Do Axolotls Lay Eggs? [And Why It Matters!]

Yes, Axolotls Lay Eggs

Axolotls are egg laying amphibians, and a single female can produce a surprisingly large number of eggs during a breeding event. If you keep male and female axolotls together, there is a good chance you will eventually find eggs in your tank. Understanding the egg laying process, what the eggs look like, and what to do with them will help you be prepared whether you plan to breed your axolotls or not.

How Axolotl Breeding Works

Axolotl breeding typically starts with a courtship dance where the male deposits small packets of sperm called spermatophores on the tank floor. The female then picks these up with her cloaca to fertilize her eggs internally. This process can take several hours and usually happens at night or in low light conditions.

After fertilization, the female will begin laying eggs within 12 to 72 hours. She deposits her eggs individually or in small clusters, attaching them to plants, decorations, or any surface she can find in the tank. The entire egg laying process can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days as she works her way through her clutch.

Breeding is most commonly triggered by a temperature change. Many breeders simulate a winter cooling period by gradually lowering the water temperature a few degrees for several weeks, then slowly raising it back to normal. This temperature cycle mimics natural seasonal changes and triggers breeding behavior.

How Many Eggs Do Axolotls Lay?

A female axolotl can lay anywhere from 100 to over 1,000 eggs in a single clutch, though 200 to 600 is the most common range. The number depends on the female’s age, size, and overall health. Larger, more mature females tend to produce more eggs than younger ones.

This is an important number to keep in mind because it means even a single breeding event can produce hundreds of baby axolotls. Each of those babies will need to be housed, fed, and eventually rehomed. Responsible breeding requires having a plan for all of those offspring before you ever allow your axolotls to breed.

What Do Axolotl Eggs Look Like?

Axolotl eggs are small, round, and encased in a clear jelly like coating. Each egg is about 2 millimeters in diameter before the jelly coating, and about 10 to 12 millimeters with the coating. Fertilized eggs will have a dark center (the developing embryo) while unfertilized eggs appear white or opaque throughout.

Over the course of development, you can actually watch the embryo grow through the clear jelly. The eggs start as a single dark dot and gradually develop into a recognizable tiny axolotl shape over about two weeks. This development process is fascinating to observe and is one of the most rewarding aspects of axolotl breeding for those who choose to do it.

What to Do with Axolotl Eggs

If you find eggs in your tank, you have a few options. If you want to raise the babies, carefully remove the eggs to a separate container with clean, dechlorinated water at the same temperature as the main tank. An air stone providing gentle aeration helps prevent fungus from developing on the eggs. Remove any eggs that turn white or fuzzy, as these are unfertilized or have died and can spread fungus to healthy eggs.

If you do not want to raise hundreds of baby axolotls, the most common approach is to leave the eggs in the tank. The adult axolotls will likely eat most of them, which is a natural behavior and not harmful to the adults. You can also remove and humanely dispose of unwanted eggs by freezing them before discarding.

Whatever you decide, do not release axolotl eggs or babies into the wild. Axolotls are not native to anywhere outside Mexico City, and releasing them could introduce disease to native amphibian populations.

Egg Development Timeline

At typical axolotl water temperatures of 64 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, eggs hatch in about 14 to 21 days. Warmer water speeds up development while cooler water slows it down. During this time, the embryo develops from a tiny dot into a fully formed larval axolotl with visible eyes, gills, and a tail.

Newly hatched axolotls are about 10 to 12 millimeters long and will not eat for the first 24 to 48 hours as they absorb their remaining yolk sac. After that, they need tiny live foods like baby brine shrimp or daphnia. As they grow, they can be transitioned to bloodworms and eventually to the same diet as adult axolotls.

Preventing Unwanted Breeding

The simplest way to prevent unwanted eggs is to house male and female axolotls separately. Determining the sex of your axolotl is easiest once they reach about 12 to 18 months old. Males develop a noticeably swollen cloaca (the opening near the base of the tail), while females have a smoother, flatter cloaca area.

If you do keep males and females together and want to prevent breeding, maintaining a stable temperature without seasonal fluctuations can reduce the likelihood. However, axolotls housed together will eventually breed regardless, so separate housing is the only reliable prevention method.