And I'm Madeline Walden and this is Aquarium of the Podcific, a podcast brought to you by Aquarium of the Podcific. Southern California's largest aquarium. Join
us as we learn alongside the experts in animal care, conservation, and more.
Welcome back to Aquarium of the Podcific. I'm Madeline Walden, the Aquarians digital content and community manager. And
I'm Erin Lundy, newly the manager of conservation initiatives here at the grave of the Pacific. We did however, records manager of conservation initiatives. Thank you. Thank you. We did have a record some of these episodes a little bit ago. So if you hear my title change, I did not get re demoted. I just I just we recorded this episode a little bit later. However, more excitingly than that, we want to talk about one of the aquariums best most favorite everyone asks about animals today and those are Axolotl.
X levels are probably the most popular animal at the aquarium currently and
very popular in popular culture right now to the zoo. It's one of those animals that people come in specifically looking for that animal and really, yes, like
penguins, otters, axolotl, and I feel like that's it's sometimes sharks, sometimes other animals but there they are. We there are probably the most requested animals right now. And I think that a lot of video games and pop culture has a lot to do with that. But you know, I'm okay with it, because it'd be a level in love with them. Heck yeah. And phibian love. We do love when people have their amphibians. So today we are going to be talking to America, who's one of our animal care specialists, she takes care of our Axolotl as well as actually all of our amphibians around the aquarium. But her first and foremost love is of course, our Axolotl.
And you guys work really closely together because you've been building this new gallery which we are so excited it is, as of this episode's release, it is officially open. A frog only open frog a frog, the frog Leoben it's
called frogs facing a changing world perfect, really meant to highlight some of the threats to amphibians worldwide. And also to showcase how diverse and beautiful and amazing these animals are. I hope that all of the exhibits that we've built kind of highlight that and I hope people come in and they enjoy them. They are colorful, they are beautiful. All the plants are real in every exhibit, which is crazy, except for mountain yellow legged frogs. But that's because we needed something. We're gonna hit that yellow legged frog Correct. For the first time ever on our exhibit space, we will have our mountain yellow legged frogs out and about and people can see them My favorite part about them is that they are actually going to be the releasable animals that are out on display. So if at some point later in the summer that exhibit is empty they went as they go wild like what a great story you
guys got to come visit and pick up the next big chicken if you know you know from last season you have to pick out the new big chicken
Yeah, we'll name or something else we'll talk medium goose you know, something like that. But anyway, without further ado, let's get into this episode and learn a little bit about Axolotl. See the new gallery now.
Welcome back to Aquarium of the Podcific We are joined today with animal care specialists America saguna Hi. Hi. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. What are we going to talk about today, Erin Lundy.
We are going to talk about one of our favorite animals one of just general world Yeah.
so popular right now and this animal.
I think it is the animal we get asked the most about at the aquarium and wall our amphibian gallery has been under construction for a brand new opening to talk to you. Oh, yeah, Memorial Day weekend. It's so close. But happening because these animals have been off exhibit for quite some time. We have been getting inundated with requests, when When can we see them again? Where are they? And of course those animals are our Axolotl. Yeah.
Yeah, those are it is an axolotl. So a lot of people think that their fish, but they're actually in phibian. So that is a salamander. Who has really really cool looking antennas, but that's actually their gills. And so it's really cool to just see, I mean, new generations just coming up and Superman. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And just been super excited about these animals. And it's it's really cool just to see how these like Axolotl are really like a staple to the aquarium. Even though they're amphibians. They are aquatic, you know, and it's awesome just to be able to, like, showcase that and also just like, put in that really strong and important message of conservation just because how endangered they are. So yeah, that's like a really, really exciting thing to learn all about. Exactly.
I jumped ahead a little bit. I guess I should ask you about yourself. Tell us a little bit of about your role here at the Aquarium and how long you've been here. Sure. Yeah,
so my name is America. Other people will call me USA. Just kidding.
Yeah, call me. Miss America. You can call me Lady liberally.
Yes. So, yeah, I am an animal care specialist. And but I do definitely specialize on amphibians. I specifically really, really, really enjoy working with Axel Latos. And I can't think Aaron enough for trusting me. I remember just kind of cornering her one day and like I love Axolotl. And then it just kind of like hit her with like a bunch of like bats. And she was like, Oh, my God. So what
animals were you working with before?
So I still work with the same animals, which is the birds and the mammals. And, I mean, with amphibians. When I was a volunteer, that's when I started to, like be very intrigued by just the range of amphibians that were that we had, but the actual models were just something that I was always super interested in. So yeah, and so I was very, very intrigued from day one. And yeah, from I mean, the rest was history. I, I started, you know, working with them closely, and learning from all staff, and shout out to Frankie.
She's listening. She, she's listening.
Yeah, she, she taught me a couple of things on like, their water changes. And so I was able to not only learn about these animals, but also the water quality, like that's another thing, there's so many things that as a burden mammal, like, person that takes care of those animals, you don't really deal with, like the water quality as much. And so now, it was like a totally different world that I was like submerged in I mean, it was kind of like, another side of my job that I was very, very intrigued because I had to talk to Aquarius. And I was like, hey, you know, like, I'm sorry, but like, what is the house? Or like, you know, what's the ammonia? And like, What do you mean about this? And what do you mean, you know, and so, I was always asking questions until I was able to really understand. And I was just very thankful for that. Because thank God that our Walla, Walla Walla, our water quality lab was very helpful in that sense. And so every time we would give like water samples, they would really walk me down with, like, everything that the test has. Yes. And so it's some it's just, it's amazing. I like till this day, I am always not shy about asking those questions, because I know that sooner or later, somebody else will come in and, you know, help with this awesome, you know, project that we're doing, or just in general taking care of our animals, especially with the X Latos. And there's so you know, they're they're very, very sensitive with what they will the water that they're in, because they do sometimes very breathing Yeah, they absorb from their skin. They're super super sensitive.
So we talked a little bit about last season, kind of the differences between exhibits between an outdoor exhibit that has our sea lions in it, it can fluctuate in the quality of the water is like not the right way
to say it, but salinity, the parameters.
It's a sea lion is not as sensitive as an axolotl, a sea lion does not mean emotionally, emotionally. Yeah.
mkhaya very emotional. I think it's really funny that you mentioned that because so much of our team on especially in the bird and mammal side, and now our team is bird mammals and amphibians. And so we're taking care of this huge range of animals, most of which do not necessarily matter as much what these individual water parameters look like. Whereas when you think about an aquarium, we think of saltwater fish and corals and things that are a little bit more sensitive to specific things being in the water. And so learning from the Aquarius and learning an entirely new skill set, when you're starting to work with amphibians that that matters a lot more and understanding those parameters matters a lot more was kind of the steepest learning curve, I think, for everyone kind of taking over learning frogs. But it's been a really good journey. And definitely, we have a really cool team that helps us on all sides. And my very first introduction to America was because she had been assigned to help us put away some of our live food order from the amphibian area. And the live foods for the amphibians is just bugs. And every week, America was so excited to put away bugs. And unfortunately, I think that you like bugs, but I think it was more just because that was a good opportunity to be around some really cool animals and ask questions. And then if you were doing this task that, to be honest, is sometimes a less desirable task, because it's crickets everywhere. Like it's just everywhere. So many remember last season, I had a cricket in my shirt. Yeah.
It happens. It definitely happens. Yeah,
but yeah, and so America was always like, can I put away the bugs today? And you're like, Yeah, you can but yeah,
I'm so sorry to interrupt you. But this song it was so funny because I that was my thing. And I would definitely like, go back to how I was taught to do it. I'm gonna give another shout out to Tara, she was another one that would tell me about the little crystal or the water crystals. So she would tell me about like how much to pour into like the one weeks and the three weeks she would tell me like just for a little bit because maybe they could drown and so ever since I that just kind of stuck in my head and and like I just I treat them like they're babies, you know, everything has to be even
the crickets we feed. Yeah, but when we're getting food for our actual models to circle back, what are they mostly eating here at the Aquarium, they
are eating earthworms. So earthworms are already a very nutritional, like a balanced diet that they don't really need anything more other than that, at least in our experience, we have obviously X allowed us to eat some pellets that are already they have a bunch of other things included in them. But for us here, we really like the ability to feed them like foods especially just because axolotl is are very aware of what's moving around them. And so I really love making sure that when I feed them, there's some sort of movement so that way they could kind of like launch it. Yeah, and it's so awesome because axolotl is actually don't they don't have like, a teeth, they have some sort of like suction. And it's really, really funny because they almost like thrash it around. It's it's like insane. Like, it's not going anywhere, you know, but they just thrash it around an alligator like Exactly, yeah. And it's just, it's amazing. To just see them. It's so funny to see their personality really come out, especially when they're hungry. Because they're so aware like they were you move they move. And they know exactly where like what's going on. Even if I open up like the actual, like warm container. They already know. Like, it's right there. They can see the skin. Yeah, even if like the tongs or other like oh, yeah, it's kind Yeah, it's time.
We've had adult X models, which primarily are eating earthworms. And then recently, we've had some juvenile ones. And so we've had to offer some smaller food items, right? Yeah.
So that without that's when bloodworms come in. These guys are not alive. By the way. These guys are bloodworms are frozen. And so we take them out, we put them in a little bit of oral water, and then kind of let it defrost and then once they're in a better state, then we just kind of offer it to the little baby Axolotl as they eat it. And then sometimes when they do get older, we have to chop up the worms in this in Aaron hates it like I already see her face. She hates it. Talking about the chuffed. It's us Yeah, I get some scissors and I have to like you have to cut it like in a very, very small piece so that way they're able to digest it and also not create like yeah, in abstraction or anything. Maybe
you can tell us a little bit about axolotl is in the wild. Where are they found?
So the wild Axolotl czar from Lake Sochi Nico this is in the in the city of Mexico. And so this lake is a very very, very really long Lake and it's known for its cold waters. And it's also known for it's um, it's not strong like occurrence or not strong at all. It's a very mellow river. And so that river itself that lake is it's a perfect thing for a lot of soot be able to thrive upon
yet think that they're cold water I don't know why I've always assumed that they're warm water and
tropical Yeah, yeah.
Exactly. Think it's tropical. But no, these these waters are very cold. Um, they range from like, I want to say maybe like 60 to 64 there. I know. It's below 70 So it's it's cocoa for me. Yeah. And
they're only found at this lake.
Only this lake world. Yes. What
how? Why? Why? It's just that perfect.
They just that person I know that Axolotl means water dog. axolotl is were named after Salado, the Asti got a fire and lightning who could take on a form of a salamander. Salado was also associated with dogs and adult is an ancient Asik word for water. So axolotl is sometimes translated as as water dog and their dog like, yeah, I feel like they are Aaron says no, you guys today definitely
water puppies. I feel like pinnipeds or water. Yeah, honestly, that's, that's incredible. I think that's really great info to have it there. It's such a unique animal. Like I just can't get over it. How I think it's probably one of the most unique animals that we have at our aquarium, I think maybe just exists? Well,
I think what's really funny is that axolotl is our this like very culturally significant both in sort of like pop culture now and also like in history, although they are a relatively new species. I think they evolved, they think in the last 10,000 years, which is really interesting to think about that this is new ish to us, and that they're evolved from tiger salamanders. But the part that I find funny is that there are animals that retain their juvenile characteristics and kind of look like Axolotl. There's just weightless cute and so I don't think they get the airtime like
what animal well, so
don't If you're gonna be creeped out by it, don't google it. But there are these animals called AMFI umas. And there's one Toad I think, and two toad and Pumas. And they are pretty similar to x levels. Here let me I'm gonna find a picture a little bit gross you out to Toad am feeling
gross. They are fine you and I'm actually like a less Q Axolotl.
They kind of are. I guess these guys don't have the external gills. But
no, I think it's cute. And
there's sirens too. They look like
crazy.
Let me finally do this.
They kind of remind me of what are those little sock puppet looking guys that we
have Sicilian? Yes. Here here's the sirens. So there's like lesser sirens greater sirens
just like a long but yeah,
siren is like also just the long creepy form of it. There's the really creepy one are called cave ohms. And those are upsetting to look at in just the creepiest way. So hold on.
There's some that are also called Mud puppies. The puppies are they're salamanders and they're almost like Hellbenders but except they have gills like Axolotl. So it just looks like a really huge Axolotl. Really cool
the cable. Yeah, you think that looks cool? I didn't see it. They look like some. Okay, that is the creepiest thing I've ever seen.
I think it's cool. So like it. ohms
are very similar. They look almost exactly like somewhat sat on and then pull an axolotl into a very long straw like shape. And they're cool. But I think that
XL has a cuteness going for them. That's why they're a little more popular. Yeah, the cave they have
called K ball. Yeah. But that being said, there are a couple of different species that retain those sort of juvenile characteristics for longer in their life. And that's what Axolotl suit right? Salamanders but most salamanders are on land and look sort of more lizard like than an axolotl. And so why is it that our axolotl is have gills and external gills structures and our aquatic as opposed to other salamanders that are maybe out and about?
Well, these guys never leave their metamorphosis stage they always stay babies and they could reach their like sexual maturity at at at that. It's like status, which is like it's kind of like maturing. It's like a butterfly maturing a caterpillar maturing except he's not training into your caterpillar just a caterpillar similar. Yeah, good. It's like they never grow into like
a butterfly, which is pretty much do they hatched from an egg?
Yes, they do. They have 1000s of eggs. That's the thing. It's a lot of eggs that they eventually like if they do breed. It's a lot of eggs. And so from the they literally look the same, they have little gills and they all have like, you know, a very it's like, it's not long, because they're babies, but they're just, they just look like release marks a Latos. And it's so cute. Yeah, it's very, very cute to see it. But this could definitely the thing about Axolotl says that they do have to be bred with something that's not related to them. Because if they are related to them, then genetically they are going to be messed up. I know that some sort of exit models, they do become less like maybe like their gills won't look as bad or maybe yes,
or just health issues. Exactly. So you want to they we'd like to diversify species. Exactly.
I think it's been interesting to have X levels that are under human care. Like you mentioned, they're critically endangered species like there are not that many Axolotl out there. But then you go to the pet store, not here in California, hopefully but elsewhere where they are legal to own his pets. And you'll just see axolotl is everywhere so many and you're just like, what there's pink, there's yellow. There's ones with glowing green eyes. There's all kinds of easy Yeah, so why are they still critically endangered if every pet store is selling axolotl, like crazy. So those
axelos are genetically bred so they have these awesome colors. But in the wild, they're definitely much bigger, and they are adaptable to whatever they have in that lake. So they could definitely adapt to the temperature that that that you know, Lake is is potentially that's what they okay, if you ever like let's say you release that pink axolotl, right, that Axolotl has zero chances of actually surviving just because it's not going to be able to camouflage it. Exactly. It's going to be right there. There's already so many Herons, that's like one of their number one predators. Yeah. And so that's yeah, herons, herons Yeah. So yeah, it's it's the herons actually are like one of the main predators and then he also have to put into consideration of like, pollution and just like droughts and all of that. So, axle autos have to be a certain color, which are the European you're gonna be able to find them which is a darker color. There's different types of morphs. So I want to I want to dig in into Um, those morphs. So there are about, I want to say maybe like 10 More some types of mores. Yes. And one of the main ones that I really enjoy are the wild types. Those are going to be the ones that you'll be able to see in the wild. Not as big of course, but the color so it's going to be a very darker color. They are going to have spots that resemble like a rock, which is awesome. Yes, super cool. And then which is the pink Axolotl? Those pink X models are are they they're loose cystic
I think the totally pink with no color in the eyes are albino. And then there's loose a stick that has black. Like there's just Yes. Different types with a little pigment. That's
exactly so it's
kind of like the character Axolotl. So those are the thinking of the pink one with with the red eyes. With the black eyes. Yeah. And they're really cool. There's so So select you don't do pink acts models exist in the wild. No, no, no. specifically bred
it's a specifically bred trait,
maybe like one, you know? Yeah, like could be like a maybe
one. Because I survived out of spite. It's
where they all started it. Yeah, I think fascinating. What I also know is that they've hybridized Axolotl DNA with tiger salamander DNA to create more color morphs and to create more types of like pet XL models. And so we can't just release the ones that we have under human care. It's sort of like, like how some people are like, okay, dogs and wolves are technically the same species can crossbreed you're not just going to release a chihuahua and be like, we saved the gray wolf. You know, that's a very different, the different DNA, we wouldn't want that hybridizing and then just being out, there's no offense to all this. But I do think that that is a salient point of like, we can't, we've done so much to like, alter what this organism is that they're basically not even the same animal. And
you know, their diet is totally different. Really. Yes. And one of the things I didn't know that they were able to actually, you know, eat was mealworms just because I know that they have an exoskeleton that they won't be able to actually digest, I would possibly create an abstraction. And so I know that wild Axolotl zebra, they even eat crustaceans. And so it's interesting of teeth. No, no, they have some sort of suction, but I think they're able to digest it again. These wild axolotl is. One they're much bigger, because I know regular Axolotl. They could go up to maybe eight inches, maybe about 10. But wild axle autos. I mean, I I've seen in articles that they could reach up to like maybe 12 inches. So 12 To like, yeah, 12 Maybe 13? I don't know, but they're a little bit more, more bigger and very robust. It's just
I think they also built they're built different. I think they eat rocks and gravel and stuff, sort of like birds do. And they have like rocks in their gizzard. They don't have a gizzard but they'll just keep those rocks in your stomach and use it to grind up so shells items. Whereas here, we wouldn't feed them rock stuff. Just because
No, we baby pay so much too. And when I say weird to me, we may be the I have them with like the finest type of sand. Just because if I know if they do ingest it, they will be able to just pass it. Yeah. And it's really interesting just to see how awesome these guys adapt to anything that we you know, put in their tank. So like anything that would enrich them is very, very, really, really fascinating for me to see. I know that one of our axial Latos really likes plans. And today I was actually one Darla Darla. Yeah, good Darlow actually, it's, it just happens all the time. And so Darlow loves plants. And today I was um, I have this little tank right next to theirs. And you could see right through it, and I'm pretty sure he was able to see it. But I was like arranging some of the plants. And he just went directly to I've never seen him go so fast. And he was just looking at it. And I'm like Yeah, buddy, he's ready. Yeah. Yeah. Like you're up for it. Yeah. And it's really interesting to see that.
Oh, I would love to learn more about the ACO models like we have here at the Aquarium and their personalities. Would you say that they have their own little unique quirks or they just kind of like they're
no no, no, no, they have so much personal Yeah, they
first and foremost, how many Axolotl do we have? We
have about 11. Axolotl.
Wow, yeah. Are they all going to be on display in the new gallery?
I wish some are going to be secured. Excellent. No, they're there. So we have geriatric axolotl is meeting their, their older and so Axolotl are able to live for a range of like 10 to 15 years. And so the ones that we have already are pushing that they're pushing that limit, so I definitely them the best. Yeah, definitely the r&d retirement home. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, they're in the retirement home. And so we make sure that they are in the best possible, you know, care that they could have just because I'm not saying that they are in their last days, but they they definitely yeah, they are you Yeah, so we have two we have three geriatric axial autos, we have two juveniles. We also have three babies. Yeah, very, very cute. And then we also have 123 More confiscations. Yeah, the ones that are in, they just got out of quarantine, which is really awesome. And these guys are really cool. They're morphs are awesome, which is one of the honestly like the coolest morphs that I've seen so far because he is a melanistic. axolotl, but he has green eyes. And that has to do because of the genetic I forget the it's a G GFP, GFP. Exactly. And that just it's what makes them glow in the dark. And so with that yellow on that article has argued, yes,
right. Just cries. She's stunning. It's the the GFP is the green fluorescent protein, which is the same thing that is found in glow fish. And so if your employees Yeah, yes, exactly. And so, because people have not modified the Axolotl enough, they also went through and they intentionally splice DNA of these proteins that could then generate this glowing green protein within the axolotl, but because she is melanistic, which means she is totally dark everywhere else. It really only shows through her eyes. And so she looks like this hulking, giant black Axolotl with these like laser green eyes. She's really cool. She's
super cool, you find that these modifications to their DNA affects their lifespan, their health at all? I don't know if it does. Yes,
neither honestly. Um, so I think yeah, I think it all comes down to like, how well their water perimeter is because I think that's something that is very, very important to them how well their diet is, because I know some extra Latos do get very robust. And, you know, they're, they live very happy, you know, and some day could be living the same life. But if maybe their water perimeters aren't the best, you know, it's something that yeah, you know, and it all comes down with like, the temp and everything. Yeah, so it's great to have them here at the Aquarium, but, you know, as pets, they require so much care. And I know a lot of parents would want them to have like, want their kids to have, you know, a pet like an axolotl. And especially not here in California, but in other states, but it's it's a lot of care. It's a lot of care. You have to make sure the temp is right, the water perimeters. And I mean, it's third dog. They're very delicate. Yeah, they get stressed
easily. Yes, honestly. Same. I think to kind of circle back, I think that maybe it would be interesting. I think that those color morphs and those different genetic variations might not be advantageous for an animal that was going to go back in the wild. Like we have your eyes glowing. Exactly. And I'm sure that there are not to keep comparing it to dogs, but I'm sure there are some modifications that we don't know if they sort of want officially shorten or expand their license plate ceiling. I don't know if we know enough about that. But certainly, even like the albinism and things like I can tell those x levels have poor eyesight than the ones that do not have that because so much light gets in through their eyes that they can't see very well. And so as cute as they are, just know that if you're axolotl is a true albino, which means that its eyes have no pigment whatsoever, and they can either be gold or pink. They probably can't see the best and so really bright light can actually be really detrimental for them because they're like, oh, yeah, filter it. Yeah. So no eyelids, no anything. Just think straight eyes, just wives and eyes. Yeah,
so funny. I think I interrupted you talking about their personalities? Yeah,
I'm gonna circle back to that. We're gonna. Yeah, so we have um, Darla, which are, we got him a year ago. And they were very off the bat. It was just like, their personality showed off. Darla was very, um, she wasn't aggressive. But she was just hungry,
hungry, an endless pit of words.
And so an email was more Nemo is a little bit more common also, because he was smaller and without an arm. So because again, Axolotl don't have great eyesight, they are basically kind of blind. And so anything that moves around them, and if they are hungry, they will snap it. And it you know, exactly, yeah. And so if it's, if it's their arm, if they are young enough, they have a card, Karla JENICE cartilage and the cartilaginous bones. And so it's really easy for it to like snap off, but because they're able to regenerate any, you know, organ and part of their body, they're able to do that about like five times in their lifespan. I believe it's one
of our questions later on. Yeah, how can they just continuously regenerate? Hopefully they're the same limb isn't constantly five star move. Yeah, but it's about five
times. It's about five times the in their lifespan. It is about five times. However, I mean, I'm pretty sure they could possibly do it as much as they requires for them. I'm right. But it is about five times. And it the most interesting part about this is the fact that they could also regrow parts of the brain, which is insane. I don't know how they would do that.
Like, do you remember this? Yeah, like, where's it gone?
Like, do they turn it off? Like I have questions about that too. Like, I wonder if they won? Yeah, I was, I'll let you know. Exactly.
I think it's good information to know that axolotl is are considered a restricted species here in California. And so all of the excess bottles that we have are actually confiscations that were donated to us by US Fish and Wildlife Service. Essentially, what happens is people are excited to own XL models, or they're breeding them or they're selling them illegally here in California, because they are a very popular item. And people love owning them. However, because of the risk for them to be released to their natural habitat hybridized with our vulnerable California tiger salamander and cause major issues for sort of the, you know, environment here, they are considered a restricted species, and you're not allowed to own them as a pet. And so when we say Nemo came in missing an arm or some of these animals were in worse condition. For the most part, its people either didn't know what they were doing, they got transported to us their donations, and we don't have a lot of information on what their history looks like. So if you ever see Axolotl at the aquarium, and we really would love to have wild type axolotl is to talk about what they are and what they look like. But we've got pink sweet guy, yeah, so we got, we got donations, because these animals needed a place to go. And, you know, Fish and Wildlife does not have an aquarium to hold these animals. And so also for our geriatric animals that are maybe not going to be displayed again. Whereas with some other animals, maybe we would retire them to other institutions or different parts of the aquarium, they are very difficult to move in and out of the state. And they basically have nowhere else to go here in California. So although they are living behind the scenes, and most of our animals, we would never want to keep in a holding system indefinitely. We try to make that place as enriching and as beneficial for them so that they have a very good, like quality of life for the remainder of their life. And we are going to have our exit models basically indefinitely because of all the restrictions around them. So we have a special permit to hold them, we are allowed to hold them, but we're not allowed to breed them. Exactly. We're not allowed to transport them, trade them do all those things with them, but we get a lot of excellence. And they're not always in the best shape when they show up. And we have no idea what their history was. So yeah, our GFP mal annoyed that one that we're talking about with the green eyes, she is honestly she looks pretty robust and healthy. She
does. But she also has like a really bad curve on her spine. And that has to do because of the space. So I believe they were in like a five gallon, right, they were in a really small small thing. So I mean, they could adjust to it. But that obviously brings up like deformities. Yeah, and then you know at all it all comes down with like their diet again, like you know, making sure that they are getting exactly getting like the right food. And though the one that that really really impacted me was the release we got a really really skinny one. So so so skinny, you had always skills.
Yeah, like
in rehabilitation and rescue and when you're receiving confiscated animals looks
good. No, no. Yeah.
Curves.
America treatment needed some more
trust. Yeah. I made sure that there. Yeah, exactly. Another thing I wanted to say is, it's an interesting fact. So you had mentioned the tiger salamander. And so the tiger salamander doesn't have any gills, right. It just has like, it's just it's pretty, it looks like an axolotl without gills. Yeah, to restaurants a lot literally, with like really cool stripes, but with axolotl is one of like, a really fun fact is if they are exposed to a chemical called iodine, that could actually become terrestrial and they lose all their gills. I feel like they because they see in this like jelly like, yeah, because like there's skin, obviously it's already so sensitive, right? But when they come out of the water, like they have this like shiny. It's just so weird. It's like really, really weird. And so um, yeah, that's really interesting. They're introduced to
iodine, they lose their gills. Yeah. Do they live? relatively normal lifespan after that? Oh, no,
it's out. I just they're not evolved to do that. And so it takes some adjusting. There's I'm in a bunch of weird Facebook groups, to be honest. But there's one that I'm anti pull. Sometimes you're like, hey, I have a morphed Axolotl that was neglected. It's not necessarily like iodine is a trigger for those hormones to kick start that metamorphosis, but also poor water quality, their body will just be like good. Water. Yeah, they definitely don't think it's good for them. So
do they spend any time out of the water? No, fully.
Yeah, they, if they do spend some time, like out of the water is because we are here and like in this institute, we have to make sure that they are safe enough for them to be placed with our other x Latos or amphibians. And one of the main things that they do get swapped from like, physically, like we actually have to get in from the water and really swap them is for chytrid and not just like with one just like a cotton swab. Right. Like, it could just be like all on their bodies just so that we know that there. Yeah, that's our safe. Exactly. Yeah, because chytrid is very, very dangerous and I mean, they are donation so we don't know where they're coming from. And we have to make sure that they are safe and Exactly.
Very briefly, they are lifted from the water swabbed and put back into the water briefly. They are very mad the whole
Oh, they're like, like, I swear they're slimy. Yeah.
I like that flick their whole bicycle.
My whole body. Yeah. Motion. And there's only like a few that you would just pick up. They're like, okay, like, they're so polite. Again, personality. They're just like, Alright, I guess. Like one out of all, some be yes, some be super polite. And she's like, always up and alive and always kind of welcoming and cute. She's super cute.
We have some pee, Pinky Floyd, and then it's Nemo. Darla, then we have three juveniles that we have no names for yet, although I'm sure America,
can you tell me a little bit more about their conservation? So we know that they are endangered? Is that right?
Yes, they are endangered. I mean, it just from what research, ORS have been updating, there's about 100 left, I believe. But there's a we I know. We have a limit. But there's other articles that specify that there's 50 to 1000. It's it just it's it's around that. Yeah. And that obviously has to do with again, like, you know, the droughts, the contamination, climate change. Yeah, there's a lot of things. Yeah, there's, there's so many things, because another thing, this is just like a fun fact, for like social media, it's well known for a tourist site, they do whatever they want. And so like beer spills, they have so many things. And so if you research that lake itself, you'll see like, right off the bat, what I'm talking about, has
it been protected in any ways, yet protecting the lake? Yeah, there's,
well, I believe there's a connection with a university in wll Hara, that they believe that they're able to, not unnecessarily, like create a new population, but just see how these actual models will thrive on another lake in Guadalajara. It has the same thing, they have the same, like, Tim, on the like the water, it's a much cleaner lake as well. And it just like mimics the same thing as like, Sochi. nugo. Except it has no, they're not worried about it being like, having a drought because there are sections there where water just keeps on flowing. It's so that's a that's a really, you know, it's a positive thing. Yeah. And so what they do is just, they have these wild axolotl, they tag them, and then they release them and the kind of just track it down, see how they're doing. So far, there has been very positive things. But obviously, this is not something that will be putting all of them exactly put all of them there is just something that I know that that university is doing. And so far, it's been pretty cool. Yeah, that's really, really one thing about Mexico is that I know that they have different types of museums. Because a lot of people do go to see if they're able to, like find one itself, right, like a wild and they're not going to find it. If they will, it's the thing about exotics is that they always, they're always hidden, like, they're Yeah, they're just very, the very to themselves, you know, they just, they will always be in like, the murky waters. And but one thing that Mexico does do is they make these museums that have genetically bred X Latos. And they're able to, like, showcase them and become CNN. Exactly. Yeah. And it's great because that, that funding goes to that again, the wild Yeah, exactly. to like, be able to help all of that, like research go in again, like, you know, to other places, not only in Mexico and so well
yeah, that's really cool that it fulfills the tourism side of it. It's like we know people are coming here to see x bottles, it's they're endangered in the wild, they're likely not going to see them and if they are going to look for them, they might disrupt the habitat. Yeah, let's create a facility where you you can come see the Axolotl learn all about them probably learn about their how endangered endangered they are. Yeah, and just kind of leave with more knowledge and some ideas of how we could better take care of Atlanta. Yeah, it
sounds like the great thing is that they're very popular. And so if we're able to, you know, get the attention from not only like our audience, like our generation, but the younger generation,
we have their Yeah, it's an a video game or so.
You know, it's an a Mexican bill, like, adult like a 50 pesso. dollar bill. Yeah. It's awesome. That's
awesome. Well, we have some social media questions. The first one is can I have one? Not me, but a specific user asked. Can we have an axolotl? Um,
You can if you aren't here in California, so anything that is within Ambystoma species, so that has to do with Axolotl with a tiger salamander, you know, like any salamander that in that sense, you won't be able to have it here it is an invasive species. And it's very, very important to understand that. If eventually, you do have one or you find one in a really sketchy place, it's great to just kind of, you know, make sure you call fish and wildlife. And otherwise it
was the the law exists, because they are an invasive species, and they would really affect the habitats here in California. Yeah,
I think too. It's to protect the species. Yeah. Collected as well. You know, like, I think there's a lot that goes into it. Yeah, I think, you know, California is very strict with a lot of its wildlife laws. And there's a lot of animals you can't own in California, that I think in other states, you definitely there's no law, but not owning a raccoon and some state you know, like, there's things like that where check your state specific legislation if you want to own an axolotl, or your country specific depending where you're listening, but
a lot of work as we're talking about. It's a huge amount of work. It's kind of it's not something similar, but also similar to people who always say they want to pet odor. And I'm like, No, you don't poop everywhere. You don't want so much food so much poo.
Oh, that's it that's that goes with excellence to so much. Yeah, another thing for Axolotl says the temperature so they do have to be in a cold temperature right again. But if they do go a little bit higher than that, so maybe like, let's say your axolotl is in a 64. If you do a water change, and it goes to like a 66 or maybe like a 67 and it stays there for a bit. They will get the urge to poop. So the warmer the temperature is it they know that it's time to be warmed? Yeah, they're like, it's time to let it rip. And so they they do indeed literate well, so
you so if you want an axolotl at home, that's how much that's just one aspect of their care is maintaining their temperature so that way they poop the correct amount, and you're not constantly cleaning it up. So it sounds like not an ideal pet.
It's a hobby. It's it has to be a hobby if you really want these animals to be able to thrive upon just because there's so many things that is going into it. Maisie pet, I'm
a huge proponent of responsible amphibian ownership, especially as a pet you know, like, if your animal is captive bred, not wild collected does not have diseases that you're introducing, you're not releasing them, and they're kept an appropriate habitat. I think owning amphibians is a wonderful thing. Like I am biased. I obviously have helped with the gallery renovation, I have frogs with my own like I, I have for all
I know, I love that you take care of frogs here, and then you go home and take care of frogs. But
I think that there's a way to do it. Right. And I think that these animals, especially amphibians, in general, it's so much more about maintaining the integrity of their enclosure and their habitat and where they live, because they live in balance with everything that they do. And so if you have access models, and they are in an appropriately sized cold enough, clean enough good water temperature, you know, good water parameters, I am all about it because people loving axolotl is what is going to drive people taking care of their natural habitat. And if all the things are met, and the animals are happy, I don't take issue with it. Obviously check to see if it's legal in your state horse don't have them here in California, but at the same time, like that's cool. I think a lot of people just might not have the information there to do right by the Axolotl that they might own. There's a lot of misinformation out there. And there's a lot of hobbyist information. Amphibian husbandry is coming so far, but it is still a little lagging behind. Like, we really know how to take care of dogs and cats and things like that. But we don't necessarily always have all the information on amphibians. And so if you're doing your best, and you have everything that makes those animals happy in their ecosystem, or their environment is healthy and safe. I don't take issue with it. So yes, if it's legal if it's
perfect. Do they burrow in the mud at the bottom of these lakes or is there any do they are they a burrowing species? They
will burry under rocks if they if there's mud there, then yes, but they're not like burrow isn't like sticking their gills. No, no, no, no, it's not like yeah, they're not like mudskippers you know? mudskippers Yeah, you're like, I believe that's what Yeah, I was thinking, you know, they're not like that
other fish or creatures who they get along with any other species that they are able to be housed with, um, other
axolotl is but specifically the guys these guys are not social at all. They are not anything that moves will they will eat to Yeah, so if you put them with any fish feels fish are going to become their little snacks. And they are not really well with other animals. So if you want to put them with anything else, I would definitely suggest another Axolotl that is about the same size, same sex and same sex. Yeah.
Is there reproduction like and is there a difference between male and female?
So it's their clue. Aika there click on a male is much more enlarged. It's like a really big bump. And it's between, like their tail and their stomach. And it's it's just, it's much more larger, we'll definitely be able to see the difference between tell by looking at you could definitely tell Yeah, with a female, it's not as enlarge as a as a moon. Yeah. And that's that would be the difference.
The males will drop a sperm packet, if they know there's a female around and they're receptive to breeding a female actually go over and pick it up with her cloaca. And that's how their eggs are fertilized. And so that's actually weirdly common with salamander species is the sperm packet behavior like,
Hey, this is here. If you're interested in you're interested here, yeah. But I do see over there, they've got
some like elaborate courtship ritual that they do first to sort of get in the sperm packet moon and then I think it's like tails intertwining. They're sort of like dancing circles. Yeah. It's cute. We've never seen it here because we're not allowed to breed them. But if you look it up, it is actually kind of cute to watch exiles flirt with each other a little bit, and then 1000 babies later.
So what's the gestation period?
It says 14 to 21 days as an egg before is temperature dependent. So similar to a lot of other animals, they will develop more rapidly if they're in warmer temperatures and a little bit more slowly, if their interest the temperature, the
water effect to their sex?
I don't think so. I don't think so either. I do know that juveniles or just like younger Axolotl do have, they have to be in a little bit warmer, helps her grow, you know? Yeah, it's, um, it's something that if you keep the Norwex laws at a 64, you would probably want to keep it at a 66. No more or no less, just at that specific one. Yeah.
Are they immortal? What's the average? Like? We talked about that America wishes.
I know, I do. cerami do live up to I believe it's 10 to 15 years. And it definitely changes. Because of like, how well you're keeping up with them and stuff. But really well, Axolotl would definitely live up to 15 years.
Yeah, I guess the thought is, is if they can regenerate, you know, their limbs. Maybe they just continuously live forever. But that's something
they regenerate the whole entire life.
Um, do they have ears? They don't have years. I
don't think they have ears. They don't really sense vibrations. Yeah, they're very, very sensitive. Great.
And they can sense a vibration is that kind of how they're sensing food in the water is through the vibrations of the, they see like
shadows. And so they're able to, like pick up where it's like coming from where if they see, like, I think I have, I'm just assuming at this point, but I've just I've seen them so much that I, I just came up with this assumption and this theory, that I feel like they know exactly how this object looks. Because when I feed these baby bottles, I feed them with this blue, little like, tweezers, because they're very small. And they know exactly where to go. Like you don't go anywhere farther than, you know, like to my hand or anything. They know exactly where that little thing is. Yeah. And so they might be able to see that. Yeah,
I think they get the gist of it. Yeah, I mean, I'm gonna do my best. Yeah, they're just trained for it. Yeah.
What about their migration patterns? You know, if they're doing any traveling, I mean, they're staying in that lake. Right? They're not they're not leaving. Yeah,
they're not unless Yeah, exactly. Deuce. The closest answer that I could possibly answer to that is, is just if the waters are, if the currents are too strong, they would definitely migrate to somewhere where it's not. It is a water stream. So we don't know how water could, you know, impact, the you know, it waters moving all the time. So we don't know if it might be too strong of a current in this section where they were. So they'll just migrate to somewhere where it's more chill and more soft, because again, they are very, very sensitive to vibrations. So in this case, they don't like any sort of like really strong currents. They like a very still water. And if they do like some sort of currency, they're very soft, soft, like, drop like it's just a little rash. Yeah, just a little bit.
Are there any studies being done for medical research? For humans, the fact that they can regenerate parts of their brain that would be awesome. For us, humans or even our limbs? Is there any any medical research being done there is
there is medical research, we are far far from like, anything that comes out, but it's just interesting, knowing that the study is like on a cellular level where, like, they want to see how their cells could interact with ours. But like I said, we're very far from that. And I know that creature so different. Yeah, exactly. And I know that these guys are also 1000 times yeah, it's 1000 times less susceptible to be able to get cancer and so it's it's a great thing for them to be able to know that and study understand that Yeah. And so if they're able to one day eventually like isolate the reason yeah, I can. Yeah, and me We even like help humans. I'll have to do that. And that, that, that'll be amazing, you know, but I'm pretty sure we're very far from that. Yeah. I don't know how an axolotl could possibly, you know, interact with my DNA like mine. She's, she's like how well I can you tell me?
I tried to grow kill outside of my body please, please and thank you
something I was reading about kind of recently someone was asking me like how do they regrow their limbs is I guess with the axolotl is they actually have the same. It's like mRNA and RNA that helps create proteins. And it's the same thing that we have. But we only activate that if we have an excess of nutrients. And so think about like, if you're going to the gym and you're bulking up, you're going to create all that muscle and all that tissue when there is an excess of nutrients. And that is available for all of those proteins to be built. But for actual models, trauma actually induces a flooding of all those nutrients to one spot, so that all of those cells can pull from that and create what they need, and they can regrow an entire limb in a matter of weeks without it being an issue at
five knots is it it's pretty flat. And
then with Nemo, like if you get a bad cut sometimes I'm
like it's still not Yeah,
you know what's really funny about that though, so axolotl is for like their fingers, right that they have they have like about five or four, maybe, depending on like how they regrow it. Sometimes they just regrow like, three really? Yeah, it's kind of funny, but they regrow it. It's just different, but it's there. I
want to talk a little bit about the new gallery. I'm so excited. It's called frogs facing a changing, changing world. Thank you. And you guys have been working tirelessly.
I have I don't know I'm pretty tired
tiredly. But it's been months in the making. And I'm really excited to see this new habitat. Can you tell us a little bit more about what we can expect in this new gallery? axolotl is going to be there.
Yes, axolotl is going to be there. They have a really, really cool section, I really just want to make sure that you guys are so excited as much as I am. I see it every day. And I'm still like, wow, it's just so amazing. You will be able to definitely know where the axolotl is, are now at the aquarium, you won't be able to miss it. And yeah, I mean, it's going to be x Latos. We do have our are close neighbors. That's what we call them. So the the ones that are here in California, or the ones that are close to California, they're all going to be all together. So you'll you'll find those species all together. And then in our frog gallery, that's where we have a lot of stuff. Yeah, we have a lot of stuff and
it looks beautiful already. Or it's
been probably, you know, six, eight months in the making. And a lot of that is planning and we couldn't close off the gallery until we were really ready to start
building so that the middle of our gallery, yes, and an inconvenient, yes.
Apologize to all the guests who have had to be detoured around. But just to sort of highlight the tropical amphibians, we have that entire section of the tropical Pacific gallery, highlighting different animals that you would find in tropical regions. And so we have amphibians from everywhere from like Madagascar to Vietnam to like Costa Rica and a bunch of different species. Some of them are familiar, some of them are new. And something I'm really excited about is sort of highlighting sustainability and amphibian keeping, like I said, I think people should own frogs if they do it, right. And it's, you know, responsibly collected, and all those things. And something that is a major cause of decline for amphibians, in general is collection for the pet trade. And when you have a lot of really cool colorful frogs out in the wild, that just sit out in the open because nothing is threatening them because they're poisonous. People can just go and pick them up, and then they sell them. And that becomes a huge issue. And that's actually why gold and mentalist are critically endangered, because they are so poisonous, that they just sit outside and they're like nothing's gonna
come and get me if you want. Yeah, and then they did. And that
was the problem. So similar for Kaiser newts. Once a year, they will go all breed in the same stream, and they're just out and about because they're doing breeding stuff. And so people have learned the habits of these animals and when to collect them that's easiest for people. And unfortunately, that leaves them pretty vulnerable. Yeah, all that to say is that in the gallery, we have what's called the frog nursery. And it is an area sort of mental highlights sustainability in breeding and keeping amphibians. One of my favorite things about amphibians is going to sound weird, is that they all require very specific environmental cues to get them in a reproductive mood. And it's really hard to know those things until you've tried and tested a couple of different
things. We have tried a couple of things like changing the light, and
genuinely as much as it sounds crazy sometimes it's a matter of change, you know, like that will do it. And so like California newts are great example where people have had almost difficult time breeding them under human care because they require a period of migration. And you can't obviously migrate a newt from its system to another system and have it feel like it walked my But sometimes I guess what they had discovered is they could create sort of an elaborate series of almost like hamster tubes to get a newt to walk what it felt like was miles and be like, Well, I don't know where I am. And even if it ended up back in its own exhibit, it was like, yeah, that can be enough to trigger those hormones to cause them to breed. And so finding ways to get the sort of rare or less kept amphibians to breed under human care means that we are not collecting as many from the wild that we are helping to support sort of the population under human care and showcase them at zoos and aquaria in a very responsible way. And I am very excited about that. And also, they're doing really cute stuff. And they're just yesterday, one of our frogs was carrying a tadpole around and I was like,
it's pretty exciting. We're doing because we're about to open. Okay, actually, let me go to my baby.
Put them right here. So it's been cool.
That's so cool. You guys. I'm so excited to see it.
They're excited. One
more question for you, America. Yeah. What do you love about taking care of X bottles? Or what do you love most about axolotl is one.
So, man, there's so many things, but I think it has to do with well, just one being able to interact with not only the animals, but also the people. All these little kids, they just come up and just ask like, Hey, where are that's Latos or Hey, where are the bottles you know, they can even say it that like properly, but it's just so cute. And it really warms warms my heart to be able to educate them and and also educate their parents. My favorite part of it just in general is just being able to spend every day with the Axolotl and making sure that they're okay, getting to know them and their personality. And honestly, like educating or just kind of being able to show the passion that I have, not only to the people that asked me, but also like to my staff members, and you know, just being able to learn everyday because these guys are so different. Every day, honestly, you don't know what you're gonna get. Sometimes you'll get like a axolotl is just kind of in his little cave. And then yeah, and then like another day, he's just like, sassy. And the other day is just like, He's just funny. I mean, it's just it's, it's crazy to see it. And it's better to explain it when you're in person. But yeah, that's it.
You can talk to America. All that excellent, please. Yes,
I will hear I'm here. Yeah, I will definitely talk your ear off. Cool. That's it. Yeah. Thank
