When I first got into axolotls, I had no idea how to tell if mine was a boy or a girl. That’s what people mean when they say “sexing” an axolotl — it’s just figuring out the gender. It may not seem like a big deal at first, but trust me, it really matters. If you want to learn how to breed axolotls, or if you’re trying to stop accidental breeding, you need to know who’s male and who’s female.
I also noticed that keeping the wrong pair together can lead to stress or even aggression, especially in small tanks. You usually can’t tell their gender when they’re young, but once they hit around 6 inches or about 6–8 months old, the signs start to show. Knowing their sex early helped me plan my tank setup better and avoid surprises later in the life cycle of an axolotl.
How to Sex an Axolotl (Easy Guide for Beginners)
To tell if your axolotl is male or female, wait until they’re about 6–12 months old and at least 6 inches long. Males usually have a slim body, a longer tail, and a noticeable bulge near the cloaca. Females look rounder, especially around the belly, with a smaller cloaca.
Handle them gently using a container with water to avoid stress, and observe under soft light. Behavior can also help—males often perform a mating dance and act more territorial.
Avoid sexing too early, and don’t rely on bloating or color morphs alone, as they can be misleading. If you’re not planning to breed them, it’s best to separate males and females to prevent accidental mating, which can stress or harm the female.
At What Age Can You Tell the Gender?
When I was trying to figure out if my axolotl was a male or female, I found out you usually have to wait until they’re around 6 to 12 months old. Before that, they all kinda look the same, so it’s hard to tell. But once they start hitting sexual maturity, things change. My male axolotl got a bigger, rounder bump near his tail, and he looked slimmer overall.
The female one looked wider and more rounded, especially in the belly area. They were both about 6 inches long when I noticed the difference. So, if you’re watching your axolotl grow and waiting to learn its gender, just be patient — the signs show up when they’re ready.
Physical Differences Between Male and Female Axolotls
Knowing the physical differences between male and female axolotls is important so you can stop unwanted breeding and avoid fights in the tank. If you don’t know their gender, you might put them together by mistake and end up with eggs or stressed pets. Now let’s fully discuss and understand how to tell a male and female axolotl apart.
Males
When my male axolotl started growing up, I noticed a few clear signs. He had a longer tail compared to my female, and his body looked more slim and narrow. The biggest clue was the bulge near his cloaca — it became more noticeable as he got older. At first, I wasn’t sure if it meant anything, but after some research and watching him closely, I realized that’s a common way to tell if an axolotl is male.
Females
When I looked at my female axolotl, the first thing I noticed was her round belly, which got even bigger when she was carrying eggs. Her cloaca was smaller and not as noticeable as the male’s, and her tail was just a little shorter too. At first, I didn’t think these small changes meant much, but after seeing both side by side, it became way easier to tell the difference.
How to Examine Your Axolotl Safely
When I first tried to check if my axolotl was a boy or girl, I was super careful because they’re soft and don’t like being handled too much. I gently scooped mine up in a small container with water so I didn’t have to touch it directly.
That way, I could look at the tail and belly without stressing it out. Make sure your hands are clean and never squeeze them — just be calm and quick. It’s better to do this under soft light so you can clearly see the cloaca area and body shape without scaring your pet.
Can You Tell the Gender from Behavior?
When I was trying to figure out if my axolotl was a boy or a girl, I started watching how it acted in the tank. I noticed that the male did this weird little mating dance—like he was wiggling his tail and leading the female around. It looked kind of funny, but that’s one of the signs. The female didn’t really do much, she was more calm and passive.
Sometimes, males can also act territorial, especially when another axolotl comes close. They get more active and start showing off. So yeah, if you can’t tell just by looking at their body, their behavior can give you some good hints.
Common Mistakes When Sexing Axolotls
When I first tried to sex my axolotl, I got it all wrong. I tried too early, like when it was just a few months old, and everything looked the same, so I just guessed—and guessed wrong. Then one time, I saw my axolotl looking kind of bloated, and I thought, “Oh, must be a female,” but later I found out it was just from eating too much.
Another thing that confused me was the color morphs. My wild-type was easier to figure out, but when I got an albino and a golden axolotl, it was super hard to see the differences, especially around the cloaca area. So yeah, I learned the hard way that patience and knowing the signs matter a lot.
When to Separate Male and Female
At first, I didn’t think much about can you keep a male and female axolotls together, but then one day I saw eggs all over the tank. I had no idea they had bred by accident! After that, I learned it’s better to separate them if you’re not ready for babies. Accidental breeding can happen even when you don’t see them mating.
Also, breeding too early can really hurt the female—her body isn’t fully ready and it can stress her out a lot. Even overbreeding healthy adults can be risky, like if it happens again and again. So now, I only keep them together when I actually want them to breed, and I watch them closely.
Conclusion
If you’re not sure about your axolotl’s gender, it’s totally okay to wait until they’re fully grown. I made the mistake of guessing too early and got it wrong. What really helped me was watching them over time instead of just one day. Little changes slowly become clearer. And when I was still confused, I asked a breeder online and even checked with a vet. They pointed out things I didn’t notice before. So yeah, don’t rush it—just be patient and ask for help if you need it.
FAQs
How can I tell if my axolotl is male or female?
When I wanted to figure out if my axolotl was a male or female, the first thing I checked was the cloaca—that’s the genital area near where they poop. In male axolotls, it’s more enlarged and forms a rounded bulge just behind their back legs, right under the tail. For females, it’s usually flat and not that obvious. You really have to look closely and be sure it’s a definite difference because both males and females can look similar if they’re still growing. I’ve noticed axolotls don’t always show clear signs until they’re mature, so patience helps.
Can axolotls be touched?
Axolotls are best kept as observational pets because they are happiest when thriving in calm environments and left undisturbed. Their sensitive skin and delicate slime coat can get damaged, so touching should always be avoided.
How do I tell how old my axolotl is?
From the time my axolotl was a hatchling, I took live images every few weeks. At around 3 weeks old, it looked tiny and fragile, but by 3 months old, it was a young juvenile, and then a late juvenile at 5 months old. When it became sexually mature at about 1 year old, the size really showed a big increase. Now at 3-year-old, it’s a full adult, and I’ve noticed the loss of some regenerative capacity over time, which I heard is just a normal part of aging. The changes are actually pretty dramatic when you track them this way.
