and Accessories

How much do axolotl cost? What is the price of baby axolotl? How much does it cost to buy the tank and equipment’s?

If you are a beginner enthusiast and confused with all these questions , then this article will surely help you out, so let us dive in.

So, Again the question how much do axolotls cost? Normally a baby axolotl will cost about 20$ while the adults cost 40$ Max. The more rare and imported axolotl like firefly can cost up to $300 dollars upfront (without, food, terrarium, substrate, and lights). While Some rare ones such as Enigma axolotl can cost up to 1500$. The real expense also lies in the tank and accessories required for the basic axolotl setup, which can cost from $80- $350.

$300-$500 seems like a big investment, but considering the pet colors and years of happiness they are doing to deliver makes it worth it as Captive bred axolotls live quite long,

How much do Axolotls cost on average?

Axolotls usually cost between $20 to $80, with lower prices for the younger axolotls and higher for adults. below is the price chart of some common, rare, and imported axolotls that you can decide and start of with.

Price Chart of Some popular Axolotl Species

Common name	Scientific name	Approx price
Wild Type	Common	$30-$50
White Albino	Common	$40
Leucistic	Common	$45-$50
Golden Albino	Common	$50
Speckled Leucistic	Common	$50
Black Melanoid	Common	$50-$75
Green Fluorescent Protein	Uncommon	$50-$60
Copper	Uncommon	$100
Heavily-Marked Melanoid	Uncommon	$75-$100
Lavender	Rare	$100-$125
Mosaic	Very Rare	Unknown
Chimera	Very Rare	Unknown
Firefly	Rare	$250-$300
Piebald	Rare	$300
Enigma	Rare	$1500

How big tank do you need for an axolotl?

A 20-gallon tank is preferable but if you have budget or space constraints go for at least a 15- to 20-gallon fish tank.

Make sure the tank has a secure lid to prevent the energetic juveniles from jumping out of their enclosure.

How Much it Costs to Feed an Axolotl?

There are also certain treats to occasionally feed your Axolotls that but they can be hard on your pocket.

• Frozen Shrimp (cooked) ($8/pound)
• Earthworms ( $30/pound)
• Prawns ($30/pound)
• Mealworms ($13 for 1000 Units)
• Lean Chicken ($9 per pound)
• Lean Beef ($10 per pound)
• Fresh Tuna ($60 per pound)
• Bloodworms ($8 per dozen)
• Blackworms ($50-$60 per pound)

Veterinary and Supplements Cost Money Too

Usually, Axolotls are low-maintenance amphibians. Timely quarium cleaning and feeding is suffient to keep them healthly.

Nevertherless, Axolotls being exotic pets, sometimes requires medical attention and you will need a vet for that purpose so it may be hard on bills.

Axolotl Tank Accessories and Essentials

Aquarium and Filter (Overall cost Approx. $350)

• 20-gallon long tank-$100
• Airline tubing (for sponge filter)-$70
• Air pump (for sponge filter)-$18
• Planted tank light – 20$
• Aquaclear 50 filter -$80
• Prefilter intake sponge- $8
• Sponge filter

Decorations (Approx. $60)

• Fake plants- $9
• PetSmart driftwood decor -$49.99

Cooling Materials (Approx. $90)

• Small USB fan-$9.99
• USB adapter (for fan)-$10.99
• Command strips (for fan)
• Power extension cord (for fan)-$8.99
• Digital thermometer with alarms- $19.99
• Reflective foil insulation -$20

Other Supplies (Approx. $100 Excluding stand)

• Aquarium stand (Varies)
• Power strip- $10
• Siphon -$10
• Water de-chlorinator -$15
• Axolotl pellets -$8
• Aquarium water test kit -$40

Axolotl Facts and Information

Axolotl classification, geographical origin, and its name.

Scientific name: Ambystoma mexicanum

Order: Caudata / Urodela. The axolotl is therefore a salamander that is part of the amphibians

Height: Axolotl is the largest of the Ambystomatidae family. Its average height is 20-30cm.

What does the name axolotl mean? Is Axolotl a God?

Speculations on the origin of his name: The Axolotl has its origins from Aztecs it is derived from the Spanish word “ajolote”.

There are many interpretations and meaning: slave of water, water-servant, water-spirit, water-player, water-twin

The most popular translation of the name axolotl refers to the god of deformities and death, Xolotl.

The most commonly accepted is the one that combines atl (for water) and xolotl (for dog) = water dog 🙂

Axolotl Geographical origin and characteristics:

The axolotl usually lives in Xochimilco and Chalco “lakes” in the basin of present-day New Mexico. They are very chalky lakes (hence the name Chalco).

Its habitat is almost destroyed because the population explosion of cities has emptied and polluted the lakes to such an extent that there are only a few canals left.

As a result, axolotl no longer exists or almost no longer exists in nature and is now one of the endangered species: IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. A recent estimate is 100 axolotls per km2 (Koenig, 2008).

However, it continues to live in large numbers in laboratories around the world.

Science is very interested in this animal as it manages to regenerate its injured or torn limbs.

Are Axolotls Neotenic?

Axolotls exhibit neoteny, that is, it stays in the larval stage without metamorphosis, unlike the overwhelming majority of other salamanders.

When it reaches its sexual maturity, it can reproduce as a larva, so it is perennibranch (“whose gills persist throughout life”). The neotenia of this animal is genetic.

It is likely that the origin of this very specific characteristic is due to a mutation.

And it came in handy: The only survivors were and are those who carry this mutation. Therefore, the mutation persisted.

Why is neoteny attractive?

Youthfulness and characteristics like slim face and protruding eyes, lack of body hair, and skin texture are attractiveness markers.

Axolotl Metamorphosis:

Axolotls are hypothyroid. The thyroid manages the metabolism. In axolotls, this is so slowed down that they never metamorphose into a salamander unless they are given iodine or thyroid hormones.

Recently, metamorphosed axolotls appear as a rarity on some exchanges.

What is a morphed Axolotl? Why do Axolotls morph?

There can only be two types of axolotls: either, it seems that some people have fun injecting them with hormones to make them metamorphose.

I would call it, to be nice, ultimate human nonsense. Either, due to the more or less intense crossing of certain lines of axolotls with ambystoma tigrinum, certain axolotls metamorphose because they are closer to tigrinum than to their own origins of mexicanum.

The fact remains that pure-bred axolotls, as we hardly ever see them in private homes again, do not go through the metamorphosis box, because it is not part of their genetic heritage!

Axolotl Disease and reproduction.

To treat fungal infections, or for the preparation of artemia nauplii, care must be taken to use pure Nacl or Non-iodized salt.

The axolotl is completely aquatic and although it has rudimentary lungs, it breathes through its gills and skin.

The cheapest and easiest way around to find is regenerating salt for dishwashers.

Can an Axolotl turn into a salamander?

The axolotl is closely related to species, the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, and Ambystoma mavortium spp.

It is theoretically possible that axolotl is a derivative of salamanders since it can hybridize with them.

But the axolotl never metamorphosis into a terrestrial salamander. forcing causes to reduce the life span of hybrid.

Are Axolotls Albino?

Humphrey’s “Gold” or Axoltol is the descendant of this hybridization initially caused by Humphrey (1967).

Theoretically, we should rather speak of Ambystoma tigrinum-mexicanum. It is true albino in the axolotl “family”.

White axolotls with pigmented eyes are not albino but called leucistic. Pure Ambystoma mexicanum does not exist as an albino.

Conclusion

Axolotls are exotic and easily living captive pets, Once a proper tank and accessory setup is done. They don’t require special maintenance and can live for many years. So, they are a good choice for beginner enthusiasts.

If you like this article why not read an article about the price of salamanders and newts? or a review about the prices of popular frogs and toad species.