Katy the Axolotyl Lady

I will be. Canceling frogs market. I am not feeling well today! Sorry guys. We will be home all day if anyone wants come get one from the house.

We will be here tomorrow with the rest of the babies!!

UPDATE; We had a great morning!! WE ARE NOW CLOSED DUE TO THE WEATHER. Tomorrow will be a bright shiny day. See you there ☀️

Christmas music BLARING 🎶🎸🥁
Some vendors have chosen to brave the storm and hope the rain stays away✨

‼️We will be here until 2pm‼️

Other area markets are POSTPONED- vendors welcome to come join our crew ❤️

RoLL CALL I wanna see your baby pics!! Send me your Axolotyls! ❤️❤️❤️

Many thanks to our new Axolotyl Owners! I’ve been super busy the last two weeks!!! If anyone has any questions let me know. Remember to AxAlotyl questions. Let’s do a roll call everybody with an Axolotyl send me a picture to cheer me up!

Here is a dose of cuteness for the day. ✌️

The babies are growing!!! Here is a pic from todays cuteness

If anybody wants an axolotyl please let me know so I can save one for you! I will be posting soon on Marketplace and reaching out on forums and pet stores. If you do want one you can give a small deposit to hold, this isn’t about the money more so about the legitimacy of me holding one! It has been a lot of work and a lot of fun but taking care of 82 babies is getting old. Can’t wait for them to find their new loving homes!

Here are some fun axolotl facts:

1. **Regeneration Masters:** Axolotls are famous for their incredible regenerative abilities. They can regrow limbs, parts of their heart, spinal cord, and even parts of their brain.

2. **Neoteny:** Axolotls exhibit neoteny, which means they retain their aquatic larval characteristics throughout their adult lives, including their external gills.

3. **Name Origins:** The name "axolotl" comes from the Nahuatl language, spoken by the Aztecs. It means "water monster" or "water-dog."

4. **Ambystoma Mexicanum:** This is the scientific name of the axolotl, reflecting its Mexican origin.

5. **A Living Fossil:** Axolotls are considered a "living fossil" because they have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years.

6. **Color Variations:** They come in various colors, including wild type (brownish), albino (pink with red gills), and other color morphs like golden albino, leucistic, and melanoid.

7. **Unique Locomotion:** Axolotls move in a unique way known as "axolotl crawl," using a combination of undulating their bodies and moving their limbs.

8. **No Metamorphosis:** Unlike other amphibians, axolotls do not undergo metamorphosis and remain aquatic throughout their lives.

9. **Habitat:** They are found in the wild in only one place: Lake Xochimilco and a few other lakes around Mexico City.

10. **External Gills:** Their frilly external gills not only help them breathe but also contribute to their charming appearance.

11. **Cannibalistic Tendencies:** In captivity, if kept in close quarters or without proper feeding, axolotls can exhibit cannibalistic behavior.

12. **Salamander Cousins:** Axolotls are a type of salamander and belong to the family Ambystomatidae.

13. **Popular Research Subjects:** Due to their regenerative abilities, axolotls are extensively studied in scientific research to understand tissue regeneration and repair.

14. **Status in the Wild:** Unfortunately, axolotls are critically endangered in the wild due to habitat loss and pollution.

15. **Cultural Significance:** In Aztec mythology, axolotls were associated with the god Xolotl and were believed to have healing properties.

These facts highlight some of the fascinating and unique aspects of axolotls, making them truly captivating creatures!

Basic care for axolotls includes:

1. **Tank Setup:** Provide a spacious aquarium (at least 20 gallons per axolotl) with a water depth of around 12-18 inches. Use a gentle filter and avoid strong water flow, as axolotls are not strong swimmers. Good to start a new tank with turbo start, this helps create healthy bacteria, if you have an old fish tank filter you can use that as well.

2. **Water Quality:** Maintain a cool water temperature between 60-68°F (15-20°C). Use a water conditioner to remove chlorine and chloramines. Regular water testing and partial water changes are essential to keep ammonia and nitrite levels low. Seachem is the best in my opinion. Axolotyls need Aloe free water conditioner.

3. **Substrate:** Choose a substrate that is soft and doesn't have sharp edges to prevent injury to the axolotl's delicate skin. Sand or fine gravel works well. They do best with no substrate! They can sometimes invest tiny peoces of gravel.

4. **Hiding Places:** Provide hiding spots like caves or plants to give your axolotl a sense of security.

5. **Diet:** Feed a diet primarily of earthworms, bloodworms, and other aquatic invertebrates. Avoid using forceps or tweezers to feed them, as they might accidentally ingest substrate.

6. **Lighting:** Axolotls are sensitive to bright light. Use subdued or ambient lighting and avoid direct sunlight.

7. **Handling:** Minimize handling as their skin is delicate. If you need to touch them, wet your hands first and handle gently.

8. **Tank Mates:** Choose tank mates carefully. Axolotls are best kept with their own kind and other peaceful, slow-moving species. Avoid fish that may nip at their gills.

9. **Regeneration:** Axolotls are capable of regenerating lost body parts, so don't be alarmed if they lose a limb. Keep the water clean to aid in the healing process.

10. **Health Monitoring:** Regularly observe their behavior, appetite, and skin condition. Any signs of stress or illness should be addressed promptly.

Remember, axolotls are unique creatures with specific care requirements. It's important to do thorough research before getting one as a pet to ensure you can provide the proper environment and care.

History of Axolotyls!

The axolotl, a unique aquatic salamander, has a history dating back to ancient Aztec culture, where it held significance in mythology and medicine. In the mid-19th century, they were first studied scientifically and became popular as research animals due to their remarkable regenerative abilities. However, habitat loss and pollution have threatened their survival in the wild. Efforts to conserve and protect axolotls continue to this day.

I have some babies ready to go if anybody is interested! Let me know I’ll post pics in a little bit. ❤️❤️

I highly recommend joining the Facebook group axolotyls for beginners! There is so much good information on that page. It is also a good resource to ask questions.

Let’s talk about tubbing your sick Axolotyl. You need to tub with an air pump and do 100% water changes everyday.

Levoux here has developed a fungus which can happen for a variety of reasons. But mainly happens due to water quality.

I have been doing water changes everyday . I boil Indian Almond leaves and let them steep overnight and add them to her tank. This will make the water a brown color like tea.

Indian almond leaves contain mild anti fungal properties.

You can also use metheline blue which is also a good thing to keep on hand. Time is of the essence when it comes to fungus. You do not want your axie to get it inside the body this could potentially be fatal.

Supply list for setting up your axolotyl tank:

*Atleast a 20 gallon tank per Axolotyl
* water prime Seachem is the best it contains no Aloe. Aloe can affect your Axolotyls slime coat.
*a container for fresh primed water. You will need extra tank water that is chlorine free on hand.
* A hide. Meaning something that your axolotyl can hide in. A cheap alternative can be a non treated clay pot or PVC pipe.
*a water filter. For smaller tank 20-30 gallons a sponge filter is beat. If your axolotyl is little you will want to place sponge around intake valve of the larger water filters.
*you can use a bubbler to put air in tank but it is not necessary.
*Turbo start so that your tank can develop healthy bacteria which is important to keep a happy healthy Axie.
* Indian Almond leaves or black tea are always good to keep on hand in case your baby gets sick.

There are always cheap tanks on marketplace!!! They also have a lot of sales at Petco and PetSmart! Remember when cleaning out old tanks never use chemicals!! For calcium build up you can simply use a razor blade or a magic eraser. Rinse thouroughly!

Welcome all Axolotyl owners and lovers. Remember to Axolotyl questions.