The real story behind the site
How Mudkip Inspired Axolotl Authority
A baby rescue, a high school biology classroom, and one very worm-focused axolotl changed how I taught science and eventually inspired this website.
Start with the beginner guide →How it started
Mudkip made biology feel real
Mudkip came into my life shortly after Virginia changed its restrictions on axolotls. I found him online as a baby rescue. He was the runt, a wild-type axolotl with a back foot that developed a little differently. I think of it as his Nemo fin.
At the time, I was teaching high school biology at a brand-new school shortly after the pandemic. I wanted a classroom pet the students could enjoy, but Mudkip soon became part of how I taught. I created lessons about water chemistry, water quality, ecology, and the environment with him as the focal point. The students loved him, and he made the science feel real.
When I moved out of Virginia and into the Midwest, Mudkip came with me. He is still surprisingly social with me and watches closely whenever I am near his aquarium. Truth be told, he is probably checking whether I brought him a worm. Worms are the only food I feed him, and he knows exactly who delivers them.
Mudkip is the only axolotl I have owned. I believe being honest about that matters. My broader freshwater aquarium experience goes back throughout my life, while the lessons I share about axolotls come from caring for Mudkip, continuing to research his needs, and being willing to change my mind when better information becomes available.
Experience behind the guides
The aquarium care I have actually practiced
Freshwater has always been part of my life
Before Mudkip, I kept bettas, Endlers, shrimp, snails, pea puffers, and pygmy sunfish. Aquariums were already familiar territory when I began learning the details of axolotl care.
Mudkip has a home built around his needs
He lives in a 29-gallon aquarium with very fine sand, a Fluval canister filter, a hide, large rocks, plants, and a mesh net he can climb on.
I plan for the hottest days
The Midwest stays cooler for much of the year, but Mudkip’s aquarium still has a chiller and an overhead fan for periods of hot weather.
Why I started writing
Popularity grew faster than good care information
I launched Axolotl Authority on January 1, 2022. Axolotls were becoming increasingly popular, but I kept seeing aquariums with unsafe gravel and owners who had never been told that these animals need cool water. I wanted to explain the care behind the cute pictures and help new keepers understand why each decision matters.
This website shares routine husbandry education, not veterinary advice. An aquatic or exotic veterinarian is the right person to diagnose or treat an animal that may be ill or injured.
- Share what I have actually used
I identify my own equipment, routines, observations, and preferences instead of presenting every choice as a universal rule.
- Connect advice to the biology
My biology and teaching background helps me explain water quality, temperature, nutrition, and behavior in plain language.
- Check the guidance
I compare my experience with veterinary, university, aquarium-trade, and other reputable husbandry sources before making broad recommendations.
- Stay honest about the limits
I update my thinking when better information appears and encourage veterinary care when a concern goes beyond routine husbandry.
Let’s make care feel manageable
Ready to build a safe home for your axolotl?
Begin with the step-by-step roadmap, or explore the full collection of care guides.