It’s safe to say that axolotl are some of the strangest pets that you can purchase. Over the past few years, they’ve become quite popular and well-known, but they’re still considered an obscure pet.
These creatures are relatively affordable to own, need to be kept in groups of at least 2 to prevent them from getting lonely, and come in a variety of different colors/types.
They are not beginner pets, though, and should only be purchased by people that have done extensive research and preparation on proper care.
“Great…” you may say, “… but where do I buy an axolotl?” The answer to that is simple: A local axolotl breeder!
Table of Contents
Local Axolotl Breeders By State
If you’re looking to buy an axolotl, local breeders are your best bet. Many local breeders tend to be well-run and provide better care to their axolotls than large breeders (but please research breeders before purchasing).
Not only that, but if a breeder is local, you can simply go pick up your axolotl instead of having them shipped (which is riskier and more stressful for the axolotl).
However, it’s very possible to ship an axolotl safely, and it’s a good choice if there’s no local breeders near you. To help you find a breeder easier, we’ve marked axolotl breeders that primarily operate in a state, but also ship, with a 📦.
Alabama
- Alabama Axolotl
- 📍 Location: Alabama
- 🌐 Website: alabama-axolotl.business.site
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: (256) 589-7689
Alaska
- Alaskan Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Soldotna, AK (📦)
- 🌐 Website: alaskanaxolotls.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (907) 643-0342
- Northern Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Anchorage, AK (📦)
- 🌐 Website: northernaxolotls.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (907) 268-0650
Arizona
- A Lotl Lotls
- 📍 Location: Buckeye, AZ
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
- Custom Creatures Pet Shop
- 📍 Location: Phoenix, AZ
- 🌐 Website: customcreaturespetshop.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (602) 674-8002
Arkansas
None!
California
Axolotls are illegal to own in California.
Colorado
- 3Oh3 Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Arvada, CO
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (720) 779-6812
- Rocky Mountain Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Colorado Springs, CO (📦)
- 🌐 Website: rockymountainaxolotls.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Connecticut
- Angelina’s Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Milford, CT
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
- New England Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Plymouth, CT
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Delaware
None!
Florida
Alotl Dreams
- Alotl Dreams
- 📍 Location: Orlando, FL (📦)
- 🌐 Website: alotldreams.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (321) 396-2628
- Love A-Lotls
- 📍 Location: Clearwater, FL
- 🌐 Website: love-a-lotls-axolotls.ueniweb.com
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (727) 657-7748
- West Florida Axolotls and Exotics
- 📍 Location: Clearwater, FL (📦)
- 🌐 Website: westfloridaaxolotlsandexotics.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (727) 557-7422
Georgia
None!
Hawaii
None!
Idaho
- Alotl Dragons
- 📍 Location: Garden City, ID
- 🌐 Website: alotldragons.wixsite.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
- Awesome Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Boise, ID (📦)
- 🌐 Website: awesomeaxolotls.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (208) 602-3995
- Lovely Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Naples, ID
- 🌐 Website: lovely-axolotls.ueniweb.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Illinois
- Axolutely Adorable Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Ottawa, IL
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
- MOD Aquatics
- 📍 Location: Genoa, IL (📦)
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Indiana
- Strohl’s Herpitles
- 📍 Location: Vevay, IN
- 🌐 Website: sites.google.com/strohlsherptiles
- 📸 Social: Instagram
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Iowa
- Des Moines Axolotls and More
- 📍 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (515) 208-0656
Kansas
- Kansas Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Kansas City, KS
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Kentucky
- Louisville Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Louisville, KY (📦)
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Louisiana
- Southern la Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Slidell Slidell, LA (📦)
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Maine
Axolotls are illegal to own in Maine.
Maryland
None!
Massachusetts
- Lizzy’s Lotls
- 📍 Location: Marshfield, MA (📦)
- 🌐 Website: lizzyslotyls.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Michigan
None!
Minnesota
- Twin Cities Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Bloomington, MN (📦)
- 🌐 Website: axolotlstore.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Mississippi
The Pet Palace
- The Pet Palace
- 📍 Location: Hattiesburg, MS
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: (601) 261-1122
Missouri
None!
Montana
None!
Nebraska
None!
Nevada
- Western Axolotl
- 📍 Location: Reno, NV (📦)
- 🌐 Website: westernaxolotl.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (775) 240-2862
New Hampshire
- Gillywater Aquatics & Exotics
- 📍 Location: North Woodstock, NH (📦)
- 🌐 Website: gillywateraquatics.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
New Jersey
Axolotls are illegal to own in New Jersey.
New Mexico
None!
New York
- East Coast Axolotl
- 📍 Location: Long Island, NY (📦)
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (516) 795-3987
- The Axolotl Lady
- 📍 Location: Buffalo, NY
- 🌐 Website: theaxolotllady.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (716) 548-4483
North Carolina
- Carolina Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Wake Forest, NC
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
North Dakota
None!
Ohio
- Hog and Lotl Breeders
- 📍 Location: Stow, OH
- 🌐 Website: hogandlotl.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (234) 738-6173
- Midwest Axolotl
- 📍 Location: Central Ohio (📦)
- 🌐 Website: midwestaxolotl.weebly.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (937)209-0147
Oklahoma
- Okie Axies
- 📍 Location: Hennessey, OK (📦)
- 🌐 Website: okieaxies.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Oregon
- Livin’ a Lotl Dream
- 📍 Location: Corvallis, OR
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
- Oregon Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Portland, OR (📦)
- 🌐 Website: oregonaxolotls.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]| (503) 706-0706
- Siserah’s Aquatic Escape
- 📍 Location: Oregon
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Pennsylvania
- KBs’ Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Harrisburg, PA
- 🌐 Website: kbaxolotl.wixsite.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
- Tina’s Happy Axolotls
- 📍 Location: New Castle, PA (📦)
- 🌐 Website: happyaxolotls.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Rhode Island
None!
South Carolina
None!
South Dakota
None!
Tennessee
- Middle Tennessee Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Columbia, TN
- 📸 Social: Facebook
Texas
- Cowtown Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Fort Worth, TX
- 🌐 Website: cowtownaxolotl.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (682) 551-0418
- Happy Hart Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
- 🌐 Website: happyhartaxolotl.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Utah
None!
Vermont
None!
Virginia
None!
Washington
- Emerald City Axolotls
- 📍 Location: Olympia, WA (📦)
- 🌐 Website: emeraldcityaxolotls.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
West Virginia
- Lots&Lots of Lotls
- 📍 Location: Culloden, WV (📦)
- 🌐 Website: lotsandlotsoflotls.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (304) 942-4734
- Nina’s Axolotl Nursery
- 📍 Location: Wheeling, WV (📦)
- 🌐 Website: ninasaxolotlnursery.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (724) 513-4977
Wisconsin
- Eve’s Exotic Aquatics
- 📍 Location: Wind Point, WI
- 📸 Social: Facebook
Wyoming
None!
American Axolotl Breeders That Ship
As stated before, it’s usually the best option to get your axolotl from a local breeder that you can meet up with. However, there are some great breeders that ship their axolotls throughout the United States!
Axolotl breeders that ship and offer live arrival guarantees are used by thousands of axolotl owners yearly. Below, we’ve listed out some of the best, with some breeders operating for over 20 years!
- Axolotl Planet
- Owned and operated by biologists, hobbyists, and breeders, Axolotl Planet’s 10-person team is dedicated to improving industry standards and breeding healthy axolotls. They are partnered with many respected aquatics brands such as Texas Discovery Gardens and Axolotl Ranch. They are currently the world’s largest breeder of the axolotl.
- 📍 Location: Dallas, TX
- 🌐 Website: axolotlplanet.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram | Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (833) 628–4891
- Fantaxies
- Based out of the heart of Colorado, Fantaxies began over 20 years ago. They claim to raise their axolotls with the upmost care, with lots of room to swim and interact with an exciting environment. Fantaxies values traits such as long-term health, well-formed gills, good coloration and hearty appetites!
- 📍 Location: Arvada, CO
- 🌐 Website: fantaxies.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
- The Clutch Axolotls
- Though they are a smaller operation, The Clutch puts in all the work of caring for and breeding axolotls. They promise to maintain the best possible care from the moment the eggs hatch, until they are in the mail, on the way to your door.
- 📍 Location: St. Louis, MO
- 🌐 Website: theclutchaxolotls.com
- 📸 Social: Instagram
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
- The Mottled Lotl
- The Mottled Lotl is made up of a team of professional axolotl breeders, so you can be sure your new family member is coming from good hands. Not only do they offer axolotls, they also sell everything you need to properly care for them.
- 📍 Location: Madison, OH
- 🌐 Website: themottledlotl.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected] | (440) 289-1671
- Lost on a Mountain
- This American breeder is a scientist, long-time aquarist, and former dog breeder. They have been keeping aquatics for the past 15 years, and are dedicated to producing healthy, happy axolotl babies.
- 📍 Location: Mill Creek, WA
- 🌐 Website: lostonamountain.com
- 📸 Social: Facebook
- ☎️ Contact: [email protected]
Benefits Of Purchasing Axolotls From Breeders
If you’re looking to bring home a pet axolotl, turning to a breeder may be your best option for several reasons.
- There are many types of axolotls – Getting an axolotl at a pet store will likely yield you a common axolotl, like a wild type — not a bad thing, but definitely not unique. Breeders breed a variety of different axolotls that come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. This allows you to find the exact type of axolotl that you want.
- Breeder axolotls are generally well-cared for – Pet store axolotls are often mistreated due to the nature of the businesses that sell them. Axolotls from breeders, on the other hand, commonly receive much more care. Not only do breeders primarily operate out of passion for the species, but the health of their axolotls is also directly tied to their income. Breeders with unhealthy axolotls wouldn’t last very long, and their negative reputation spreads quickly.
- Breeder axolotls’ pedigrees are known – Every good breeder will have extensive records of each of their axolotl’s genetic histories. This allows you to know what axolotls you’ll get if you attempt to breed yours.
Identifying A Good Axolotl Breeder
Axolotls can be susceptible to certain illnesses and can die very premature deaths if they come from a bad breeder. Good breeders should take excellent care of their axolotls and provide detailed records of genetics and lineage.
If you decide to purchase an axolotl from a breeder, you need to do your research. Some unethical breeders may paint themselves as small, passionate breeders, but in reality they conduct terrible business.
When you find an axolotl breeder, you’ll need to do a little bit of vetting. There are a few questions that you should ask them to verify that you’re supporting a good business and getting a healthy axolotl:
- May I see your axolotls’ living conditions?
- Do you have references for previous buyers? (This can be supplemented with online reviews)
- Can you provide me with your axolotls’ genetic histories?
- What food do you feed to the axolotls as larvae/juveniles and adults?
- Why did you start breeding axolotls? What’s your mission?
Additionally, you’ll want to take note of the living conditions of the axolotls, as well as their physical health. The following are characteristics to look out for:
- Axolotls kept in groups of at least 2
- Clean and clear water
- Presence of hides, plants, and other structures
- Water temperature between 60-64°F
- Backward-facing, strong gills
- Walking along the bottom, not floating