According to my research, axolotls are not illegal in the United States at the federal level. In other words, there is no general ban on the possession of axolotls in the United States. -Federal income tax must be collected, so you will need a sales tax number. Before you do that, please research the rules and regulations of your state and county. If you want to breed axolotoles, it is of utmost importance to know the laws surrounding your breeding and sales business. For example, in most states, it can easily be considered a “hobby” rather than a business if it is locally made and sales are extremely unusual. However, if you want to make a profit and use the money as one of the sources of your livelihood or investment, the income must be reported to the IRS. A suitable company must be registered by the state to be regulated and avoid fines and charges of tax evasion or illegal trade. A word of warning before starting this business: although it is perfectly acceptable and legal for you to have an axolotl pet, it is not legal to import them. This import permit generally requires the seller to complete the form so that the New Mexico resident can legally obtain this species. Let this be a warning to all those who would try to challenge this legislation and try to smuggle axolotls into illegal states. In addition, axolotls with gravel in their tank, which is small enough to eat, are prone to gastrointestinal obstruction.

If your axolotl encounters an obstruction, it will probably be sluggish and won`t want to eat. And if not treated immediately, death can occur quickly. Tiger salamanders are an endangered species, as are axolotls, so the state of Maine maintains this rule to protect its native salamanders. Instead, each state has its own laws and regulations governing the ownership of exotic animals in general and axolotls in particular. As a result, international trade in wild-caught axolotls is heavily regulated and monitored. Although axolotls are relatively robust to slight fluctuations in their environment, they also have a delicate and soft body with permeable skin. In fact, most of their body is made up of cartilage rather than bone. This means that they should not be handled unless absolutely necessary.

And if you need to take them out of their tank, do it with a fine mesh that doesn`t tangle any of their body parts. Tap water that has been treated with an aquarium water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramines is suitable for the axolotl. Never use distilled water and make sure the pH of the water is between 6.5 and 7.5. (You can find a water test kit to check at most pet stores.) Most owners find that a filtered aquarium is easier to maintain because unfiltered water must be changed frequently to remove waste. However, if you opt for a filter on the tank, the filtration rate should be slow. Strong filters that generate strong currents can charge an axolotl. Axolotls (and all other mole salamander species, for that matter) have been declared illegal in California out of concern about the potential threat an axolotl could pose to native wildlife if released. So stay tuned to find out where axolotls are legal or illegal. Surprisingly, not all states allow the importation of axolotls. Once you`ve set up your home properly, you usually only need to spend a few hours a week feeding and cleaning.

The rest is simply to enjoy as a calm and aquatic companion. Axolotls tend to be quite brave and are perfectly content to move around in their shell while being watched over by their humans. Some will come to the side of their tank when there is a person looking at them. An axolotl is considered a salamander and is illegal in four different states: California, Maine, New Jersey, and Virginia. Some states also require a permit. It is always advisable to check with county and city laws to see if there are any additional things that need to be done before buying or caring for an axolotl. They make interesting pets because they are salamanders that spend most of their time in the water, and are rare animals (considered exotic in some states). Be sure to do your research and do your due diligence before buying, as things like water temperature and nutrition need to be determined and planned ahead. Virginia lifted the ban on axolotls on August 1, 2021. Shipments of axolotls imported into Hawaii are subject to inspection. In nature, axolotls feed on snails, worms, crustaceans, small fish and small amphibians.

In captivity, they can be fed a variety of salted shrimp, small strips of beef or liver, earthworms, bloodworms, Tubifex worms, other frozen fish feed, and commercial fish pellets. Do not feed worms or fish that you have caught yourself, as they can carry parasites. In general, vitamin or mineral supplements are not necessary. In fact, axolotls are generally classified as exotic animals and are also an endangered species in the wild. At the time of this article, axolotls are illegal in the majority of the United States. If you want to import axolotl into your state, you must have an import permit. Some may assume that these bans are due to the fact that wild axolotls are threatened with extinction, but this is not the case. While wild axolotl populations are in steep decline and are likely to soon be threatened with extinction, axolotls kept as pets have been fully bred in captivity for generations and are descendants of a number of small colonies in a few different countries.

Another example of escaped pets destroying the environment can be seen all over the United States. Common goldfish are one of the best-selling fish in the aquatic hobby. Whether sold as pets or feeders, these fish have devastating effects on ecosystems when released into lakes or ponds. While most people may think of them as small, easy-to-care fish, this is not the case. In addition, axolots rarely undergo metamorphosis into a terrestrial form. The reasons for this are poorly understood, although it may have to do with hormones or the properties of water. Metamorphosis can be extremely stressful for an axolotl and significantly shorten its lifespan. If you notice any abnormal changes in your pet`s body, such as it is getting bigger, have it examined as soon as possible by a veterinarian who specializes in exotic animals. Efforts to naturally hybridize tiger salamanders with axolotls have proven EXTREMELY difficult, even by some of the most experienced breeders.

However, they are not particularly social animals and do not require tank attendants. They should not be kept with other species, as axolotls may try to eat pet fish, and fish sometimes nibble on them too. You should even be careful to place them with other axolotls. Juvenile axolotls can be cannibalistic in relation to each other, so it is better to breed them in separate enclosures. Adults can be housed together, but always beware of cannibalistic tendencies. When a body part is bitten by a chariot mate, an axolotl can actually regenerate it over time. However, it is always best to avoid this situation completely. However, these IUCN or CITES classifications of axolotls are generally not the reason why their possession is prohibited in some states. Owning an Ambystom species is a crime in this state, regardless of what a pet store says or if you bought the animal out of state. So it`s not just axolotls that are illegal here, but any type of ambystomy animal. It is illegal to keep, import and export Ambystomy species in California.

Expect to pay between $20 and $70 on average. Animals with rarer colorations, such as copper, tend to cost more. A healthy axolotl will be active, and it may accept food if you offer it. His skin should not be flaky and his body should be a little plump (as opposed to underweight), although he should not have abnormal swelling. At least one 15- to 20-gallon aquarium is recommended for axolotls. Make sure the tank has a secure lid, as it is not uncommon for these animals to try to jump out of their pen. A terrestrial area in the aquarium is not necessary for these fully aquatic animals. At the very least, the depth of the water should be slightly longer than the length of your axolotl. But adding extra depth contributes to water quality and gives your pet more freedom of movement.

The State of California considers axolotls to be “pests.” This means that they are thought to pose a threat to native wildlife. It was once illegal for axolotls to be kept, sold or bred as pets in Virginia. That is no longer the case and the law has recently been amended. Axolotls have been illegal for some time because they are considered exotic animals and it has been considered in the best interest of the welfare of native wildlife that they should not be mixed, which could happen by chance. Those who wanted to own axolotls asked us a few times if we would ship to their state where axolotls are not legal. The reason why many governments ban the possession of axolotls is because of the great environmental threat they pose if they were released into the wild. This is the case, for example, in California, where the possible release of axolotln could cause serious damage to the environment. When released into the wild, axolotls have the potential to easily outperform already struggling native salamander species such as the California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum).