Some axolotl owners report that their axolotls make sounds, but why do axolotls make these sounds? And how loud are these?
Axolotls don’t have vocal cords, but they can still make some sounds. These noises are usually a soft squeak or squawk that they can make when breathing with their lungs after taking in air from the surface.
How do axolotls make these noises?
If axolotls don’t have vocal cords, how do they manage to make sounds?
Most of the sounds that axolotls can make are related to their breathing. Axolotls can breathe using 4 different methods, through their skin, gills, lungs, and with their throat (buccal pumping).
When breathing with their lungs and buccal pumping, axolotls swallow air from the water surface. Using these air bubbles, they can then float through the aquarium and use them to make noises before releasing the air.
Here you can learn more details about how the different breathing methods work.
Why do axolotls make noises?
Some axolotls simply make the noises for fun, others make these noises when they swim to the surface and gulp air to breathe with their lungs.
If your axolotl exhibits this behavior often, you should check the water parameters to make sure everything is okay.
However, some axolotls just seem to enjoy floating around the tank with air bubbles in their lungs or breathing with their lungs.
Another situation in which axolotls sometimes make noises is when they are eating or when they are very stressed, such as being moved to another tank.
What do noises from axolotls sound like?
Axolotls rarely make sounds and some of them never do so. But when you do hear one of the rare sounds made by axolotls, it usually sounds like a squeak or squawk. Some axolotl owners also describe it as a sort of a “hiccup”.
How loud are the noises made by axolotls?
The sounds that axolotls can make aren’t loud and occur so seldom that at first you often don’t even realize that the axolotl has made that sound.
Conclusion
Even though axolotls rarely make noises, it can still happen under certain circumstances. The sounds occur when they are breathing with their lungs or when they have swallowed air and it is usually nothing to worry about. Here is an article on how axolotl hears the world.