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| Name: |
Maxolotl
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Age: |
One year old
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| Gender: |
Female
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Kind: |
Axolotl
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| Home: |
Boulder, Colorado, USA
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Axolotls are really interesting creatures. They only exist in one place on earth, one river in Mexico. Unfortunately, there are only about 1,000 of them left in the wild due to pollution and runoff. On the bright side, many axolotls can be kept as pets to prevent their extinction. They can even regrow their limbs, heart, and brain which is what really makes them a biological anomaly.
Maxolotl has beautiful pink external gills and even has a set of lungs. The reason for her coloration is due to her carrying two recessive alleles, meaning she is technically a mutant axolotl. She enjoys walking around the bottom of her tank, hiding in the labyrinth of plants, and of course, devouring bloodworms (something I wouldn't be too fond of eating myself, but she loves it). If you come up to the tank she will follow you around exactly where you go. They say that axolotls aren't social creatures per say, but I would have to disagree as she loves being in my company.
Maxolotl has had an interesting past to say the least. I got her originally when she was only about one to two months old, and it's been a pleasure watching her grow up into the strong independent woman she is, who does not need no man! It took her awhile to become independent because she did have a man in her life, an axolotl named Otto. Unfortunately, due to the difference in sexes, which only becomes apparent after I found eggs in their tank, I had to separate them and give Otto to a friend. Maxolotl and Otto got down and dirty on Valentine's Day weekend, of course they did it when their owner was away for the weekend. Despite trying my hardest to keep the babies alive with live Daphnia and water changes, none of them made it past the 20 day mark.
Maxolotl was very upset when they had to be separated, searching for Otto throughout her tank. It was absolutely heartbreaking, again, the reason I don't believe axolotls are not social creatures. However, Otto was not too fond of Maxolotl to begin with, and enjoyed trying to eat her legs instead of the bloodworms at feeding time- quite a scary incident to say the least. He didn't mind being separated, but she cared deeply, a situation many humans can relate to as well. She got herself out of this toxic relationship, and has been thriving ever since.
Despite some tragedies in her past, she has become a happy and independent axolotl. Plus she enjoys having all of my attention now. It's lovely being able to get to know her and how she's changed over time. You wouldn't think that a tank creature would be full of personality, but she is, which is one of the things I love most about her. Plus, she is so beautiful with her vibrant pink gills. She is absolutely the light of my life, and I hope she feels the same about me.
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