How’s the saying go? If an animal has teeth, it can bite! So do axolotls have teeth? Do axolotls bite?
Do axolotls have teeth?
You might not guess it from looking at them, but axolotl do have teeth. Their teeth are so small, however, that even many experienced owners assume that these amphibians are toothless. Axolotls do, in fact, have a row of teeth on both their upper and lower jaws. They don’t use these teeth for chewing, however. Axolotl mostly use their teeth to grip their prey, before swallowing it whole.
So if they have teeth, do they bite?
Yes, axolotl can bite! However, their teeth are very small and not very sharp. Pet axolotls are pretty harmless to humans. Their bites may be startling, but they don’t have sharp enough teeth, nor the jaw power, to do any major damage to human skin. Be careful when housing multiple axolotls together, however, or with other aquatic animals. Axolotls will eat anything they can fit into their mouths, sometimes including the legs, gills, or tails of other axolotl tank mates.
You’re most likely to get bitten by an axolotl when they mistake human fingers for tasty worms. Hey, can you really blame them there? Axolotls don’t usually bite defensively. They are a ‘flight’ type of animal. If they are frightened or startled, they’ll try to escape from whatever it was that startled them. In captivity, this can often lead to a lot of frantic swimming and splashing, but they won’t attack you when they are frightened.
I’ve been bitten by my own axolotls a handful of times. It can be startling, but doesn’t typically hurt or do any damage. Bites are usually not forceful enough to break human skin. I’ve read the rare report of axolotl bites causing small red spots of slightly broken skin, similar to a very minor scrape. However, my own experiences of axolotl bites have been that they are very superficial and don’t actually do any damage to human skin.
Far more dangerous to other aquatic critters than humans…
It’s important to be careful if you house multiple axolotls together, or try keeping axolotls with other aquatic critters. Axolotls will try to eat anything that they can fit inside their mouths. Fish should only be kept with axolotls if you intend for them to, eventually, be your axolotl’s breakfast.
Many keepers successfully keep multiple axolotls together, however doing so is not always risk free. Axolotls will sometimes bite off each others toes, feet, legs, tails, and/or gills. This is more common in young axolotl than in adults.
Only axolotls of similar size, and the same sex, should be housed together. If you’re housing multiple axolotls together, make sure to monitor them closely. Watch out for biting/nipping, and ensure that all axolotls are able to access food. A hungry axolotl is a nippy axolotl!
The best way to avoid an axolotl bite is prevention!
If you’re still nervous about your axolotl biting you, try not to worry too much! Axolotl bites are super easy to avoid. Just keep your fingers out of your axolotl’s tank! You can use tongs to feed your axolotl, and remove them from their tank with a net if you need to put your hands into their tank for maintenance. House your axolotl alone to avoid them nipping, or getting nipped by, other tankmates.
I’m living proof, all 10 fingers still attached, that axolotl bites aren’t really anything to worry about. The bites feel weird, and can be startling, but don’t usually do any damage to human skin.
- Basic Axolotl Care Sheet
- Acclimating Your New Axolotl
- How to Cycle a Freshwater Aquarium
- Can Axolotls Change Colors?
What to do if your axolotl bites you
If your axolotl does bite you, try to remain calm. It’s hard, if you’re startled, to not instinctively pull your hand out of the water as quickly as possible. But, if you can, remain calm and wait for your axolotl to back off on their own. Try not to shake or jerk them around. They should release you pretty quickly, as soon as they figure out that you aren’t food. Remember that your axolotl is a lot smaller, and more fragile, than you are. While their bite will be harmless to you, it would be easy for you to accidently hurt them in a moment of panic.
If you have an axolotl, has he/she ever bitten you? What was your experience getting bitten by an axolotl like?
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