Handleability
Axolotl are an absolute no-handle pet. They are not reptiles, they are in fact amphibians. All amphibians have extremely porous skin, so any oils/dirt/chemicals you may have on your hands from day to day activities that, even though they are essentially harmless to humans, they can cause these creatures great discomfort and possibly serious health issues if they come into contact with their skin. If you have to handle your amphibian for check up reasons, always wear gloves which are reptile safe. In saying this they are extremely well mannered, curious creatures that will offer hours of joy by watching them explore their environment.
Size/Colour
Axolotl are a reasonable size, being around 8-12 inches long. They are quite chunky for their size. A fact about these creatures is that they can regrow their limbs. They also come in a variety of colours, mainly being pale white with pink tendrils, or black/brown hues with sometimes even blue tendrils.
Diet
Axolotl are insectivores, so they will eat most insect, however the easiest ones for them to eat are a variety of worms. If you do go out to your garden or a public place to get worms, make sure they are found in a place which is not treated chemically for pests, as these can be injested by the axolotl and cause severe complications. Your best bet is to go to your local pet store and purchase them there, or cultivate your own supply of worms. This can easily be done and does not take up too much room.
Habitat
Axolotl are a little harder to keep than other reptiles, as they need to be kept in an aquarium, which brings along all the challenges of keeping a well balanced aquarium, which can be a difficult task for first timers. If you already keep fish successfully and know how to keep healthy water, you should not have a problem. These guys need the water to be very cool, as opposed to most pets. The water needs to be around 17*c/62*F, which can be a challenge for those who live in areas with these sorts of ambient temperatures or higher, or you tend to keep your house warmer than this. Common practice is to use a small fan on the water surface if required, and in hotter times like summer, to use ice packs to maintain cooler temperatures. Any temperature above 24*c is extremely stressful for them. They must be kept in an aquarium no smaller than 30 litres, but just like with your own home, the bigger the better.
Lifespan
Axolotl in the wild live between 10-15 years, but as they are being kept in captivity, with these wild dangers eliminated, they have been known to live long past this figure.
Experience Level
If you are already an intermediate fish keeper, you should have no problem keeping axolotls. To emphasise, they are display pets, so if you have young children, educate them on this, and treat them like fish as far as handling goes. If you have not kept fish before, I would recommend researching how to look after fish thoroughly before looking at aquiring an axolotl.
