When your axolotl is aged enough and sexually mature, it’s time to find out the gender. That way you can give them a pretty cute nickname, plus you also need to know it in case you want to breed in the future.
There are a few key differences to look out for when trying to identify whether your axolotl is male or female. Such as variations in body shape, head shape, and the size and shape of the cloaca, etc. You can also observe their behavior during mating season.
By learning to spot these subtle clues, you can confidently determine your axolotl’s gender and better care for their individual needs. Read below for an in-depth explanation…
When can you find out the gender of your axolotl?
Without knowing the gender of your newly bought pet, it’s a bit weird to give them a name. And if you’re like me you won’t rest easy until you figure that out. If you get a juvenile axolotl it’s pretty hard to find out their gender. So you have to wait until they hit sexual maturity.
You don’t have to panic as it’s a matter of time. Simply wait for your axie to reach its sexual maturity stage. Usually, axolotl reaches the maturity stage around 6-12 months. The faster rate of maturity is altered by specific genetics.
When your lotl grows around 8’’ in length, it’s the perfect time to tell their gender.
Another great indication is the changing of the toe color. If you notice any change in your axies toe color like dark to light or light to dark, most probably your buddy has reached the sexual maturity level.
4 interesting methods to tell the sex of an axolotl
Now that you know when is the right time to assess the gender of your axolotl, we can now move on to the main event. Fundamentally, there are 4 basic ways you can find out the sex of your axolotl. I’ll go through them down below:
1. Examine the cloaca of axolotl
Cloaca is an integral part of the axolotl body, which is right behind the back leg and between the tail of a lotl. This area is not the same in the female and male axolotl. That’s why it’s pretty easy to examine their gender by observing this body part.
If you look at your axolotl from any angle and notice the cloaca area is flat and no bulge is visible, it’s a female axolotl. You will also see the cloaca zone of the female axie is short.
But, you might get deceived sometimes by the poop bump of your female lotl. Which can make the cloaca zone a bit swollen with a V or U shape. Right after they are done with their pooping, this saggy and swollen area will become flat.
However, in the male axolotl, the bulge shape of the cloaca area will be prominent and clear. After hitting the sexual maturity stage, this bulge behind the back leg will be clearly visible. Plus, the cloaca area of the male is taller compared to the female one.
As soon as the breeding time gets close you will notice the bulge become more noticeable.
2. Watch out for the body shape
Like many species of the animal kingdom, male & female axolotls have a slight difference in their body shape. Though you can observe the body shape of a lotl from any angle, the above view is the best one.
A female axolotl will have a comparatively rounder body shape than a male lolt. Their abdomen is a bit wider. The body shape remains round because she has to carry a large number of eggs inside her body.
If your axolotl has already gone through the mating process, the female axolotl will have a pear shaped body because of holding the eggs.
And a male axie will always have a taller and thinner body shape after reaching sexual maturity.
3. Keep an eye during breeding time
Try to monitor their mating process. This is the easiest way to tell the sex of your axolotl. Both male and female have their unique movement and activities during the mating process.
A male lotl will wiggle the tail and will roam around the entire water tank to spread the sperm cone in every corner. This process is called spermatophores. On the other hand, a female axolotl will follow the male axie by staying right behind his cloaca. She will try to investigate his cloaca using her nose.
After that, the male lotl will push the female one so that she can get herself to the zone where the sperm cone is floating. This pushing attitude is the signal to the female lotl to land on the sperm and simply absorb the sperm into her body.
These specific movements of the axolotl are the most reliable way to tell the sex of an axolotl.
After the sperm is absorbed by your queen lotl, she will start to lay eggs in the tank for a certain period of time.
4. Compare the size of your axolotl
Though not the best method to identify the gender of your newly bought lotl, it is a moderately effective method to know the answer.
The genetics of axolotl is that the female axolotl is always bigger plus longer in size compared to the male axie. This method can be helpful if you fail to observe the mating process.
Apart from average genetics, some male axolotls can be bigger than female ones. So don’t fully rely on this method. Use this technique with the above-mentioned method to find out the gender correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to know the sex of a baby axolotl?
Even if you try to figure out the sex of a juvenile axolotl, you will fail. It is simply impossible to find out the sex of a baby axie. You have to give them time for enough physical growth to tell the gender of your cute pet.
Can axolotl change their sex?
No, axolotls can’t change their gender. They will hold the same gender from birth to death and there will be no change.
Whether it’s a male or female, it will depend on the type of chromosome the axie inherited from its parents.
Final words
With the fundamental techniques to determine the sex of an axolotl now at your fingertips, the unease of owning one without knowing its gender will no longer be an issue. Additionally, there is an abundance of supplemental information available online from experienced breeders if you need more insight.
It’s time to start compiling a list of male and female names for your axolotls. As soon as they reach sexual maturity, use the methods outlined in this brief guide to discern their gender. This will eliminate any uncertainties when it comes to breeding them. Here’s to hoping you’ll apply these techniques appropriately.
