Many new axolotl owners are completely unaware that they’ve got a pair of the opposite sex—until one day they check the tank and suddenly find hundreds of eggs sitting at the bottom. Most likely, they got their axolotls before they were sexually mature and didn’t know how to identify their sex.
This can feel like a big problem, especially if you weren’t prepared. In this article, we’ll discuss what options are available and what to look out for if your axolotls accidentally breed, along with helpful tips on how to breed axolotls safely and understanding the axolotl breeding season.
If Your Axolotl Accidentally Breeds, What to Do?
One morning, I looked in my axolotl tank and saw tiny jelly-like eggs everywhere. At first, I didn’t even know what they were. Turns out, my male and female had accidentally bred overnight. I wasn’t planning to breed them, so it caught me off guard. I didn’t have the right setup, and I knew I couldn’t take care of hundreds of baby axolotls. It was a mix of excitement and panic.
I quickly searched what to do and found out about culling the eggs in a safe and kind way. I used a turkey baster to gently collect the eggs and placed them in a ziploc bag, then into the freezer for 72 hours. It made me feel better knowing that this method prevents pain because the embryos don’t fully develop.
After that, I threw the frozen eggs in the trash. It wasn’t easy, but it was the right choice. I learned that even if you don’t plan to breed axolotls, you still need to be prepared in case it happens.
Instructions
When my axolotls bred without warning, I had to act fast. I used a turkey baster to gently gather the eggs, though sometimes I just used my hands with care. I placed them in a ziploc bag and put it in the freezer for 72 hrs.
This stops the development of the embryos before they can fully develop, which means they won’t feel any pain. After that, I simply disposed of the frozen eggs in the trash or compost, depending on what was available. Culling this way is safe, respectful, and quick.
First Things First, Separate the Parents
If you’re wondering, can you keep a male and female axolotls together, the short answer is no—especially once they’ve bred. When axolotls of the opposite sex accidentally breed, the first thing you should do is make sure they are permanently separated to avoid repeated breeding, which can lead to the female’s exhaustion or even death.
Setting up a separate tank is the safest solution, but if that’s not possible, you may need to rehome one of the parents. A divider might sound helpful, but be very careful—most products aren’t 100% effective since axolotls don’t breed like mammals. The male releases sperm (called spermatophores) on the ground, and the female picks it up through her cloaca to inseminate herself.
If there are holes or gaps in your divider that allow water to move through, the male’s spermatophores can still reach the female and lead to breeding—even without any direct contact between them. Use a solid barrier with no gaps, and install a separate filtration system on each side of the divider to keep them truly apart.
Responsible Way to Cull Axolotl Eggs
When my axolotls accidentally bred, I was shocked to see hundreds of tiny eggs overnight. At first, I didn’t realize the serious responsibility that came with them. In captivity, there are no natural predators, so the chances of overpopulation grow fast. I didn’t have the time, space, or even enough knowledge and funds to raise so many babies.
That’s when I learned that taking the right course of action means you must cull the excess eggs early. Letting all of them hatch can lead to neglect, abandonment, and even a painful existence for the animals. Trust me, I saw stories from New Zealand where animal rescues got overwhelmed by thousands of unwanted axolotls.
Axolotls have evolved to lay nearly a thousand eggs at a time because, in the wild, only a few offspring survive to adulthood. But in a tank, that natural strategy doesn’t work. There’s no environmental pressure, no factors like predators, so all embryos can develop.
This causes overpopulation, disfigurement from nipping, spread of diseases, and stressed-out tanks. As an owner, I had to learn how to responsibly remove eggs to prevent suffering. Ethically, it is significantly less cruel to act early than wait and realize you can’t provide the proper care.
Culling isn’t about being heartless—it’s about protecting the population and honoring the parents’ natural limits.
FAQs
Do axolotls breed by themselves?
Yes, Axolotls can breed naturally, especially during the colder months. I noticed that when the water temperatures in my tank began to decrease and then increase slowly, my axolotls started to mate and later lay eggs without me doing anything. If your axolotls are in good breeding condition, it just happens. One clear indication is the sudden change in the size and shape of your pet, which can show that it’s getting ready to lay eggs.
How to stop axolotls from mating?
If you really want to stop your axolotls from breeding and laying eggs, the most effective thing is to separate the male and female into different tanks. I learned the hard way that just using a divider doesn’t help much—sperm can still float around and fertilise the eggs even when they’re housed together. If you can’t manage two tanks, it’s best to rehome one of them before they mate again.
How do axolotls breed?
The male axolotl walks forward and deposits a packet of sperm called a spermatophore. He then leads the female so her cloaca moves right above it, and she takes it up into her body.
Can axolotls breed asexually?
While axolotls usually reproduce through traditional means, some females have the ability to produce offspring without fertilization by a male, a process called parthenogenesis. This rare reproductive flexibility adds a unique layer of intrigue to their biology.
