What Everyone Should Know about the Axolotl

The myth of the Axolotl

Xolotl, the god of fire and lightning, did not want to sacrifice himself to the fifth sun so he hid himself as a crop of Maize. Then he hid himself as an agave plant. Then he hid himself as the Axolotl. When his brother found him as an Axolotl, he spared his brother but made him be an Axolotl for eternity.

Super regeneration of the Axolotl

Axolotls can regenerate their limbs, spine, muscle, back bone, jaw and even the front part of their brain. They are also 1,000 times more resistant than any other animal to cancer. Scientists are studying Axolotls’ renenegation to help cancer patients and help amputees regrow limbs. Axolotls use stem particles to regrow their limbs. The same particles are used when Axolotls are born.

Axolotls' look of youth

Axolotls always look similar to their juvenile forms unlike other salamanders that metamorphosize into their adult form. Most Axolotls don't go through metamorphosis without lab intervention. Only in a few situations are Axolotls naturally metamorphic . When Axolotls metamorphosize, they look similar to the related species the tiger salamander.

How to take care of an Axolotl

Axolotls are a lot of work. Here are some facts about how to care for them:

• Axolotls need water under 72 degrees fahrenheit and under 22 degrees celsius.

• They cannot have gravel in the tank because it's bad for them to ingest gravel.

• Make sure you have some sort of cooling device to cool the water such as a chiller.

• The tank is recommended to be at least 20 gallons for one Axolotl and at least 30 gallons for two.

• Axolotls eat worms, blood worms and Axolotl pellets.

• When buying an Axolotl, keep in mind Juvenile Axolotls will bite each other.

• Pick up Axolotls with care and touch them gently. They are extremely sensitive.

• Axolotls are fully aquatic; they can survive for 1 or 2 minutes out of the water.

• Before you buy an Axolotl, you have to go through the nitrogen cycle or risk your Axolotl being seriously sick. The nitrogen cycle can take many weeks.

• There are more than 20 variations of Axolotls.