You’ve decided that you want to get an axolotl, but you’re not sure where to buy one? Let’s take a look at the different options for where you can get your first axolotl.
When you want to buy your first axolotl, you have the choice between local breeders, pet stores and offspring from hobby owners. Local Axolotl breeders are the best choice for a new Axolotl, they are very knowledgeable about Axolotl care and the best chance for you to get a healthy new Axolotl.
Where can you buy Axolotl?
Your tank should be set up and everything ready before you buy your Axolotl. It is best to wait until your aquarium is cycled by letting it run with plants and the filter for a few weeks, usually 6 weeks is recommended. This allows the system in the tank to stabilize and you have time to regularly test whether the water values, and temperature are within the correct range before you add an axolotl to your aquarium.
Local Axolotl Breeders
The first and usually the best choice to buy a new Axolotl are your local Axolotl breeders. Local breeders are very experienced in keeping and caring for Axolotls, so you will get a healthy young Axolotl.
Exotic Pet Shop
You can also buy Axolotls in many Exotic Pet Shops, but the housing conditions can vary a lot. Make sure that the Axolotls are well taken care of and healthy, ask the employees responsible for the Axolotl a few questions about how they take care of them.
Also look out for signs that the Axolotl is sick or stressed, such as:
- Gills without “fringes” or strongly forward curved gill branches
- White spots on their skin
- A tail bent upwards
- Very hyperactivity or lethargy
Here is a complete article on signs that an axolotl is sick or stressed.
Online Seller
Buying your new Axolotl over the internet can be difficult with both breeders and pet stores, as you can’t actually observe the Axolotl beforehand to make sure they’re healthy.
Here are some online sellers who have a good reputation:
Baby Axolotls From Hobby Owners
Another place to get your new axolotl are hatchlings from hobby axolotl owners who raised them themselves. Again, you should make sure that the axolotls have been well taken care of.
How much does an axolotl cost?
A young axolotl around 3 inches usually costs between 25 and 50 dollars, depending on the color morph and pattern. Adult axolotls usually cost more than larvae, with prices ranging from 30 to 75 dollars.
What determines the price of an axolotl?
- How old the axolotl is
- The color morph
- How rare the color and pattern is
| Type | Average Price | Availability | Color |
| Wild Type Axolotl | 40 to 90 Dollar | Common | spotted with brown, green or black base color |
| Leucistic Axolotl | 40 to 90 Dollar | Common | white body, dark eyes, pink gills |
| Albino Axolotl | 40 to 90 Dollar | Common | white-pink body, pink-red gills, white or red eyes |
| Golden Axolotl | 50 to 150 Dollar | Common to Uncommon | gold-yellow body often with shiny golden spots |
| Black Melanoid Axolotl | 60 to 150 Dollar | Common to Uncommon | deep black color, gills also black |
| GFP Axolotl (Green Fluorescent Protein) | 60 to 180 Dollar | Uncommon | have Green Fluorescent Proteins in their skin, glow green under ultraviolet lights |
| Copper Axolotl | 100 to 200 Dollar | Uncommon | copper body with dark and light spots, often dark gills |
| Lavender Axolotl | 120 to 250 Dollar | Uncommon | light lavender color with brown spots |
| Chimaera Axolotl | rarely sold – 300 to 500 Dollar | Rare | “split” in the middle, both body sides different colors |
| Mosaic Axolotl | rarely sold – 300 to 500 Dollar | Rare | two different color patterns in patches over their body |
| Enigma Axolotl | not sold | very rare | dark gray base color with shiny, golden spots |
| FireFly Axolotl | not sold | extremely rare | tails has a completely different color than body |
The prices can vary widely depending on where you want to buy your first Axolotl. Local breeders and especially Hobby Owners are often a lot more affordable than large breeders.
What are GFP Axolotls?
GFP Axolotls are genetically modified to carry the gene to produce green fluorescent proteins. These proteins glow bright green when exposed to ultraviolet lights. These color morphs cannot occur in nature and are only possible due to genetic modification.
How much does an albino or pink axolotl cost?
A relatively common pink or albino axolotl often costs between 40 and 80 dollars.
How much does a wild type axolotl cost?
Wild type axolotl resemble their wild relatives in Lake Xochimilco and have a brown, black or green color. On average this color morph costs around 40 to 100 dollars or more depending on the pattern.
Fantaxies for example sells wild type Axolotl with a Leopard pattern for around 155 dollars. The prices for axolotlplanet for wild type Axolotl range from 40 to 90 dollars.
What are the most expensive Axolotls?
How expensive an axolotl is depends mostly on how rare its color morph is. Some of the rarest axolotls are:
- Chimaera Axolotl
- Mosaic Axolotl
- Lavender Axolotl
- Enigma Axolotl
- FireFly Axolotl
There are only a few axolotls that have such color strokes, therefore they are very rarely found at breeders and are accordingly expensive.
How much does a Lavender Axolotl cost?
Lavenders, sometimes called Silver Dalmatian Axolotls, have a grayish-white base color that looks slightly purple or lavender. Additionally, they usually have dark or brown spots, resembling a Dalmatian dog. This color variant is also uncommon and costs approximately between 120 and 250 Dollar.
How much is a chimera Axolotl?
Chimera axolotls have differently colored body halves, they look “split”. Since such axolotls occur only rarely, they are comparatively expensive and are usually sold with prices between 300 and 500 Dollar.
How much does a Mosaic Axolotl cost?
Mosaic axolotls have two different color patterns that are distributed in patches over their entire body. This is especially noticeable when dark and light patterns alternate. Mosaic axolotls are similarly rare as chimera and rather seldom to be found on sale. Then they are priced between 300 and 500 Dollar.
How much does an Enigma Axolotl cost?
Enigma Axolotls have a dark gray base coloration and golden, shiny spots. The golden spots often look bright against their dark base color. These axolotls occur only extremely rarely, and currently none are sold.
How much does a FireFly Axolotl cost?
FireFly axolotls can’t occur naturally, they are only created for research purposes. This makes them extremely rare! In FireFly axolotls, the tails of two axolotls are swapped at the embryo stage, so that the adult axolotls have a different colored tail than the rest of the body.
FireFly axolotls are currently not available for purchase.
What should you pay attention to when buying an Axolotl?
To make sure you buy a healthy Axolotl, there are a few things you should look for.
- Axolotl should only be sold when they reached around 3 inches (7 cm) or at least have all their legs
- Make sure that the seller doesn’t raise massive amounts of larvae, but only so many that all are well taken care of
- The Axolotl should be tested regularly for BD
Since Axolotl larvae don’t have a well-developed immune system until they are about 3 inches (7 cm), they should ideally only be sold at this size, as moving them to their new home will bring some stress.
Also, axolotls should be tested regularly for BD (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), or chytrid fungus. Chytrid fungus is a fungus that causes infection in axolotls and can be fatal in the worst case scenario.
Conclusion
The best place to buy your new Axolotl is from a local breeder, although you may have to wait until the Axolotl larvae are big enough to move into their new home.