Why One Type Of Pet Fish Is Selling Out Of Pet Stores Nationwide
The axolotl, a type of salamander, is suddenly selling out of pet stores across the nation due to its appearance in the wildly popular video game Minecraft and a TikTok presence.
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Axolotls are cartoonish-looking amphibians that are indigenous to aquatic lakes surrounding Mexico City. Recently, they’ve picked up in popularity as more people purchase them for their at-home aquariums. Due to their introduction to internet platforms like Minecraft and TikTok, axolotls have been selling out of pet stores nationwide.
Jake Pak, the CEO of the world’s largest axolotl breeding company, told NPR TikTok and Minecraft have driven the majority of sales. Though axolotls have been around for a long time, they were seemingly unknown to most people worldwide before the 21st century. Now that many axolotl owners have gone viral on TikTok for showcasing their pink amphibians, there’s more interest in and knowledge about these baffling creatures.
For those unfamiliar, axolotls are amphibians closely related to tiger salamanders but reach adulthood without any metamorphosis, which is unusual for other associated species. This gives these animals a unique look, with three feathery gills sticking out behind their left and right cheeks. The axolotl can only be found in two lakes in Mexico, Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco, which exist right outside Mexico City.
Due to the rapid pollution and urbanization of Mexico City, axolotls have been dealing with the looming threat of total extinction since 2020. Only 500 to 1,000 of them currently thrive in the wild, appropriately listed as critically endangered under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species. Scientists have extensively researched these amphibians for their unbelievable regeneration process, holding the capability of reconstructing limbs, eyes, gills, and even parts of their brains.
Though axolotls are endangered in the wild, they’ve been more prevalent recently in captivity. TikTok and Minecraft have been driving forces in generating interest for these wild amphibians, hoping that more awareness will help those protecting their natural habitat. Pet stores nationwide that have carried axolotls for decades are now selling out of them, noticing how quickly the exotic pet trend has spread.
Eric Rasmussen, the owner of The World of Wet Pets in Portland, Oregon, saw the change in people’s increased investment in axolotls. The store owner stated that they carried axolotls for many years before their sudden popularity, but now, they’re having trouble keeping the amphibians in stock. Since the demand is so high for these aquatic animals, the price to purchase one has gone up exponentially.
Some aquatic pet stores said that their best supply for new axolotls had been customers accidentally breeding them. Cory Geiss, an employee at The Fish Store in Seattle, stated that unintentional breeding had helped the shop with its depleting amphibian stock. Some axolotl experts warn customers about breeding these pets and the different factors that contribute to unhealthy reproduction.
Pak stated that at-home breeding could lead to a few consequences for unknowledgeable owners. Inbreeding in personal aquariums is one issue Pak is concerned about, noting that axolotl owners might not know the “bloodline” of their animals, which could lead to lethal recessive genes passed along to offspring. Axolotls also produce a tremendous amount of eggs (up to 1,000) which has been problematic for unsuspecting owners and may force people to release them into the wild, an issue currently unfolding in New Zealand.
