Axolotls arrive at Butterfly House & Aquarium

If there’s a fan of axolotls in your household, you now have a place to see them in person.

The aquatic salamanders have arrived at the Butterfly House & Aquarium at 4320 S. Oxbow Ave. in Sertoma Park. They’re next to the marsh turtle exhibit.

Axolotls are native to a few small lakes in Mexico City. In the wild, they are critically endangered, with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining as their tiny habitat is threatened by pollution, invasive species and disease.

Axolotls “have experienced a meteoric rise in popularity as pets and in pop culture in recent years,” according to Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium. “However, they are best enjoyed in a professional animal care setting.”

Axolotls found in pet stores mostly likely are part of a captive-bred population. Wild axolotls are typically dark in color with mottled patterns of brown and green. In the pet trade, axolotls are found in a variety of colors, including leucitic, or pink and white.

“Overbreeding has led to many axolotls with genetic defects and weakened immune systems,” the organization said. “Axolotls are also a difficult pet for most families to care for, needing highly specialized care and habitat conditions.”

The Butterfly House & Aquarium is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information on admission and membership options, visit greatzoo.org.