When I first started keeping axolotls, I had no idea whether my axolotl was a male or a female. When people say ‘sexing axolotl,’ it simply means determining the gender. Initially, it seems like it doesn’t make a difference, but believe me, it becomes quite important later on.
If you want to breed axolotls or accidentally want to prevent breeding, it’s essential to know which one is male and which one is female.I also felt that if you keep the wrong pair together, especially in a small tank, the axolotls can get stressed, and sometimes you even witness aggression.
When axolotls are small, the gender is usually hard to determine, but as soon as they reach about 6 inches or are around 6–8 months old, signs start to become evident. Once I quickly figured out whether my axolotl was male or female, I planned the tank setup accordingly, and later on, there were no unwanted surprises.
Once I put two axolotls in a tank, and I didn’t know that they were of opposite genders. After a little while, I found eggs in the tank, and it literally confused me! So, it’s better to find out a little earlier.
Differences Between Male and Female Axolotls
It is very important to identify the physical differences between male and female axolotls in order to avoid unwanted breeding or fights in the tank.
If you don’t have an idea about the gender, you might accidentally keep both together, and then either eggs are produced or the axolotls become stressed.
I have made a table for you that contains all the differences of axolotls. These points will greatly help you in identifying male and female axolotls.
| Point | Male Axolotl | Female Axolotl |
|---|---|---|
| Tail Length | Tail Length Long and thin tail | A slightly short and round shaped tail. |
| Body Shape | Slim and narrow body | A little bulky and round body (can be more rounded because of the eggs) |
| Cloaca Area | There is a noticeable bump near the cloaca (bulge clearly visible) | The cloaca area is smooth, there is no bulge. |
| Face aur Head | Face slim and head also thin | Face broad and head comparatively thick or wide |
| Egg Carrying Ability | I cannot carry the eggs. | Eggs carry, the belly is visibly swollen. |
| Color | It can be in any color (white, black, albino, golden, wild) | It can be in any color (white, black, albino, golden, wild) |
| External Gills | They are long and fluffy. | They are comparatively smaller. |
| Size (length) | 8–14 inches adult size | 7–13 inches adult size (a little short) |
| Breeding Behaviour | During breeding, the male actively follows the female, swims more, and releases spermatophores. | In breeding, it remains calm, lays eggs, and finds hiding places. |
| Body Width Comparison | It is narrow, especially near the cloaca area. | The body is wider, especially noticeable during the egg-laying season. |
| Age to Identify Easily | It usually starts to get identified at least 6 months of age. | It is clearly identified in 8–12 months. |
| Front Legs Thickness | Front legs comparatively thin and light delicate | Front legs are relatively thicker and stronger. |
At What Age Can You Tell the Gender?
When I was trying to understand whether my axolotl is male or female, I found out that usually you have to wait 6 to 12 months. Before that, all axolotls look the same, making it difficult to guess their gender.
But as soon as they reach sexual maturity, the differences become clear.My male axolotl had developed a large, round bump near his tail, and overall he looked a bit slim. The female, on the other hand, had a wider and rounder belly area.
Both were about 6 inches long when I started to notice this difference.So if you also want to know the gender of your axolotl, just have patience. As they grow a little, these signs will become apparent.
How to Examine Your Axolotl Safely
When I first began checking the gender of my axolotl, I was very careful. Axolotls have very soft skin and they do not like to be handled a lot. Therefore, I did not pick them up directly with my hands.
I just took a small container, filled it with water, and gently scooped the axolotl into it. By doing this, I was able to see their tail and belly easily, without any stress.
Always remember, your hands must be clean and never squeeze or hold the axolotl tightly. Work as relaxed and a little quickly as possible, so that they are not disturbed for too long.
Another tip, check under soft light, such as the normal light in the room or a soft lamp’s light. This makes the cloaca area and body shape clearly visible, and the axolotl does not get frightened. Basically, the gentler and calmer you are, the better it is for your pet.
Can You Tell the Gender from Behavior?
When I was trying to figure out whether my axolotl is a boy or a girl, I started observing their behavior in the tank. I noticed that male axolotls perform a strange mating dance, they wiggle their tails and lead the female around.
This scene seems a bit funny, but it’s a solid sign.Females usually don’t do much; they remain quite calm and chill. Sometimes males can become a bit territorial, especially when another axolotl comes close.
Then they become more active and show their presence.So if you’re not sure just by looking at their bodies, you can learn a lot from their behavior as well.
Just observe, who is more active, who is dancing, or who is just relaxing. These hints can also be helpful in guessing their gender.
Common Mistakes When Sexing Axolotls
Often people make some common mistakes when checking the gender of an axolotl, which are mentioned in the points below:
- They log very quickly, meaning an axolotl is small, and that’s when they start checking the gender, even though at that age they all look the same.
- Many people think an axolotl with a bloated belly is female, whereas it is often just due to overeating.
- In light-colored morphs like albino or golden, the cloaca area and body difference are not visible, which makes it difficult to guess the gender correctly.
- They only look at body signs, ignoring behaviors such as mating dance or the male being active.
- Some people catch the axolotl too forcefully without water or handling it gently, which can cause stress to the axolotl.
- They check gender in very bright light, which can also scare the axolotl and the differences are not clearly visible.
- They do not have patience, do not wait, whereas it takes at least 6 to 12 months to determine the correct gender until reaching maturity.
When to Separate Male and Female
In the beginning, I didn’t really care whether to keep male and female axolotls together or not, but one day I was shocked to see eggs everywhere in the tank. I didn’t even realize when they had bred! After that day, I understood that if you don’t want babies, it’s better to keep them separate.
Sometimes accidental breeding happens even when you haven’t seen them mating.Breeding them too early can be dangerous for the female, their bodies are not fully ready and they feel a lot of stress.
Even healthy adults can be at risk if they are bred repeatedly, especially if it happens too often. So now I only keep them together when I actually want to breed them, and I observe them closely.
Conclusion
If you are not sure about the gender of your axolotl, there is absolutely no need to worry. The best thing is to wait a little until they fully grow. I also made an early guess in the beginning and got it wrong. The most helpful thing for me was that I observed them over time, not just in one day. Slowly, the signs become clear on their own.
And if there is still confusion, you can ask an online breeder or show it to a vet. They point out things that we often miss ourselves. So don’t rush, just be patient, and if you need help, don’t hesitate to seek it. And yes, if you ever don’t understand something or need extra advice, you can also ask me for help!
FAQs
How can I tell if my axolotl is male or female?
When I wanted to see whether my axolotl is male or female, the first thing I checked was the cloaca, this is the area through which they poop and it also indicates their gender. Male axolotls have a slightly larger cloaca which creates a rounded bulge just behind their back legs, underneath the tail.
Females usually have a flat cloaca and it is not as noticeable.You have to look closely here because both genders often appear similar when they are small. Many times, the difference between males and females only becomes clearly visible when they mature. That’s why patience is very useful, just wait a little, and then you can easily see the difference.
Can axolotls be touched?
Axolotls should be kept as pets to be observed in the best way possible because they are happiest when they have comfort and peace and are not disturbed. Their skin is very sensitive and their slime coat is also very delicate, which can be easily damaged. Therefore, avoid touching or handling them to keep them healthy and stress-free. …
How do I tell how old my axolotl is?
When my axolotl was a small hatchling, I used to take its live pictures every few weeks. At around 3 weeks of age, it looked very small and fragile, but after 3 months, it had become a young juvenile, and at 5 months, it appeared as a late juvenile. Then, by the time it was about 1 year old, it became sexually mature, and there was quite a noticeable difference in size. Now my axolotl is an adult at 3 years old, and I have noticed that its regenerative ability has decreased a bit—which I have heard is a normal part of aging. When you track the growth of an axolotl like this, the changes actually seem quite dramatic.
