So, you’ve done your research and have concluded that you would like to own a pet axolotl. The next question you are likely asking yourself is “Where can I buy an axolotl?”.
Indeed, axolotls are exotic pets and as such are somewhat harder to find than more common types of domestic pets such as cats, dogs or goldfish. As a result, it’s unlikely you will find an axolotl for sale at your local pet store…
Fear not, however. We’ve done the research for you! In this article, we will take a look at where to buy an axolotl in the United States – both online and in-store.
Continue reading below to find out more!
Table of Contents
- Where to Buy an Axolotl
Where to Buy an Axolotl
If you live in the USA and you’re in the market for an axolotl, you have several options: online or in-store.
Both options offer pros and cons, so continue reading below to determine which is best for you.
Where to Buy an Axolotl Online?
Whether you live far away from an exotic pet shop, or simply prefer the convenience of online shopping, buying an axolotl online offers many advantages.
However, there are also some pitfalls you should be aware of before checking out…
Advantages of Buying an Axolotl Online
Below are the 3 main advantages of buying an axolotl online.
- Large selection of colors/morphs
One of the main advantages of buying an axolotl online is the ability to choose from a large list of colors / morphs. Indeed, when buying from a local store, you have to choose from the limited selection available.
When buying an axolotl online, you can buy from whichever store carries the exact axolotl morph that you are looking for.
- Choice of breeder
Another benefit of purchasing an axolotl online is that you can check the breeder’s reputation by reading online reviews from people who have previously bought axolotls from them.
Also, reputable breeders will generally list out what precautions are taken and checks carried out on the animals to guarantee animal welfare.
Reputable breeders will generally commit to ensuring that axolotls are not illegally trafficked wild axolotls; receive proper care from birth; and undergo veterinary checks before being sold to customers.
- Competitive prices
Finally, the overheads associated with running an online business tend to be lower than those of a brick-and-mortar store. This is generally reflected in the lower prices online axolotl vendors are able to offer to their customers.
However, once the delivery costs to your specific state are included – the difference in price may ultimately be marginal.
Disadvantages of Buying an Axolotl Online
Below are the 3 main disadvantages of buying an axolotl online.
- Stressful for the axolotl
As touched upon in other posts, axolotls can get mentally and physically stressed in sub-optimal conditions. This stress can cause all sorts of issues, such as a peeling slime coat, unresponsiveness or altered feeding patterns for example.
In many cases, sub-optimal water parameters are to blame. Examples of poor water parameters are high temperature, high nitrate or ammonia levels, low oxygenation etc. As you can easily imagine, optimal water parameters are difficult to maintain when transporting an axolotl.
The shorter the axolotl is in transit the better. And, whilst many breeders use specialised couriers with experience in transporting pets, there’s no guarantee that optimal conditions will be maintained throughout the journey and that your pet axolotl will travel unscathed.
- Lack of personalized buying experience
Bonding with your pet is a fundamental part of pet ownership. And owning an axolotl is no different. This bonding process often begins at first sight – the very first time you set eyes on your axolotl.
If you’ve ever bought a goldfish at a pet store, you may remember that despite all the fish looking very similar you took your time to pick out the goldfish which you felt was the right match for you. Perhaps it was slightly bigger, or livelier or a slightly different shape or color than the others. Perhaps it’s the way it looked at you through the aquarium glass. In simple terms, there was probably some sort of connection between you and the animal.
When you buy an axolotl online, that connection doesn’t exist. Whatever axolotl the breeder decides to send you is the one you will have to take care of – love at first sight or not.
- Delivery time
First of all, it’s important to note that many online axolotl vendors sell axolotls on pre-order. This means that in many cases you may have to wait anywhere between 8-12 weeks for your axolotl to be delivered to you.
This is often due to the fact that when you order an axolotl, it may not have been born yet. Breeders tend to sell axolotls this way because it reduces inventory and means fewer individuals to feed and look after.
The axolotls are spoken for before they are even born and the breeders know relatively precisely how many eggs they should allow to reach maturity – as opposed to allowing thousands of eggs to hatch only to realize that they don’t yet have an owner. Indeed, as axolotls get older they become harder to sell (just like the majority of pets), and the risk is that breeders will be left with large quantities of unsold axolotls to take care of and the associated costs.
Secondly, transporting an axolotl via courier poses a number of logistical challenges. Indeed, the bag-in-box type containers which are used to deliver axolotls will only hold enough oxygen in the water for a day or two. If an axolotl gets caught in transit for any longer, it will likely suffocate to death.
As a result, breeders tend to only dispatch axolotls on certain days of the week – generally at the start of the week. This will ensure that the axolotl doesn’t get caught in transit over the weekend, when many couriers or delivery companies don’t deliver.
So, if you order an axolotl on a Friday you may have to wait until the following Monday or Tuesday for it to be dispatched – and then a further 24 hours for it to reach you.
List of Online Axolotl Sellers/Breeders
Below is a list of the most popular axolotl breeders with online stores in the USA.
Axolotl Planet claims to be the world’s largest breeder of the axolotls! Their focus is to raise the healthiest, strongest, most beautiful axolotls possible and bring them to pet owners across the planet.
Google Rating: 5 Stars based off 35 reviews.
Address: Axolotl Planet, 1805 Royal Ln Suite 104, Dallas, TX 75229.
Contact Email: [email protected]
Fantaxies is a small axolotl business located in the heart of Colorado. They claim to have high standards for the quality and treatment of the animals in their care.
They offer a 100% live arrival guarantee and sell only healthy animals. They also take individual photos of their animals so their customers can have a personalized buying experience.
Google Rating: 4.8 Stars based off 59 reviews.
Address: Colorado (only detail provided on their site).
Contact Email: [email protected]
Pet Central is a local pet and fish store that focuses on providing knowledge and customer service to their customers. They sell pet freshwater and saltwater fish, corals, reptiles (including axolotls), and birds.
Facebook Rating: 4.6 Stars based off 150 reviews.
Address: Bowling Green, KY.
Contact Email: [email protected]
Note to breeders/online stores: If your online store isn’t featured above and you’d like me to add it to our list, please feel free to contact us.
Where to Buy an Axolotl Near Me [50 State Guide]
In the section below, we will first take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of buying an axolotl in a pet shop as opposed to ordering one online.
I have also compiled a list of all the local pet shops that sell axolotls, state-by-state. I used Google to create this list, and I only selected stores that had working websites. If you’re looking for an axolotl for sale near you, you may want to sift through the list below.
Note to pet shops: If your business isn’t featured below and you’d like me to add it to our list, please feel free to contact us.
Advantages of Buying an Axolotl in-Store
- Better animal welfare
When you buy an axolotl online, it needs to be shipped to you. Although online vendors pay particular care to ensuring your axolotl’s trip from their facilities to your home goes as smoothly as possible, it’s undeniable such an experience has the potential to negatively impact the animal’s well-being.
After all, who would enjoy being put inside a bag or container, inside a dark box and sent from pillar to post for several hours / days? Then there’s the potential heat, noise, vibrations, banging, knocking and all the other unpleasant things that may arise during your pet’s trip.
With that in mind, it’s obvious that purchasing your axolotl in store and taking it home yourself via more conventional methods is potentially much less stressful on the animal.
- A “complete” experience
There’s nothing quite like that moment when you set eyes on your future pet companion and just know that they’re the one! Let’s say it’s a sort of “love at first sight”.
The only way to get this special bonding experience is to purchase your axolotl, in person, at your local store.
Then, there’s also the element of excitement about visiting your local store.
I will never forget the first pet I got when I was 7 years old: a bright yellow canary. I remember the anticipation building up as my mother drove me to the store; I recall the new and unusual smells inside the pet shop; the echoing sounds of the chirping birds and barking puppies and then choosing my bird, its cage and the required accessories. I will never forget that special day.
- Immediacy
When you buy an axolotl in-store, you can take it home with you immediately.
There’s no processing time or delivery time. You won’t have to wait before you can begin enjoying the company of your new friend.
Disadvantages of Buying an Axolotl in-Store
- Limited selection of axolotls
When buying an axolotl in-store, you will have to choose from the limited selection of individuals available to you on that day.
That means you may not get the exact color you want. It also means that the axolotl’s for sale may already be several weeks or months old.
That being said, certain stores carry very large stocks of axolotls – of all colors and ages. So, it really depends on where you shop.
- Limited choice of breeder
Most pet stores will tend to work with one, maybe two suppliers for a given type of pet. This will also be true for axolotls.
Moreover, not all pet shops will want to reveal the source of their axolotls as they may not want their competitors to know.
Therefore, you won’t always be able to check a breeder’s credentials when buying from a brick-and-mortar shop. So, if you’re concerned about the axolotl’s origins, or after some very special genetics which you know a breeder is famous for – then buying in-store may not always be your best option.
- Higher prices
Online business tend to have lower overheads (in % terms), than traditional brick-and-mortar shops. Their business model tends to be leaner. As a result, online pet stores can generally offer lower prices to their customers than local pet shops. And this holds true for axolotl vendors too.
However, this isn’t always true. Moreover, the difference may not be significant – especially when you include the cost of shipping etc.
So, all in all, we don’t think that the price difference between buying your axolotl in-store versus online should be a real deal-breaker!
List of Axolotl Sellers/Breeders Near Me [State-by-State]
Alabama
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Alabama?
Here is where you can find axolotls for sale in Alabama:
Alaska
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Alaska?
Here is where you can find axolotls for sale in Alaska:
Arizona
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Arizona?
Here is where you can find axolotls for sale in Arizona:
Arkansas
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Arkansas?
Here is where you can find axolotls for sale in Arkansas:
California
Where To Buy An Axolotl In California?
Axolotls are illegal in California. Therefore I am unable to recommend a place to buy axolotls in California.
Colorado
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Colorado?
Here is where you can find axolotls for sale in Colorado:
Connecticut
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Connecticut?
Here is where you can find axolotls for sale in Connecticut:
Delaware
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Delaware?
We couldn’t find axolotls for sale in Delaware. It’s likely you will have to shop online or visit a neighbouring state to buy an axolotl if you live in Delaware.
Florida
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Florida?
Here is where you can find axolotls for sale in Florida:
Georgia
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Georgia?
Here is where you can find axolotls for sale in Georgia:
Hawaii
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Hawaii?
Here is where you can find axolotls for sale in Hawaii:
Idaho
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Idaho?
Illinois
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Illinois?
Here is where you can find axolotls for sale in Illinois:
Indiana
Where To Buy An Axolotl In Indiana?
Here is where you can find axolotls for sale in Indiana:
This list is a work in progress – I will be adding the remaining US states as I go along.