I've paid (and been happy paying) a range $15-40.00 AUD for a healthy adult axolotl (I'm lucky enough to have a broad range of colour types available to me, as most of my local Aquariums sell axolotls, but sadly, not many - if any - are what I would call "reputable" dealers).
My local Aquarium had what they called "Giant Axolotls" (about 12 inchs long) and had two of them available, a leucistic and a wildtype, which they were charging $75.00 AUD each. I was tempted, but one of my own wildtypes was that size and he was $20.00 when I purchased him just a few years ago as an adult (8-9 inchs) from another aquarium.
If ever a piebald axolotl was made available to me though (I first saw and loved the piebald after seeing one in all its splendour on the cover of Peter W. Scott's book), I'd definately consider paying a significantly higher price.
How much does it cost you to feed a hungry, growing axolotl for about a year? Is it below $50?
Red wriggler earthworms are completely free of charge for me, as I have bucket loads of these worms in my garden - sadly though, the axolotl's don't altogether care for these worms, due to the noxious smell that the worm releases when cut or bitten into.
In providing my axies with a varied diet which includes: live earthworms (african nightcrawlers purchased from a bait shop), blackworm (purchased from a blackworm farm - $70.00 AUD per kilo), bloodworm (frozen cubes sold at petstore), and pellets - for me, personally, $50.00 a year would not stretch very far for my adult axolotls. Even if I had only the one axolotl, I can't see $50.00 stretching very far for a whole year. If I omitted the blackworms (never!
) and could entice my finicky eaters to eat the redwrigglers rather than the nightcrawlers though, it would probably be possible to keep it under $50.00 per year...