Mary Allen
Axolotls are amazing creatures and it is a privilege to own one. But before anyone buys one, they need to know how much it will cost upfront in the long run and what the additional cost of the accessories will be. With that in mind, I dug deeper into axolotls and found out everything you need to know about buying an axolotl.
How much does it cost to own an axolotl? Axolotls are inexpensive pets. It costs about $20 to buy a baby axolotl, and $35 for an adult. The real cost is the tank and accessories needed to house your axolotl. These can range from $85 to $285.
So if you are interested in owning a Mexican migratory fish and have them all to yourself, read this post as it contains all the information future owners could need about owning an Axolotl and how much it costs.
What is the basic cost of owning an axolotl?
Before purchasing a pet, amphibian or animal, it is important to understand the amount of work and effort that goes into caring for and caring for one of these animals.
It’s also important to know why things cost the price they do. This comes in handy when it comes to axolotls and the cost of living for such a unique and proud amphibian.
If you buy an axolotl from a breeder or pet store, they typically cost around $20 as juveniles, but the price increases to around $35 once they are adults.
The price of an actual axolotl is fairly low, but the price of housing this unique amphibian can get a little pricey depending on what you’re looking for in terms of housing.
A basic starter kit that includes a filter pump, gravel, and pH kit typically costs around $85. However, keep in mind that the higher the quality of the filter, the less often you will have to clean the aquarium.
For this reason, it is usually recommended to use a higher quality filter and pump. They usually cost around $165, but it’s really worth it.
Each time you clean your axolotl’s cage, the new water must be prepared and tested before adding it to your axolotl’s water. Otherwise, it may affect the environment and you may get sick and possibly die.
A strong filter not only saves you work, but is also better for your axolotl’s long-term health. That’s why most breeders and pet dealers will push you to get a nicer pump.
Be careful when it comes to gravel and accessories. Axolotls can only have certain types of gravel and plants in their habitat. So it’s important to do your research before spending big bucks on accessories and rocks that won’t even work in your cage.
The other big expense to add to the first purchase category is a tank. If you only have one axolotl, your tank only needs to be around 15-20 gallons.
If housing two axolotls, it is recommended that you double the tank size and provide separate enclosures so the two axolotls can be moved apart and each have a place to call themselves. However, you can have two axolotls in a 20 gallon tank.
A new tank costs between $70 and $120 depending on the type of tank you want to buy and what comes with it. Most tanks cost around $90.
While most people consider the base amount required to purchase an axolotl and that as the price of the pet, there are many more money factors at play when buying an axolotl and a pet.
While an axolotl can cost $20, you also need to consider the price of housing the salamander, the supplies needed, maintenance costs, food costs, and whether these additional costs are worth owning the pet.
What accessories are needed to own an Axolotl and what are the costs?
Let’s talk about accessories. As any woman will admit, accessories can make or break an outfit, and the same goes for axolotls and their armor. If it seems completely unnecessary than it probably is and you don’t need it.
Axolotls are interesting creatures and they have very specific needs as well as very specific things that cannot be used in their homes. Due to their inquisitive nature and sensitive skin, these little boys need to have the perfect environment to live in.
The first thing you need is a tank, and it really doesn’t have to be anything fancy. You can buy some really nice high quality tanks on Amazon at cheap prices that will last forever.
Once you have a tank installed, the next thing you need is gravel or sand. However, sand is preferred to gravel. If you decide to use gravel in an axolotl tank, that’s one of those things that is super duper specific.
The gravel must be rough and large enough that it cannot be easily swallowed by an axolotl. Because axolotls are curious and unaccustomed to small pebbles in their natural environment, they will eat anything smooth and small enough.
But don’t let the slick factor fool you, even if you fill your tank with coarse pebbles that are on the small side, your axolotl will still try to eat them.
If an axolotl eats the pebbles and gravel provided as part of their aquarium, it will cause serious abdominal problems and health issues that only a veterinarian can resolve. That’s why it’s imperative that you get the right kind of gravel.
Something like turtle gravel would work well and keep your axolotl from getting in trouble when it comes to unnecessary eating. You can also use river rocks for a nice look. However, make sure they are rough and big enough so that they are also secure.
When in doubt, buy something larger. It’s much better to be safe than sorry. No one wants to have to take their pet to the vet, so pick rock sizes that are large enough. Sometimes placing larger rocks on gravel that appears to be on the edge can discourage them from eating them, but not always.
As mentioned above, layered on top of your pebbles or laid out on sand or the bare glass bottom of the tank, some could be larger rocks to add variety to your axolotl. They’re not required, but it can be nice and, as mentioned, can sometimes discourage trying to eat the smaller pebbles.
If you find that whatever you have set up in your aquarium is causing cuts or damage to your axolotl, you should consider replacing it. Sometimes it can just be an accident. So wait for two or three incidents before replacing the material.
Sand is the preferred method for Axolotls as they don’t try to ingest it and if they do it wouldn’t harm them. Virtually any type of sand will do, as long as it is fine sand and is intended for aquarium use.
You can always put larger rocks on top of the sand if you want to add some texture to your axolotl, but it’s not necessary. If you use larger stones, make sure they are not a swallowable size.
The next accessory needed in an axolotl aquarium is a place to hide or hang out. A small clay plant pot turned on its side works great. If you want something fancier, you can buy an aquarium lock.
That being said, plants are really the only other thing that could be placed in an axolotl aquarium. When looking at plants, be sure to find the right variety so they don’t harm your axolotl.
Just make sure they aren’t sharp on the edges and can’t be easily pulled apart and digested. If your plants fit this bill, you can safely use them in your aquarium.
Cost of setting up an aquarium and its supplies for an Axolotl
Setting up your aquarium for your axolotl sounds a bit complicated, but it’s not that bad and is relatively easy to maintain once properly set up.
The first thing to do is add water. You can add as much water as you like, whether it’s a few inches high or completely full. Tanks tend to be easier to maintain when they are nearly full.
Really the only requirement for water depth is that it fully covers your axolotl and then allows a few inches more wiggle room. Most of the tanks you see are about ¾ full or almost full as maintenance is far easier.
You can use tap water for your aquarium, but it should be treated with an aquarium water conditioner to remove any chemicals that would be harmful to your axolotl.
Many axolotl keepers like to use brackish water, which is part freshwater and part saltwater. This solution can be purchased at any pet store and found online.
It is preferable to set up your tank a few weeks before purchasing your axolotl to allow the tank a few weeks to filter its cycle before adding your new axolotl to the environment.
It’s important to check the pH level before introducing your axolotl to its new environment, and also regularly when cleaning or changing your axolotl’s water.
The pH to aim for is 7.4 to 7.6 pH. If it’s in the 6.5-8 range, you’re probably fine, but pH levels control ammonia’s toxicity, so aiming for that 7.4-7.6 sweet spot is important.
The water temperature is also important. If your water gets warmer than 74 degrees, it could potentially be life-threatening for your axolotl.
The main water temperature is in the 60s. If you live in a warm environment and find it difficult to keep your water cool, you can purchase a water cooler to maintain the temperature in your tank.
Once you find the water, the next thing to worry about is the water filter. You want a powerful water filter, but one that also has a slow filter flow feature.
If the flow from the water filter is too fast, it can damage an axolotl’s gills and cause severe strain that can result in death. Their natural habitat has very slow moving water so we need to copy that into the aquariums we provide for them.
You also want a slow moving filter so your axolotl’s gills don’t get caught in the filter. Axolotls have gills that protrude from their heads like curly crowns, and they are very delicate.
The last thing to worry about is the lighting. Axolotls love dark light because in the wild they live mostly on the bottom of the lake and therefore have very little exposure to light.
Axolotls can get used to the exposure, but it should never be direct light, be it sunlight or artificial light, as this can cause stress, which usually causes them to stop eating.
It is best to place them in a darker room away from windows and lights such as lamps. That being said, your axolotl doesn’t need to be in total darkness, they definitely adapt to light, just not close to light.
As a rule, do not put the tank in a window directly under a desk lamp or in another lamp. Staying away from these things will ensure your axolotl is healthy and strong.
The personal cost of cleaning the axolotl aquarium and supplies
Cleaning your aquarium can be a daunting task, but don’t worry, it’s definitely easier than it seems. Especially once you’ve done it once or twice and have a good rhythm.
The first thing you need to know when caring for an axolotl and its surroundings is that you should never completely replace the water all at once… EVER.
If you’re cleaning and replacing water, make sure you’re replacing 20 percent of the water per cleaning.
To make cleaning your aquarium easier and faster, try vacuuming the bottom of the tank with a siphon, it really helps. This cleaning and water changing process should be done weekly if you have a good filter, and daily if you don’t have a filter or one that isn’t very efficient.
If you’re cleaning with a siphon or gravel vacuum, the best way to clean your tank is to gently run your siphon over the gravel/sand bed and easily pick up all of the top layer of dirt and fish droppings, then go back and into the gravel/ Push dirt so that the floor covering is cleaned properly.
When cleaning the filter and rocks and other materials that may be in your aquarium, it is very important that you clean them with tank water so they don’t get exposed to outside chemicals that could potentially affect tank cycles that has been created and your axolotl.
Be extra careful when rinsing and cleaning your filter. There are many good bacteria that will accumulate in your filter and are helpful in keeping your axolotl alive. For this reason, never clean your filter with tap water. Only use tank water.
How much does it cost to feed an Axolotl?
In the wild, axolotls feed on some small fish, but these are mostly supplemented by worms, mollusks, insect larvae, and crustaceans. These helpful little animals keep the axolotl alive.
In captivity, an axolotl’s diet must be slightly different than in the wild. Still, our job is to feed them foods that are similar to their natural prey. That way we know they’re getting the nutrients they need and they like them.
In captivity, it is common to feed axolotl earthworms as they are the healthiest choice for them. However, eating bloodworms or blackworms can also be good choices for your axolotl’s diet.
Earthworms generally cost around $30 per pound in bulk, which is a good price considering you are getting around 400 worms per pound. That means you’re paying a little less than 10 cents per worm.
So feeding axolotl earthworms is pretty cheap, but can get expensive if you buy the worms locally. Typically, fish stores sell earthworms for about $2 or $3 per dozen. That means you pay 20 cents per worm, which can get expensive.
Bloodworms and blackworms are much more expensive than earthworms. Bloodworms are about $8 per dozen and blackworms are about $50 to $60 per pound. So if you choose to feed either of these two worms, you will need to increase your budget on groceries, which means your axolotl will end up costing more.
There are also certain treats that you can feed Axolotls occasionally, which can increase your food costs. To like
frozen shrimp (which are already cooked) ($6 for 12 ounces)
Shrimp ($30 per pound)
Mealworms ($13 per 1000)
If you really want to give it your all, you can feed them something
Lean Chicken ($9 per pound)
Lean Beef ($10 per pound)
Fresh Tuna ($30 for 6 ounces)
It is nice to know that like other salamanders, axolotls do not require any additional supplementation with vitamins or minerals. The basic diet you give them contains all the nutrients they need to be happy and healthy. This is nice because it means you don’t have to spend extra on supplements.
If you’re wondering how often to feed your axolotl, the basic answer is to let them decide. Most adult axolotls will eat about two earthworms every two to three days, but they may skip a meal if they’re not hungry.
Young and growing axolotls differ in that they eat daily because they need the energy to sustain their rapid growth. Once your axolotl has reached adulthood, it’s much easier to create a feeding pattern tailored to your specific axolotl.
Vets also cost money
Some pets require a lot of care and attention when it comes to feeding, nurturing, love, and attention. Luckily, axolotls are fairly low maintenance. If you keep their aquarium clean and fed, they are quite happy and comfortable.
The only specific need or requirement Axolotls can have is their veterinarian. Because axolotls are an exotic pet, you need a vet who is not only willing to work on them, but knows how to work on them.
And that usually means a more expensive vet bill. While this price is very much between vets, before you buy an axolotl, you should consult vets and learn how much they charge for seeing such an exotic pet.
Nobody wants their axolotl to be injured or not cared for properly. As such, one of the first things to do for any pet owner should be finding a good vet when owning an axolotl (and really any pet for that matter).
Unlike vets, axolotls are low maintenance and very cold. They are happy to be alone and living their best life. If you intend to have two axolotls in an aquarium, you should check them more often.
They should just check in every few days to make sure they haven’t fought and that they both seem content and happy.
This should be the case as long as there are two separate hideouts so they can claim their own spaces and hide from each other when they don’t want to be social.
Is the Cost of Owning an Axolotl Worth Having One as a Pet?
Now that we’ve discussed all the costs and nuances of caring for our axolotls, it’s important to know what it’s like to live with an axolotl as a pet. There are things you need to know about their lifestyle and how it may affect yours.
It’s also important to know how they differ from other amphibians and fish that you may have had previous experience with. Since axolotls are not fish and yet are not amphibians, they have taken on a class of their own.
Axolotls Fish
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| similarities | Live long life in aquariums Cannot survive without water. The tanks must be cleaned weekly. Do not require substrate. They have gills |
Live long life in aquariums Cannot survive without water. The tanks must be cleaned weekly. Do not require substrate. They have gills |
| differences | You can breathe out of the water. Their gills protrude from their heads. They cannot live with other species of fish. They eat live food. They cannot live in direct sunlight. You cannot have a gravel substrate. Should not be handled by humans |
Fish cannot breathe out of the water. Their gills are built into the skin on their neck. You have dandruff . They can live with several different species of fish. (Unless they are carnivorous.) Fish can live in sunlight . Fish should not eat live food. |
| Axolotls | amphibians | |
| similarities | Are born in water Eggs depend on water Soft, moist skin Live in water while babies absorb water through their skin Cold-blooded Too much sun can damage their cells |
Are born in water Eggs depend on water Soft, moist skin Live in water while babies absorb water through their skin Cold-blooded Too much sun can damage their cells |
| differences | They never go through a metamorphosis. They live their whole life in the water. They can regenerate limbs and vital body parts (most salamanders can do this, although not as efficiently). |
Undergo metamorphosis Live after metamorphosis on land Cannot regenerate their limbs (although salamanders can regenerate some) |
There are very few instances when you should need to handle your axolotl. They are not normal salamanders that can be kept and passed from person to person. Holding an axolotl causes a lot of stress.
Because of this, there are many people who don’t see if they are worth the money it takes to house and feed them. While buying a $20 pet that you can’t handle seems rather cheap and worthwhile, for humans it’s not always worth the price of spending $300 on it and its habitat and then having to maintain it .
On the other hand, if you don’t mind shelling out a few hundred bucks for a really cool and unique pet, then an axolotl might be the perfect pet for you.
hp In the case where you need to hold your Axolotl, whether to have him check his stomach if you think he has eaten something that he should not have or whether to put him in another tank while cleaning , because he’s starting to relieve stress, you have to be very gentle and very, very soft.
Axolotls need a lot of support when being handled, so their whole body should be carefully supported with both hands. Hold them, but don’t squeeze them. Also, don’t be alarmed if they start scratching or biting, they don’t like being handled.
How Much do Axolotls Cost? What About The Accessories? -FAQs
Are Axolotls Good Pets?
Owning an axolotl is not common but exciting for its exotic nature. If you are looking for a pet to play with, owning an axolotl may not be the right choice for you, but if you want an awesome pet to take care of and gaze at, this salamander may be just the thing for you .
Are Axolotls Asexual?
Axolotls can be born either male or female. They reproduce by playing a little game with each other, and then the male shows the female around while laying sperm along the way for the female to ingest with her cloaca.
Do axolotls make noise?
Axolotls very commonly make small squeaking or gulping noises when breathing out of the water. However, not all axolotls do this. So if you feel like your axolotl is mute, don’t worry, he’s perfectly healthy.
How much does an axolotl and accessories cost?
For some people, this seems to be enough reason to search online and buy one or more axolotls in one of the many portals, usually without prior knowledge. Breeders make it easy for those who are looking: an animal costs no more than thirty euros, depending on colour, age and sex.
How much does it cost to own an Axolotl?
We always have 10-13 pools bubbling. My costs for this are about 20 € per month with food. If I get a lot of live food sometimes 25 €
What do you need for an axolotl?
You have to reckon with 50 to 80 liters of “space” in the water for each axolotl. The height of the aquarium is less important. Rather, one should pay attention to a sufficiently large base area of the aquarium. The aquarium itself should offer enough free space on the bottom and some retreats (caves, roots).
Can you keep an axolotl alone?
The axolotl can be kept alone or with other dogs. Keeping two or three axolotls together is entirely possible. However, it is important that the base area of the aquarium is sufficiently large.
Which lamps for axolotl?
I ordered a lamp with “Cloudy” mode from the forum shop, which varies the light intensity and our Lotl are almost always outside the caves – so I think it’s not too bright for them. Otherwise, plants are of course a great option.