How is it that axolotls are listed as “critically endangered” species, but they are allowed to be pets that don’t even sell for more that much?

Question

Apparently there are breeders making Axolotls and they only go for a few hundred bucks at most. How is this possible? And how are so many people able to own them as pets if they are very close to extinction?

In: 6261

Answer 1

Many species of of fish today exist only in the collections of private breeders, if it weren’t for hobbyists and organizations like CARES they would be completely extinct.

The same idea applies to axolotls, keeping them alive in the pet hobby is a good way of ensuring their survival. The reason they are relatively cheap is that they are rather easy to breed in captivity, therefore the few remaining wild populations are not affected by the trade.