The best way to buy an axolotl is to choose a captive-bred axolotl from a seller with clear photos, clear care info, and clear shipping or pickup rules.
Many people feel lost when they look for an axolotl for sale. They worry about fake listings, sick axolotls, harsh shipping, wrong tank advice, and laws in their area. Some people fear they will pay, wait for delivery, and then get no axolotl or an axolotl that dies soon after.
In this guide, we will walk through 10 places where you can buy an axolotl, how each option works, and what to check before you send money.
Checks Before You Buy an Axolotl From Any Place
- Confirm the axolotl is captive bred, not wild caught.
- Check that the seller shows clear photos and video of the same axolotl.
- Confirm age, size and feeding history in writing.
- Check local laws on axolotl ownership and transport.
- Confirm shipping method, live arrival policy and refund terms.
- Check water, tank and care advice match axolotl care guides.
- Confirm no signs of injury, fungus or gasping at the surface.
Rundown of 10 Places to Buy an Axolotl in the USA
You can buy axolotls in the USA from breeders and reptile stores that follow state rules and ship by mail. This rundown lists 10 places that sell axolotls and ships within the country.
|
Comparison of 10 Trusted Places to Buy an Axolotl
| Store | How You Buy | Key Point for Buyers | Average Price Range* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axolotl Planet | Online and Dallas store | Buy online or visit the Dallas store | $56–$430 |
| The Mottled Lotl | Online only | Order juveniles, adults, and eggs | $140–$3,000 |
| Tina’s Happy Axolotls | Online only | Order axolotls from a small breeder | $70–$120 |
| Gillywater Aquatics | Online only | Choose from named morphs when in stock | $100–$200 |
| Western Aquatics Axolotls | Online only | Buy school-raised axolotls in the USA | $95–$550 |
| Aqua-Lotl | Online only | Hand-raised axolotls shipped overnight | $50–$300 |
| Premium Axolotl | Online only | Order different morphs with care support | $68–$200 |
| Axolotls NYC | Online and pickup | Pick from many morphs plus food and gear | $60–$190 |
| Underground Reptiles | Online and store | Buy axolotls as part of a reptile range | $30–$200 |
| Backwater Reptiles | Online only | Buy groups of captive-bred baby axolotls | $49.99 for 6 babies+ |
*Price ranges are approximate and based on current live axolotl listings or packs at the time of research. Actual prices can change and can vary by morph and size.
Axolotl Planet
Axolotl Planet runs an axolotl store and online shop from Dallas, Texas. They breed axolotls and list them in a clear “shop for axolotls” section with care guides and blog posts for owners.
You can buy in person at their Dallas location or order through the website, with overnight shipping and a shipping / DOA policy that buyers must read before checkout.
What Axolotls They Sell
- Wild type axolotls in different sizes
- GFP axolotls that glow under UV light
- Rare color morph axolotls in a separate “rare” section
- Rescue axolotls rehomed through a rescue listing page
Do They Breed or Resell
They breed axolotls in-house and run the company as a full aquatics setup owned and operated by hobbyists, biologists, and axolotl breeders, while also rehoming rescue axolotls through their site.
2. The Mottled Lotl
The Mottled Lotl runs an axolotl store based in Ohio with a full online shop for axolotls and supplies in the USA. They focus on live axolotls for sale and support buyers with care, info and help.
They describe themselves as professional axolotl breeders and share blog posts, care sheets, and tank setup guides for people who want to buy an axolotl and set up a tank.
What Axolotls They Sell
- Captive bred axolotls from their own breeding program
- Adult axolotls, juvenile axolotls, and younger axolotls for home tanks
- A range of morph lines such as wild type, leucistic, copper and axanthic
- Axolotl eggs and axolotl care products for new keepers in the USA
Do They Breed or Resell
They breed axolotls in-house as their main work, design breeding pairs for strong lines, and may add new lines from other sources while keeping lineage records for buyers.
3. Tina’s Happy Axolotls
Tina’s Happy Axolotls runs a home-based axolotl shop in Pennsylvania and sells axolotls through an online store. They state that axolotls are home bred in the eastern USA and inspected by a vet.
Each order comes with a care and husbandry sheet, and the site gives care pages, shipping details, and a veterinary guarantee so buyers know how orders and checks work.
What Axolotls They Sell
Home bred axolotls with parents kept on site or from known clutches
Juvenile axolotls in lines such as wild type, copper, axanthic, and related morphs
Axolotl egg batches from planned pairings listed on the shop pages
Tank kits, filters, and starter gear for local buyers along with live axolotls
Do They Breed or Resell
They breed axolotls at home with parents on site, and some clutches also come from partner breeders, with vet inspection and a written guarantee before shipping.
4. Gillywater Aquatics
Gillywater Aquatics runs an online axolotl shop based in North Woodstock, New Hampshire, with a focus on axolotl breeding, care, and sales. They state that they ship axolotls in the USA and include free USPS Priority shipping in the axolotl price.
The site lists axolotls by name on the shop page and gives a care sheet, shipping rules, and comments area, plus they also appear as an axolotl breeder on reptile show and marketplace listings.
What Axolotls They Sell
- Axolotls from their own breeding setup in New Hampshire
- Juvenile axolotls in lines such as wild type, leucistic, copper, melanoid, and axanthic
- Wholesale lots of axolotls grouped by morph types for multi-axolotl orders
- Axolotls shipped with free USPS Priority shipping and options to upgrade shipping speed
Do They Breed or Resell
They breed axolotls as an exotics breeder and sell their own stock through the website, and their lines also appear in other breeders’ lineage notes.
5. Western Aquatics Axolotls
Western Aquatics Axolotls runs an axolotl shop based in Sparks, Nevada, and ships axolotls to legal states in the USA. They say they ship on a weekly schedule with a healthy arrival guarantee for axolotls.
They use axolotl breeding in a school setting to teach genetics, evolution, and related topics, and they list named axolotls and rescue axolotls on their product pages.
What Axolotls They Sell
- Axolotls from their own classroom-based breeding program in Nevada
- Named axolotls offered on the site in different morph lines
- Axolotls in common and less common morph categories for home tanks
- Rescue axolotls listed for rehoming under a rescue product page
Do They Breed or Resell
They breed axolotls in-house for teaching and sale, list their own axolotls on the site, and also take in and rehome rescue axolotls under clear shipping and DOA terms.
6. Aqua-Lotl
Aqua-Lotl is a hobby axolotl breeder based in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, with an online shop and a full “Axolotls for sale” section. They also run care guides, tank cycle guides, and support pages for new owners.
You order through the website and get shipping with a live arrival guarantee and support links for care questions and shipping terms.
What Axolotls They Sell
- Axolotls from their own breeding line in Oklahoma
- Baby and juvenile axolotls listed in the “Axolotls for sale” collection
- Morphs such as leucistic, wild type, copper, melanoid, GFP, and mosaic
- Axolotls sold with a live arrival guarantee and care guide links
Do They Breed or Resell
They breed axolotls as a small family hobby breeder and sell their own stock through the Aqua-Lotl site.
7. Premium Axolotl
Premium Axolotl is an aquatics company run by hobbyists, biologists, and axolotl breeders, with a site focused on live axolotl pets. They state that their goal is to raise standards in the axolotl trade and improve care for pet axolotls.
You buy through their online shop, and they ship axolotls with a 100% live arrival guarantee to the USA and other listed regions, with shipping costs and terms on a separate policy page.
What Axolotls They Sell
- Captive bred axolotls in morphs such as melanoid, golden albino and albino
- Axolotls around 3–6 inches in size on individual product pages
- Special morph lines including Enigma axolotls and other higher-end options
- Sanctuary and special care axolotls supported through their rescue and care work
Do They Breed or Resell
They breed axolotls in-house and also run a sanctuary role for sick or surrendered axolotls, then sell their own bred animals through the Premium Axolotl shop.
8. Axolotls NYC
Axolotls NYC is an aquatics company in New York that runs an online axolotl shop with a full “Axolotls” category. They also post care articles, cycling guides, and a care sheet for new buyers.
You buy axolotls through their site and can also see their store page and ratings on MorphMarket, where they list axolotls with regional shipping and local pickup options.
What Axolotls They Sell
- Axolotls in morphs such as axanthic, copper, leucistic, golden albino, melanoid, and wild type
- GFP axolotls in lines like GFP leucistic, GFP melanoid, and GFP wild type
- Axolotls offered in different size and price ranges across the 14 product listings
- Axolotls also listed on MorphMarket with a store rating and multiple morph groups
Do They Breed or Resell
They describe the business as owned and run by hobbyists and axolotl breeders, so they breed axolotls and sell their own stock through the site and MorphMarket.
9. Underground Reptiles
Underground Reptiles is a reptile and amphibian retailer with an “Axolotls” section under its animals menu. They sell axolotls online alongside other amphibians and list morphs directly on the axolotl category page.
You place orders through their website, and they ship axolotls by overnight carrier with a live arrival guarantee for animal orders.
What Axolotls They Sell
- Axolotls in morphs like wild type, albino, melanoid, leucistic, and GFP
- Juvenile, sub-adult and adult axolotls at different price points
- Single axolotls listed with photos and morph names on the product grid
- Axolotls shipped by overnight service with a live arrival guarantee
Do They Breed or Resell
They run a broad exotic animal store and list axolotls in that range, so they act mainly as a retailer and reseller rather than a dedicated axolotl breeder.
10. Backwater Reptiles
Backwater Reptiles is an online reptile site with a “Live axolotls for sale” page under its salamanders section. They ship axolotls in the USA only and link to a care sheet and shipping info from the same page.
Orders are placed through the product page, and they back axolotl orders with a 100% live arrival guarantee and the option to delay shipping in unsafe weather.
What Axolotls They Sell
- Captive bred axolotls sourced in the United States at facilities such as Frog Ranch
- Morphs and sizes from babies to adults, including wild type, albino, leucistic, white albino, GFP, melanoid, mosaic, copper and dalmatian
- Baby axolotls sold in mixed morph groups with a linked baby axolotl care sheet
- Axolotl listings that let buyers add feeder foods like daphnia and worms to the same order
Do They Breed or Resell
They sell captive bred axolotls that are produced at partner breeding sites such as Frog Ranch, so they operate as a reseller of those captive bred lines.
Basic Care Steps After You Buy an Axolotl
- Cycle the tank and test water for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.
- Keep water cool and stable within the safe axolotl range.
- Use a sponge filter or low-flow filter to keep water calm.
- Feed small worms or pellets and remove leftover food fast.
- Keep light low and give the axolotl hides for cover.
- Check gills, skin and body daily for stress or fungus.
- Do regular partial water changes and test water each week.
If you want a deeper walkthrough on tank setup, common mistakes, and daily routines after your axolotl arrives, you can read our beginner axolotl care and setup guide.
If you want to go beyond picking a seller and learn more about what axolotl ownership looks like over the long term, you can also read the Fantaxies axolotl blog. Axolotl ownership articles on Fantaxies cover topics like legal rules, long-term care, and what to expect as your axolotl grows, and they work well as a follow-up once you have chosen where to buy your axolotl.
FAQs
1. Is it legal to buy an axolotl in my state?
Axolotls are legal to own in most US states with no permit. As of recent guides, they are banned in California, Maine, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., and need permits in New Mexico and Hawaii, so always check your state wildlife agency and the seller’s current shipping list before you buy.
2. How much does a pet axolotl cost?
Recent price guides and vet sources put most pet axolotls for home tanks in roughly the $30–$100 range for common morphs, with many noting base prices around $20–$80 and rare or show morphs often running $100–$300 or more.
3. Is it better to buy from a breeder or a pet shop?
Many care guides suggest buying from hobby breeders or axolotl-focused sellers and then checking recent reviews, because some large or general exotic shops focus more on volume than on long-term axolotl care and genetics.
4. Is it okay to get an axolotl shipped by mail?
In the USA it is now common for breeders to ship axolotls by overnight courier in insulated boxes with heat or cold packs and a live-arrival or DOA policy; the key is to read each seller’s shipping rules and weather policy before you order.
5. What size axolotl should a new owner buy?
Guides often suggest a juvenile around 3–5 inches, as very tiny babies need careful feeding and can be harder for new owners, while juveniles at this size usually eat well and travel better.
6. What tank size should I have ready before I buy?
Most recent care sheets and vet articles call for at least a 20-gallon tank for one adult axolotl, with 30–40 gallons giving more stable water and more room if you ever add another axolotl.
7. Can I keep more than one axolotl in one tank?
You can, but sources warn about nips and stress, so they recommend a larger tank, similar-sized axolotls, and careful watching, many first-time owners keep just one axolotl until they know the basics.
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