Are Axolotls Illegal In Texas? [ Dos and Don’ts In Texas]

Axolotls are exotic animals, but you can’t keep them as pets everywhere. 

If you live in Texas, you may want to know are Axolotls illegal in Texas?

Wouldn’t it be cool to have an Axolotl as a pet that you rave about? Axolotls are exotic animals. 

Their population is on the decline, which is why many people are interested in keeping them as pets before they finally become extinct.

If you’re planning to bring an Axolotl home, you should first make sure it’s legal to keep Axolotls as a pet in your state because not all states and countries legalize keeping Axolotls as pets.

Are Axolotls Illegal In Texas?

Axolotls aren’t illegal in Texas. You can keep an Axolotl as long as you comply with the law and regulations of your state. While there’s no legal consequence of owning an Axolotl in Texas, you can’t import or export this exotic animal without a permit. That would be illegal. 

Axolotls are unique creatures. 

They’re often referred to as walking fish because they spend all their lives in the water despite belonging to the amphibian family. 

They also resemble a fish. 

This exotic animal is a salamander from the family Ambystomatidae. 

What makes an Axolotl such a hyped creature is its genetic makeup. 

It has got neoteny, a condition in which it retains most of the features from the larval stage well into adulthood and, therefore, looks like a tadpole, with feathery gills and quill-like fin on the dorsal side. 

Since the numbers of Axolotls are on the decline, not many states and counties allow keeping this animal as a pet. 

But this isn’t the only reason.

We know the law about Axolotls quite well, and we can guide you in this regard. We can help you decide if you can and should keep Axolotl as a pet in Texas.

Do Axolotls Make Good Pets?

Well, that’s one tricky question. 

Axolotls have gained massive popularity as the new sensational pets, but are they really good as pets?

You’ll have to keep your pet Axolotl underwater all the time. 

You’re highly mistaken if you think you can take them out of the tank, touch and feed them like other amphibians. 

Although Axolotls are amphibians, they can’t survive out of water. 

That’s because their skin is very sensitive.

A slime coat covers their bodies to offer protection, and this coat can dry out quickly if they’re taken out of the water, and this will put the Axolotl at the risk of harmful external factors.

Another problem with keeping an Axolotl as a pet is that their skin is sensitive to light. 

This is yet another reason why you can’t take them out of water. The water disperses the light. 

If they’re out of the water, the light will fall directly on their sensitive skin.

You won’t be able to enjoy this pet like you would enjoy other pets. 

You’ll also have to keep the animal in isolation. Axolotls don’t do well with most other species.

The choice is yours.

Are Axolotls Illegal in Texas?

The good news for you is that Axolotls aren’t illegal in Texas. You can keep them as long as you follow the state’s laws and regulations.

Some of the animals that are illegal in Texas include cheetah, lion, Utah bear, gorilla, monkey, kangaroo, ape, lemur, and wolf, among others, but Axolotls aren’t one of them.

While Axolotls are perfectly legal in Texas, you can’t import or export them without permits. 

Trading Axolotls without a permit is illegal in Texas and throughout the world.

As for owning Axolotl as a pet in Texas, you can head to your nearest pet store and bring this unique amphibian home any day!

Which States Are Axolotls Illegal in?

Although there are no restrictions to keeping Axolotls as a pet in Texas, not all states allow you to keep this exotic animal as a pet. 

Axolotls are illegal in New Jersey, Virginia, California, and Maine. To own Axolotls in New Mexico, you’ll need a permit.

For all other states, there aren’t any legal restrictions when it comes to Axolotls.

Why Are Axolotls Illegal in Some States and Legal in Others?

You may wonder why is it that some states have legalized Axolotls and others haven’t. 

Most people assume that it’s because the population of Axolotls is on a downfall, and they’ll soon be declared endangered. 

While that makes sense, this isn’t the only reason why some states have made these animals illegal

Let’s have a look at the possible reasons below:

Axolotls are Endangered Species

Wild Axolotls have been listed as endangered species on the IUCN conservation index. 

The population is rapidly decreasing, and it might only be a few years before Axolotls may become extinct. This is the reason why Axolotls are illegal in some states like Mexico. 

Would you believe it if we told you that Axolotls are native to Mexico, yet you need a permit to own them? This pretty much gives an idea about how rapidly their numbers are decreasing.

Axolotls Pose Harm to the Environment

The major reason why some states haven’t legalized Axolotls is the threat they pose to the environment if they’re let loose. To say the least, Axolotls are detrimental to the environment.

Pet Axolotls aren’t the same as wild Axolotls. 

We don’t mean in appearance but nature and genetics. 

The Axolotls that are available to keep as pets come from the breeding of Axolotl generations that have been held in captivity for many years. 

They’ve been in captivity for so long that the Axolotls that stem from these generations aren’t the same as wild species anymore.

The Axolotls that are available to keep as pets are a result of a cross between tiger salamanders whose DNA sequence has been tweaked. 

These genetically modified salamander tigers have been crossbred for many years. 

Natural selective forces have been entirely absent during the process, which has resulted in Axolotl species that are entirely different. 

So, even if you let pet Axolotls out in the wild to prevent the extinction of wild Axolotls, it won’t make much difference because they’re different creatures altogether.

When these genetically modified Axolotls are released into the wild, they pose a massive environmental threat. 

They can damage the environment. 

They can even outcompete wild Axolotls and leave the wild species struggling for basic elements that are essential to their survival.

To prevent the damage to the environment, some states have made these animals illegal. 

Some require you to get a permit, and some states have got no restrictions whatsoever.

What to Do If You End Up with an Axolotl in a State Where It’s Illegal?

There’s nothing to worry about if you live in Texas because the state legally permits you to own an Axolotl. 

You just have to be sure you’re following the rules and regulations laid out by your state.

However, what if someone gifts you an Axolotl, or you somehow end up with an Axolotl in your home if you live in a state or country where Axolotls are illegal?

The first thing that you’ve got to do is ensure that your Axolotls don’t reproduce.

If you’ve got a couple, keep the male and female in separate tanks.

In case the Axolotl was already with eggs when you received it, euthanize the eggs before they start to hatch.

Controlling the Axolotl population in states where they’re illegal should be your first priority.

Never distribute the eggs to your friends because that would only promote the expansion of the Axolotl population. You can’t even give the animal as a present to someone else. 

If a challenging situation arises, you’ll be held legally responsible and will be charged for it.

Your best bet is to get in touch with your local authorities and inform them that you’ve got an Axolotl in possession. 

They’ll guide you the best. You shouldn’t delay doing this because the longer you wait, the higher the chances of the news leaking to the authorities.

Where to Buy Axolotls in Texas?

Since Axolotls aren’t illegal in Texas, you can now start the search for your new pet.

While there are numerous options online, we suggest you only buy an Axolotl from a reputable pet store.

Buying Axolotls from a store you can trust offers you an assurance that the pet was kept in favorable conditions, it isn’t sick or isn’t carrying any diseases or pests that could lead to their death or infest other animals kept in the same tank.

Although you should keep an Axolotl in a separate tank entirely, there are some fish species that can share the tank with an Axolotl.