Axolotls, also famous as Mexican walking fish, are among the cutest pets because of their smiling faces. They may seem alien-like to many, but their lives are quite interesting! Did you know that axolotls don’t go through the metamorphosis stage? They are the ones who stay in their juvenile states forever.
That was only a single fact about them; in reality, everything about them is pretty intriguing. I know, it is totally fair to wonder more things about them. What do axolotls eat? Where do axolotls live? How long can an axolotl live on land, and are axolotls endangered?
Know more about these salamanders through this definitive guide on axolotls- how long can axolotls live? You will find out everything about the walking fish by the end of this guide.
Can An Axolotl Live On Land?
It is a fact that axolotls are not classified as fish; they are salamanders. Can axolotls breathe on land? Because all salamanders are amphibians with gills and lungs, they should also breathe on land. Despite having lungs, an axolotl faces trouble breathing on land and cannot live on it.
Where do these unique axolotls originate from? Where do axolotls live naturally? They are naturally found in Mexican Lake Xochimilco. Axolotls are only native to that part of the world.
You would find them in the canals and waterways of Mexico. They are found underwater, not on land, which shows that an axolotl cannot live on land in Mexico.
An axolotl is an aquatic pet, which means it should only be underwater. However, many scientists now claim that an axolotl can adapt to life on land after much research. Many scientists are working on it to know how long an axolotl can live on land.
Related articles:
- How to manage your axolotls? (habitat and diet)
- How long do axolotls live? (axolotls lifespan)
- What do axolotls eat? (best foods for axolotls)
Why Does An Axolotl Go On Land?
These slimy creatures spend their lives inside water, but they can go on land too. Do you wonder how long axolotls can breathe out of the water if it goes on land? Why does it go on land? The answer to this question is very simple.
Axolotls are born with gills, which with time evolve into lungs; they have lungs to breathe. Their lungs allow them to breathe, and in order to catch a breath, axolotls may go on land. While it is very normal for other salamanders to go on land, it is unusual for an axolotl to be on land.
It is because other salamanders have healthier lungs, strong limbs, and tough scales on their skin. But because axolotls don’t go through their metamorphosis stage, their features are comparatively quite feeble. Their delicate, slimy skin should not be exposed to air for longer, especially if it is not humid.
How Long Can Axolotls Go On Land?
If you have a pet axolotl and want to know how long axolotls can live, I am here to help you out. Normally, things can get really ugly if an axolotl is out of the water. They have a slimy coat on their skins, which helps them barrier from infections, germs, and bacteria.
That slime needs to stay slimy; it must always be moist if you want an axolotl to live comfortably. Axolotls can live on land for 1 hour comfortably, provided that the atmosphere is humid and cold, not dry and hot.
Ensure your axolotl is never left out of the water for a long time. According to an experiment, someone succeeded in keeping a pet axolotl without water for 2 years! The person had to carefully monitor the axolotl tank’s air pressures and humidity level very carefully.
So how long can axolotls live on land in real life? I can confidently say that many people are working on it, and soon you will be able to pet an axolotl completely on land.
What Kind Of Environment Do Axolotls Prefer?
Where do axolotls live? Canals, dams, rivers, and waterways show what type of environment they prefer. They prefer damp, cold, and dark environments like the shallow swamp Xochimilco Lake. When kept as pets, they are kept inside brackish water aquariums.
Brackish water aquariums are not suitable for beginners and are pretty complex to maintain. Axolotls prefer darkness over light, so investing a lot in aquarium lights is bad. When they are out in the wild and the colder season arrives, many axolotls become semi-aquatic.
It means that they start coming on land during winters when the environment is cold, dark, and damp. Can axolotls be pets? Absolutely yes! They make wonderful pets, but it is not encouraged to get an axolotl if you cannot provide it with the environment it needs.
This is because they are one of the critically endangered species on the planet. The fact that axolotls are eaten as a Mexican delicacy makes the situation worse.
Can Axolotls Breathe Outside Of Water?
How long can axolotls live? They have lungs, like other terrestrial animals too. But their lungs are far too feeble; even if they breathe outside of water, they cannot live outside water. Axolotls need water to survive, ensuring their slimy coat never dries out and stays moist.
Besides that, breathing outside of the water is not a big deal for them. They breathe in 4 ways, their skins, their gills, their lungs, and the most interesting part, through their buccopharyngeal membrane.
Even though they have many options to catch some air, they can still barely make it out of water. They may breathe outside of water, but weak axolotls will die without water, and stronger ones will fall sick.
Why Do Axolotls Need Water Flow?
Axolotls need a very slow-moving water flow; what can be the reason behind it? As I have mentioned before, axolotls are not fish. They differ from them in many ways—fishes like moving in currents, but not axolotls, for many reasons.
How long can axolotls live in strong currents? Well, strong currents sicken an axolotl. They do not require that kind of water flow as it stresses them. They need stagnant, still water to thrive; slow-moving water works well too.
It is because their bodies are very delicate. High currents make them prone to diseases and bring stress-related problems. An axolotl placed in strong currents may even die early due to sensitivity.
How Do I Move My Axolotl From Its Terrarium To My Aquarium?
A terrarium is a beautiful glass container with soil and plants which is mostly used to pet reptiles or amphibians.
You can also keep your axolotls inside a terrarium if you water the plants enough. But, keeping an axolotl outside of water for a very long period is not recommended.
Here is how you can move it to your aquarium! Firstly, ensure that your tank’s environment suits an axolotl’s needs.
Check and control the pH levels and the temperature of the tank. Can axolotls live with fish? It is not a good idea to introduce other tank mates at first, so skip that part.
Hold your axolotl in a bag and seal it, then place the bag in your aquarium so it would feel no temperature shocks.
After a few minutes, unseal the bag; once your axolotl moves inside your aquarium, remove the bag. You will successfully move it from the terrarium to the aquarium!
