When I first got into axolotls, I had no idea how different they were from other pets. Axolotls are these cute, water-living creatures that look like little underwater dragons with feathery gills. They don’t grow up like frogs do—they stay in their larval form forever, which is already super cool.
But what really surprised me was their reproduction habits. When female axolotls lay eggs, they don’t lay just a few—they can lay hundreds, sometimes even over a thousand eggs at once! It blew my mind how one tiny creature could produce so many eggs in one go.
That’s why people say their way of breeding is pretty unique compared to most animals. If you’re curious about how to breed axolotls or want to learn how to raise axolotl eggs the right way, it’s definitely something worth looking into because it’s a really fun and rewarding process.
How Many Eggs Do Axolotls Lay?
When my axolotl laid eggs for the first time, I was shocked—there were eggs everywhere! I counted around 300, but I read that they can lay anywhere from 100 to over 1,000 eggs at once.
It all depends on a few things like how big and healthy the female is, how old she is, and even how good the water conditions are in the tank. If the tank is clean and the temperature is just right, she might lay more eggs.
But if she’s young or not feeling well, she might lay fewer. It’s really interesting how many babies one axolotl can make just in one go!
How Often Do Axolotls Lay Eggs?
When I started keeping axolotls, I was surprised to learn they don’t just lay eggs once and stop. With the right care, they can lay eggs multiple times a year! My female axolotl laid eggs twice in one year because I kept the water clean, the temperature steady, and gave her proper food.
Their breeding cycle isn’t fixed like a clock, but when they’re healthy and kept with a male, they can breed more than once. It’s kind of amazing how often they can reproduce if everything in the tank feels just right to them.
What Do Axolotl Eggs Look Like?
The first time I saw axolotl eggs, I thought they looked like tiny jelly balls. Each one had a small dark dot in the center, which is the baby axolotl growing inside. They’re super soft and clear, kind of like little marbles made of jelly.
My axolotl laid them all over the tank—on plants, stuck to the glass walls, and even on the little decorations I had inside. It was like a surprise egg hunt! If you’re keeping axolotls, it’s really cool to spot these eggs and watch how they slowly change as the babies start to form.
Caring for Axolotl Eggs
When my axolotl laid eggs, I learned pretty quickly that it’s important to separate the eggs from the adults, or else the adults might eat them. I gently moved the eggs to a small tank using a spoon—it sounds scary, but they’re stronger than they look.
The incubation time is usually around 10 to 14 days, and I made sure to keep the water clean and the temperature between 18 to 20°C. I didn’t use a filter at first because I didn’t want the water flow to hurt the eggs.
Just changing a bit of water every day helped keep things fresh. Watching the tiny axolotls grow inside the jelly-like eggs was one of the coolest parts of the whole experience.
What Happens After Hatching?
When my axolotl eggs finally hatched, I was super excited but also a bit nervous. The baby axolotls were tiny and didn’t move much at first. For the first few days, they didn’t need food because they lived off their egg sacs. After that, I started feeding them tiny foods like baby brine shrimp.
It’s important to keep them in clean water and separate the bigger ones, because sometimes they bite each other. Not all the babies survive—some are weaker—but if you take good care of them, many do really well. Feeding them regularly and keeping the tank clean made a big difference in their survival rate. It felt awesome watching them grow day by day.
Conclusion
So, after going through everything, I can say that axolotls usually lay between 100 to over 1,000 eggs at one time, which is honestly crazy when you think about it. If you’re planning to breed them, just be ready for a lot of little jelly eggs showing up all over the tank.
My final tip for anyone starting out—make sure you have a clean setup and enough space to move the eggs safely. Breeding axolotls is fun and exciting, but it also takes care and patience. Trust me, seeing those tiny babies hatch makes it all worth it.
FAQs
How often can an axolotl lay eggs?
From what I’ve seen with my female axolotls, they can actually breed several times each year if the right care is taken. After a batch of eggs is laid, the body attempts to produce new eggs to replace the ones that are already out. But here’s the thing—not every female handles it well. If she’s still growing in length, the strain is increased, and at that point, she might even fall ill. That’s why giving her a break between breeding is really important.
Can axolotls eat their own eggs?
After my axolotl laid her eggs, I was surprised to learn that she could actually eat them. Axolotls don’t give any parental care, so once the babies are on the way, the female just leaves them unattended. When the eggs hatch into larvae, the little offspring have to fend for themselves. It sounds strange, but sometimes even the baby axolotls—called fry—get eaten by adults. That’s why I always move the eggs to another tank right away, just to avoid this awkward “family dinner” situation.
How fast do axolotl eggs hatch?
When I noticed my axolotl eggs starting to change shape, I found out they were fertile and beginning to bean, which means the embryo inside was developing. It was so cool to watch! From there, they usually hatch in about 14 to 21 days, but it really varies depending on the temperature of the water. Warmer water speeds things up, while cooler water makes it slower, so I kept my tank just right to help them grow safely.
Can axolotls reproduce on their own?
One thing that really surprised me when I started learning about axolotls was their unique reproductive behavior. Most people think they only reproduce the traditional way, where a male and female are needed. But axolotls actually have the ability to produce offspring even without fertilization. This rare process is called parthenogenesis, and it lets females undergo reproduction without a male. Even though this isn’t the most common means for them to breed, it’s amazing how nature gives them such a unique path to continue their line.
