Axolotls on TV last night

C

cynthia

Guest
I was watching the animal planet channel last night, the show was 'Weirdest Animals' or something similar to that.

Anyway they had a short piece on axolotls and showed the lake where they live in Mexico. I had no idea that the lake was always crowded with people.

They said the lake was "quite popular" and showed the boat motors churning under water and the axolotls swimming for their lives. Then they showed other boats being pushed along by big sticks, again they showed the under water view of the end of the stick being shoved into the river bottom and axolotls swimming for their lives.

They talked about how axolotls can grow back their limbs and had one that regenerated its back leg (computer simulation).

After seeing how crowded with people that lake was I am surprised there are any axolotls left in the lake at all.
 
There are only 2 lakes where axolotls live in the wild. They are right in the Mexico City Basin, and are very crowded. The axolotl populations are so low, as to be virtually non-existent. In fact, it's estimated that 99% of the total world population of axolotls lives in captivity. All the more reason for hobbyists like us to keep healthy breeding populations.
 
I saw that too! All those boats and people in there reminded me of the manatee's plight to live in highly trafficked waters. It's no surprise that there are so few in the wild! Seeing them swimming for their lives was so sad.
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I wanted to rescue them!
 
that sounds terrable if it wasnt for people like us there would be no axies left in the whole world so when people say its cruel to keep animals in captivity what would happen if we didnt this great creature would be extinct
 
Last year I did a report on Axolotls for my biology teacher. I was looking for pictures of the lake, (Lake Xochimilco and Chalco right?) and all it kept turning up with was a bunch of boats, no water. Then i realized that there were so many boats that they completely covered the water!
It really made me wonder how those poor guys have even lasted this long
 
I had no idea that it was that bad. I think its really sad that their habitat is being destroyed.
 
I think that in the wild, axolotls are practically extinct, yet in captivity... well, we all know that's a different story.
Many years ago people used to eat axolotls. How nasty is that?
 
poor axies
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i heard that 98% of the axolotls in the world are in labs!
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that leaves 1% in the wild and 1% to hobbyists like us. such a shame.
 
You don't really want to know what they do with them.
The reason they are so interesting to scientists is because of their regenerative abilities. Enough said really.
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Thats only part of it. They are also used in emryological research, because of the size of the eggs and the fact that they are perfectly clear. They are used in all kinds of research.
 
Lights are all off for the evening (everything is on a timer to make an attempt at salvaging my electicity bill). Will post pics tomorrow, as I can get them. The little guys have disappeared into the tank, they are so small!
 
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