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Axolotls are salamanders who spend their entire lives underwater. These beautiful creatures start out as eggs and mature in about a year. They are nearly extinct in their native habitat near Mexico City, and their numbers are still declining. However, they are more popular than ever as exotic pets, and there are far more of them in captivity than in the wild. In this article, we’ll discuss axolotl lifespan, stages, and how they compare to other salamanders!
How long do axolotls live?
Axolotls usually live in captivity for 10-15 years, but with good care they can live for more than 20 years. The oldest axolotl is unknown, but their age may come as a surprise as they become more common pets, as some species of salamanders have incredibly long lifespans (more on that below!)
Although the axolotl salamander is relatively short-lived due to its small size, they live longer than many people think when adopting them as pets! Part of their resilience comes from their ability to regenerate body parts such as limbs and even organs!
Axolotl lifespan: captivity against wildlife
Axolotls usually live 10-15 years in captivity and 5-10 years in the wild. What contributes to such a huge difference in life expectancy?
These salamanders face many threats in their natural habitat, including predators, disease, and habitat loss.
However, life in captivity is also not always easy. Like many exotic pets, axolotls are often poorly cared for.
Parents can buy one for their child, thinking that aquatic animals are easy pets to care for. They can also be impulsive buying, as many people do with small animals.
A well-groomed axolotl can live up to 20 years, so adopting it is a huge commitment that shouldn’t be taken lightly!
Axolotl development and life cycle
Axolotls live in water all their life, even breeding under water. Their breeding season is December to June, and females can lay up to 1000 eggs in one season!
After hatching, axolotls remain in a jelly-like substance. They will develop a head and body before they enter the larval stage.
Cubs of axolotls are translucent and have no legs until the larval stage begins two weeks later. They remain in this stage until six months of age, when they reach puberty and become capable of reproduction.
Axolotls are considered fully adults at the age of one year.
What are the most common causes of death for axolotls?
Predators
Axolotls don’t have a lot of self-defense. They are slow, without teeth or claws. This makes them easy prey for predators in the wild.
Invasive species introduced to their home areas also hunted axolotls.
Pollution
Their small natural habitat in lakes near Mexico City caused the death of axolotls. This species almost became extinct in 2010 due to water pollution, and today it is still threatened with extinction in the wild.
Health problems
Axolotls are susceptible to health problems such as fluid buildup, tumors, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
Several axolotl health problems are associated with inbreeding. Unfortunately, their gene pool is getting smaller as they are on the verge of extinction in the wild.
Many conditions also arise from poor care, such as lack of filtration in the tank, dirty water, or injuries from improper tank installation or handling.
Poor care
In captivity, poor grooming can kill the fragile axolotl. Although they are relatively adaptable compared to most fish, they still have certain requirements that need to be met, such as cool water, a large tank, and the right substrate at the bottom of the tank.
Always do your research before getting a pet, and don’t trust pet stores to tell you which is best. Often they only care about selling the animal, not what happens after the adoption.
Due to their fragile body and limbs, and also because of the mucous membrane, axolotls should not be touched or taken out of the water.
The mucous membrane is a protective layer that prevents bacteria and parasites from growing. It can be wiped off by hand or dried by removing the axolotl from the water – this is how they look, do not touch the animal!
Finally, axolotls are known to jump out of their reservoirs. A cover is needed to keep them alive and in the water where they belong.
How is the lifespan of axolotls different from other salamanders?
The longest living salamanders on record have survived to 52 years of age. These were giant Japanese salamanders at the Amsterdam Zoo. There have been reports of Chinese giant salamanders that could have reached an age much longer – media reports claimed it was 200 years – but without further information, the lifespan of giant salamanders remains unknown. However, these giant salamanders are the largest salamanders in the world and are not very closely related to the axolotl.
More comparable are the tiger salamander, which usually lives for 10-16 years, and the spotted salamander, which lives for about 20 years.
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