Axolotls in Schools

[optimist]

I get the impression that many American schools have axolotls as classroom pets, rather than the goldfish we have over here in the UK. Is that so? If it is, are there any particular issues that teachers need to be aware of as regards risks to children if they are kept in schools? Thanks for any advice/replies.

 

[kira]

are there any particular issues that teachers need to be aware of as regards risks to children if they are kept in schools?

None that I am aware of. It's just like keeping them at home with kids. I have 3 kids and have had axies for 9 years, there are no risks that I have found.

 

[Jennewt]

Axolotls are not exactly common classroom pets, but there are some in schools. I gave two to my local middle school, and the place is now infested with them. They even have an aquarium of them in the main office.

I don't know of any risks (aside from unwanted reproduction!)

 

[paullism]

Funny you should mention this because that is how Chelsea - "chelsbels" (my daughter) became interested in Axolotls. They keep one in a class room at the school she attends, she became so interested in them and that is why we have 3 now of our own.

 

[Aquatic]

I gave one to my son's old kindergarten teacher. It was missing part of a forearm and the kids enjoyed watching it grow back over time. Plus the history, and care has been a huge benefit for the kids. I think they make fantastic classroom pets.

 

[chelsbels]

Funny you should mention this because that is how Chelsea - "chelsbels" (my daughter) became interested in Axolotls. They keep one in a class room at the school she attends, she became so interested in them and that is why we have 3 now of our own.

That's me! I don't know anything about what they do in the classroom, becuase I don't have any classes there. I do know that they had an agae problem at one stage though. But here in Australia, we sometimes have goldfish and/or axolotls as class pets. The only class I know at my school that has a pet is the one with the algae problem.

Chelsea

 

[katebutton]

my dad is a biology teacher and he has an axolotl in his classroom- a former student had graduated and gone into research where they would cut off the axolotl's fingers and stick them other places on the arm or other hand and when she was done with her research she didn't want to cull the animal so she gave it to him. it's a fantastic classroom pet and it has a very happy life now, i can assure you. it also helps the students learn about things like limb regeneration, which i suppose is a bonus.

 

[optimist]

Thanks for that.

 

[katis]

I'm a teacher in Autstralia and i had an axolotl as a class pet. My students loved him because he was so unusual. We loved it when everyone was working quietly or most of the kids had left and Pedro would swim around his tank (all the more incentive to keep my kids quiet!). They would love watching him and he would sit on his little bridge watching everyone. The only problem i had was taking him home over the school holidays. it was ok for the short breaks, i'd just drop in to school to feed him but on the summer holidays I had to take him home. I worried every time about taking him in the car but he was fine afterwards. the only other thing i had to be careful of was the cleaners. I had signs all around the tank and asked the cleaners personally not to spray any chemicals around the tank.

Axolotls make fantastic pets in schools, I got my students to research axies every year as a homework assignment. They are more interesting and MUCH more hardy than other pets (i've had fish and yabbies). My students also loved looking after him and helping me with water changes, feeding and testing water (very closely supervised of course!). I'd even have ex students come into my class room to check up on how Pedro was doing.

Unfortunately Pedro recently died but I am planning on getting another axolotl, both for myself and for the kids at school - we're in love!

Kate

Here's a picture of Perdo on his bridge at school.

 

[optimist]

Thanks for the info. I'm a teacher too and am going to be introducing an axolotl into our school.