Why Does Everybody Love Axolotls?

Photo by LaDameBucolique

Axolotls are a fairly uncommon exotic pet, but they’ve been gaining in popularity. In fact, axolotls can now easily be found on memes and t-shirts.

So what is it that everybody loves about axolotls?

Let’s take a look at what might be driving the sudden interest in this amphibian…

Axolotls never lose their gills

Although they are amphibians, axolotls have the unusual characteristic of remaining in water their entire lives. They are actually a type of salamander from Mexico, but unlike other salamanders, axolotls never lose their gills.

When you keep an axolotl, you keep them in an aquarium with water, much like you would with fish.

Axolotls have the cutest yawns

I’m going to trust the internet on this one. This video of axolotls yawning is pretty convincing:

Axolotls come in multiple colors

Axolotls come in several different color types, and each of them is interesting and looks quite different from the others.

In the photo below, you can see two axolotls of different coloring:

An axolotl is a forever baby…literally

Axolotls remain in their juvenile stage for their entire lives. That’s the reason why they never outgrow their gills. Technically, an axolotl could finish their metamorphosis, grow lungs, and transfer to land…it just doesn’t seem to happen very often.

But they can still reproduce even though they are technically in their juvenile form!

Axolotls have crazy regenerative abilities

Axolotls have some of the best body-part regeneration capabilities of nearly any animal. They even snack on each other’s’ limbs at times, just regrowing the lost bits and not dying.

That being said, even though your axolotl can regrow almost any body part, you should never intentionally harm your exotic pet.

People are obsessed with axolotls

All of the axolotl’s unique features have made them super popular. In fact, you can interact with axolotls in Minecraft. Check out this video of virtual axolotl features:

People have even created space in their video games for living out their virtual lives as axolotls. Don’t believe it? Take a look at this axolotl Minecraft video:

If you’re looking to add an axolotl to your home aquarium, come check out the amphibian specimens at The Tye-Dyed Iguana in Fairview Heights.