Can’t get behind the Year of the Snake?
Maybe you need an axolotl.
Characterized in the popular video games “Minecraft” and “Pokemon,” axolotls are aquatic salamanders with unique and, well, adorable features. Their wide eyes, long tail and external gills that flare out like feathers around their head give them a babylike appearance that they don’t outgrow.
Hard not to love.
Kenn Bearman, owner of the Animal Store in Lincolnwood, which carries the amphibians, said two years ago the axolotl was so popular that retail prices spiked from $39 to over $100.
“There literally was a run on them at one point. We couldn’t even get them in the store,” he said. “They’re still very popular but prices are where they should be now.”
He said, “People say they’re cute. But that’s in the eye of the beholder.”
As if looks aren’t enough, he said, “The albinos will glow under an LED light.”
Kim Ralston, manager of freshwater habitats at Chicago’s John G. Shedd Aquarium, explained the axolotl’s allure: “They have external gills that help them get oxygen but they also have lungs inside so they will occasionally go up to the surface and take in a gulp of air.”
Unlike frogs and other amphibians, axolotls never complete the metamorphosis to land-living. They live out their years in the water and retain their youthful features, she said.
Most scientifically amazing about the tiny wonders, which are brown and gray but sometimes bred to have a pinkish hue, is their ability to regenerate limbs, Ralston said.
Right now, she said, there is a lot of research being done on axolotls to understand that regeneration mechanism.
“It’s really cool,” she said. “I have seen it happen. It’s fascinating.”
Biologists have been studying axolotls for a long time, she said. “In the amphibian world, people have been talking about them a lot but, since COVID, the public is more interested too. I guarantee you people name them like their dogs or cats.”
They have external gills, she said, but not the hormones needed to crawl out of the water and absorb those gills like a lot of other salamanders. Scientists are conducting research on what happens when those hormones are administered, she said.
In March, CNN reported that axolotls have “skyrocketed in pop culture fame, in part thanks to” being featured in the popular video game “Minecraft.”
They are a preferred pet among humans who favor exotics. And, of course, there is merchandising — stuffed animals, hats, gloves, water bottles and even Girl Scout patches.
But, Ralston said, the axolotl’s story is not all plush and cuteness. There is a serious urgency to protect them in the wild.
They are critically endangered, she said.
Axolotls were first found in small lakes in and near Mexico City, she said. Those water systems have been impacted by pollution and the introduction of tilapia and perch, Ralston said.
“Those new animals ate the eggs of the axolotls and they weren’t making it to adulthood,” she said. Their numbers dwindled.
A 2020 study, she said, revealed there were 50 to 1,000 adults left in one of those lakes.
People, she said, often don’t realize the impact they have on the natural world. “As we learn and grow, we will hopefully try to mitigate those effects,” she said.
“It’s up to humans to do their due diligence,” she said.
The Shedd had housed axolotls in the past but currently does not have any. It does, however, have an exhibit on how to care for exotic pets.
“We have lots of amphibian species similar to axolotls. We’re hoping to get more in because they are really popular, especially with expectant moms. They come in and say, ‘Oh, my baby is the size of an axolotl,’” Ralston said.
Captive-bred axolotls can make great pets, she said. “Just make sure you are using a reputable breeder and are going through correct channels, and not taking them from the wild.”
The average lifespan of an axolotl is five to seven years, but, Ralston said, they can reach 15.
She said while pink axolotls are very cute, the color isn’t a natural occurrence.
“They were bred to be that color because it’s popular,” she said.
According to axolotlplanet.com, “the endangerment status of axolotls is a tale of two populations. While the wild axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is critically endangered due to habitat loss, pollution and invasive species, the domesticated axolotl population is thriving in captivity. Continued conservation efforts are essential to preserve the wild population, while responsible breeding and care are crucial for maintaining the genetic diversity of domesticated axolotls.”
Bearmann said the axolotls now in pet stores are captive bred.
“You’re not going to find a wild one,” he said. “They like clean, cooler water, so you need a 10- to 20-gallon tank with a filter.
“We tell our customers, ‘Treat ‘em as a fish.’”
But, he added, remember, “They are carnivorous. You can’t keep anything else with them, or they’ll eat them. They’ll even chew on each other’s legs if they’re hungry,” he said.
Axolotls are not only phenoms of nature and easy-to-care-for pets, they are believed by some to have spiritually healing properties.
According to www.spiralspiritual.com, the axolotl’s regenerative abilities symbolize adaptability and emotional well-being.
In modern Mexican culture, the site states, “the axolotl has become a symbol of national identity and biodiversity conservation, highlighting its cultural importance.”
In addition, it states, in Japanese folklore, the axolotl “is deeply embedded in Japanese symbolism, representing good fortune, prosperity and luck.”
Donna Vickroy is an award-winning reporter, editor and columnist who worked for the Daily Southtown for 38 years. She can be reached at donnavickroy4@gmail.com.
