The Axolotl pet can make great pets, but they aren’t ideal for beginner pet owners who have no experience with keeping amphibians. They can’t be handled or removed from the water, and they must be housed in 20+ gallon tanks with treated, filtered water to survive. Though they can tolerate slight shifts in temperature and water quality from time to time, they have extremely sensitive skin.

Of course, this isn’t to say that beginners can’t necessarily keep axolotls as pets. Just be advised that they are far from the easiest amphibians to keep in captivity! Aside from having sensitive skin, their bodies are made of soft cartilage rather than bone. This makes them quite fragile to injuries and illnesses.

Another important thing to note is it can be difficult to find exotic pet veterinarians willing to treat pet axolotls. Due to pet axolotls’ rarity and their unusual biological qualities, many vets simply don’t have enough knowledge or experience with them to dedicate time to treating them professionally.

And although the axolotl pet, like many amphibians, has regenerative qualities, they are still quite vulnerable to various infections and illnesses often caused by improper care.

Their water must be kept at a certain temperature and filtered constantly. You should also be comfortable with handling brine shrimp and worms, as they will ideally make up the bulk of your axolotl’s diet.

Finally, be sure to check the legality of axolotls as pets in your state or country. California, Maine, New Jersey, and Virginia all notably prohibit the ownership of them. Additionally, they are legal in New Mexico, but it is illegal to import them from other states.

Some locations also require permits to own axolotls. And make sure you adopt your axolotl pet from a reputable amphibian/reptile/exotic pet breeder rather than a pet shop!

In general, breeders tend to be more knowledgeable and engage in more ethical practices than chain pet stores.