An axolotl, like any other salamander, is a very silent animal. Even if it does create noise, axolotls rarely do.
When these creatures create noise, it is often a faint squeaking, popping, or hiccuping. In the tank, this only occurs when the salamander swims to the surface. The axolotl’s buccopharyngeal membrane and lungs work together to create these noises during normal breathing.
The muscles in their mouths tighten when they take a breath, allowing air to enter the body. If this happens, you could hear something that sounds like a squeaky hiccup.
However, since axolotls are entirely aquatic creatures with gills for respiration, you will seldom, if ever, get to hear this sound.
Why Do Axolotls Hiccup?
Hiccupping is a reflexive action brought about by the nervous system. It causes muscles in the lungs and diaphragm to contract, causing the hiccup sound. Animals, including humans, hiccup when their brains become overstimulated.
Hiccups can occur for a few different reasons. A sudden loud noise can cause a hiccup in an axolotl, as an excitement, hunger, or even a change in water temperature. As axolotls are a very sensitive breed of salamander, their bodies experience this over-stimulation more often than most.
Axolotls also hiccup when they are stressed by an illness, injury, or changes in their environment. It can include an overabundance of light, sudden changes in water temperature, or the presence of toxins in their water source.
How to Tell if Your Axolotl is Making Noise
If your salamander is making noises that you don’t think are normal, you can try to pinpoint the noise by observing your axolotl’s surroundings and behavior. If your axolotl is in a tank with a loud filter or pump, that can cause the noise.
If your tank is near a window or brightly lit room, that can also cause noise. If your axolotl is behaving abnormally like if it doesn’t eat or swim, that can also cause the noise.
If your axolotl has an injury or illness, it could also make the noise. If you can pinpoint what is causing the noise, you can try to change the environment to make it excellent for the axolotl.
Piping in Axolotls
You must check the tank for any issues if you hear your axolotl making a “piping” sound. When the salamander makes this sound, it sounds like it is wheezing. You could also hear bubbling or gurgling. It can be a sign that something is wrong.
Check the tank temperature, oxygen, and pH levels if you hear this noise. You could also be feeding your axolotl too much.
If you do not see any issues with the tank and have already checked the feeding, you need to take the axolotl to a vet. This sound could signify an infection or parasites in the salamander.
The Importance of Bimodal Breathing in Axolotls
Bimodal breathing is when a salamander breathes using both gills and lungs. In the wild, this mode of breathing is more common. Bimodal breathing allows axolotls to breathe quickly when they are in danger.
Bimodal breathing is natural, but it is possible to change your axolotl’s breathing pattern. By keeping your axolotl in a tank without a filter, the animal will eventually use its gills for longer periods. It also allows them to stay underwater for extended periods.
It is essential to keep the water clean, but not to use a filter if you want to simulate this change. Eventually, your axolotl will use its gills as its primary source of breathing.
Why Do Axolotls Swallow Air Bubbles?
If the water in which your axolotl lives is not ideal, it may try to ingest air by coming to the surface.
Because of difficulties in breathing via its gills and skin, the animal must surface for air if anything is wrong with the water.
For an axolotl to thrive, the water’s pH must be between 7.4 and 7.6. They are, however, tolerant to water with a pH of 6.5 to 8. However, your axolotl may develop ammonia toxicity if exposed to water outside of this range.
Additionally, all salamanders have an air bladder for buoyancy. It is what causes the air bubbles in the stomach. When the axolotl breathes, and the muscles in its mouth tighten, it creates a vacuum that sucks air from the mouth and into its stomach.
What is an Axolotl Squeak?
An axolotl squeak is another way to describe the sound your axolotl makes when breathing. Although axolotls don’t make noises often, when they do make noise, it is usually a faint squeak. If your axolotl is making a squeak, it uses its lungs as a method of breathing.
An axolotl using its lungs as a source of breathing is often sick or injured. In these cases, the animal may be unable to use its gills. If your axolotl isn’t eating and is making the noise, immediately take it to the vet.
Why Does My Axolotl Make Noises Frequently?
Axolotls don’t often produce a lot of noise. It is because their gills are their primary breathing method, and they only resort to using their lungs in extreme circumstances.
If your axolotls are often squeaking, it might be a sign that the water quality in their tank is poor.
Ensure the water is at the proper temperature, that the hardness and pH levels are optimal and that there aren’t excessive amounts of nitrates and ammonia.
These factors may hinder the axolotl’s ability to breathe, causing it to emerge regularly to gulp air bubbles. However, this behavior may be detrimental to an axolotl’s health since its lungs are not well suited for frequent surface-level breathing.
Axolotls are exciting creatures with many different habits, including making noises. Most of the time, this is a sign that the salamander is happy and healthy, but if the noises become more frequent, it could be a sign that something is wrong with the water in your tank.
It’s essential to take care of your axolotl and provide a clean and healthy environment so it can thrive happily.
