Anyone have any experience with an Axolotl?

Cherokeekid88

Cherokeekid88

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2007
Location
High Point, NC
So My 6 year old daughter is obsessed with them. She has so many stuffed Axolotls and pens, and notebook, and stickers, you name it, she's got it. Well, yesterday she wanted to go to the pet store and look at some puppies and wouldn't you know it... they had about 10-12 Axolotls there to buy. Now, she wants to save her money up to buy one (which is cool) but I looked into the care for these things and it just seems like its a lot for what its worth. I'd really like to get her one for her Birthday in May, but it would only be under the rule that she has to take 100% responsibility of it. I would teach her what to do and have a schedule set up that she could follow, but I'm not even sure she could do all the things that need to be done, so its looking like it ain't gonna happen unless someone on here has one, had one, knows about em and can school me on them. We already bought her a dog that the barely helps out with (she does some) and Im afraid, this would turn out the same way...
 
My daughter has 1. Don’t know much about them though? Seems pretty low maintenance to me? Feed it worms and it seems happy. Neat watch though it eat. Soon as that worm hits the water. It tears it up. She doesn’t take it to school with her, so my wife feeds it for her during the week. She also has a crested gecko that goes to school with her but she brings it back home on the weekends.
 
After reading your post, I thought it was a type of dog, so I don’t have much to offer, except this:
Cherokeekid88 said:
We already bought her a dog that the barely helps out with
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If caring for it is a concern herein lies your answer.
 
Don't buy it for her., and don't tell her you'll contribute, but if she saves a significant portion of the money before her birthday, then fund the rest.... She'll almost certainly take more care and interest in it when she has an investment in it...
 
This is all I got....


Axolotl.jpg
 
My wife has 5 right now. She did have 11 at one time. They are alot of work and water temperature needs to be cool for them to live comfortably and stay healthy. They will live in 68 plus water but its not healthy for them. Temperature Management. It is very important to keep your axolotl's water cool. Axolotls are most comfortable kept in water between 15-20˚C (60-68˚F). We have a water chiller and do weekly water changes the water gets nasty quick. I suggest you go here Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) and read about the upkeep and health requirements for them. I personally would not give one to my child until they were at least in their teens. But that's me we find the care of them very demanding if done correctly. But its up to you. They have a lot of personality one we have will wag its tail when I pet her head. Best of luck.
 
Had to Google this thing. Looks like dang good Bass lure.
And nope. Not gonna care for it. If you want another chore sure. Aside from that if makes you happy to see the child happy go for it but the parents are gonna be keeping it alive or flushing it grave side.
 
Not helpful, but one of my 5yo girls is obsessed with them also. She has all kinds of stuffed animals and even dressed as one for Halloween.
 
They are not for beginners, she will kill it.
Start with something more forgiving like a betta or micro fish in aquarium is my suggestion.
 
we have had one for a year now. The tank prep and water testing was a pain in the beginning. We figured it would die within a few months. Sadly the creature is still alive. We havent checked the water since month two. He’s a tough little bastard.
 
Oldest I'd obsessed with them. He does good with his dog and pigs, so we are thinking about getting one down the road. Following along.
 
Yea they suck. It’s just a fish. The kids see all the stuffed toys and think they can hold/play with them. Those creatures have very fragile skin and you’re not supposed to touch them.
 
Cherokeekid88 said:
So My 6 year old daughter is obsessed with them. She has so many stuffed Axolotls and pens, and notebook, and stickers, you name it, she's got it. Well, yesterday she wanted to go to the pet store and look at some puppies and wouldn't you know it... they had about 10-12 Axolotls there to buy. Now, she wants to save her money up to buy one (which is cool) but I looked into the care for these things and it just seems like its a lot for what its worth. I'd really like to get her one for her Birthday in May, but it would only be under the rule that she has to take 100% responsibility of it. I would teach her what to do and have a schedule set up that she could follow, but I'm not even sure she could do all the things that need to be done, so its looking like it ain't gonna happen unless someone on here has one, had one, knows about em and can school me on them. We already bought her a dog that the barely helps out with (she does some) and Im afraid, this would turn out the same way...
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I want to preface this by saying I expect a lot from my kids but I also try to teach them how to do things and continue to follow up with them on building the skills... because they are kids. They can do some tasks without much supervision but they still need supervision because one of the things I'm trying to teach them is accountability. My older 3 can fry eggs, follow recipes, build fires, set up tents, and take care of the dog and the youngest, within parameters. Not all kids are the same. My 12-yo could do things at 7 that some kids can't do at 11. I know people with a 14-yo who don't trust them to do things that I trust my 10-yo to do. No one knows everything without first being taught, everyone makes mistakes, everyone has a bad day, everyone forgets things. Everyone does better with help and grace.

Dude, she's SIX. Have you taught her how to take care of the dog? Does she bathe herself independently? Does she prepare her own food? Feed and dress herself without any help ever? She should be able to help with the dog and help around the house, but she's 6.
 
trailhugger said:
I want to preface this by saying I expect a lot from my kids but I also try to teach them how to do things and continue to follow up with them on building the skills... because they are kids. They can do some tasks without much supervision but they still need supervision because one of the things I'm trying to teach them is accountability. My older 3 can fry eggs, follow recipes, build fires, set up tents, and take care of the dog and the youngest, within parameters. Not all kids are the same. My 12-yo could do things at 7 that some kids can't do at 11. I know people with a 14-yo who don't trust them to do things that I trust my 10-yo to do. No one knows everything without first being taught, everyone makes mistakes, everyone has a bad day, everyone forgets things. Everyone does better with help and grace.

Dude, she's SIX. Have you taught her how to take care of the dog? Does she bathe herself independently? Does she prepare her own food? Feed and dress herself without any help ever? She should be able to help with the dog and help around the house, but she's 6.
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She actually does alot her herself. She showers independently, she CAN take care of the dog (and that's probably our fault for not making her do it) she can prepare her own food to a certain degree. Certainly not using the oven or stove. But I know she really wants one, like more than just a toy at the toy store, but she really desires having one, but I just don't think she could handle it, hell, I don't even think I can handle it on top of everything else, but I know she would absolutely love to have one.

1stgenxxx said:
Yea they suck. It’s just a fish. The kids see all the stuffed toys and think they can hold/play with them. Those creatures have very fragile skin and you’re not supposed to touch them.
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And this is my thing too, she thinks they are cute and cuddly but she would only be able to basically watch it from a tank... so I don't know how long the new would last and how fast it would get old.
 
Cherokeekid88 said:
And this is my thing too, she thinks they are cute and cuddly but she would only be able to basically watch it from a tank... so I don't know how long the new would last and how fast it would get old.
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Less than a week.
 
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