How to Tame Axolotls in Minecraft: Complete Guide

Abdul Wasay Khatri | Administrator

Last updated: 1 February, 2026

I’ve spent three years playing Minecraft and working with real axolotls, so when the game added these adorable water creatures, I was thrilled. Many players ask if you can tame axolotls like wolves or cats. The answer is a bit different than you’d expect. Let me show you exactly how to work with axolotls in Minecraft.

Can You Tame an Axolotl in Minecraft?

Here’s the truth: you cannot technically tame axolotls in Minecraft the way you tame wolves or horses. There’s no taming process that makes them “yours” with a name tag appearing above their head.

However, you can catch them, keep them, breed them, and bring them along on adventures. They’ll help you fight underwater mobs and follow you around when you’re holding their favorite item. Think of it more like befriending than traditional taming.

Where to Find Axolotls

Axolotls spawn naturally in underground water sources. Look for them in lush caves below sea level (y-level 63 or lower). They appear in complete darkness within water blocks.

The best places to search include caves with water, underground lakes, and aquifers. You’ll find them in groups, usually 2-4 together. They come in five colors: pink (leucistic), brown (wild), gold, cyan, and the super rare blue variant.

I’ve found the most axolotls by exploring large cave systems with water features. Bring plenty of torches and buckets.

How to Catch and Keep Axolotls

Catching axolotls is simple once you find them:

Step 1: Craft a water bucket. You need three iron ingots arranged in a V-shape at a crafting table.

Step 2: Locate an axolotl underwater. Swim close to it carefully.

Step 3: Right-click (or tap, on mobile) the axolotl with your empty bucket. The axolotl gets scooped up into the bucket, creating a “Bucket of Axolotl.”

Step 4: Transport your new friend wherever you want. The bucket fits in your inventory.

Step 5: Place the axolotl by right-clicking with the bucket where you want to release it. This must be in water.

I always carry extra buckets when exploring caves. You never know when you’ll find axolotls worth collecting.

Creating an Axolotl Home

Axolotls need water to survive. If they leave water for more than five minutes, they start taking damage and will eventually die.

Build a suitable home for your axolotls:

Tank requirements: At least 2 blocks deep of water. Bigger is better, especially for multiple axolotls.

Lighting: Axolotls can live in any light level, unlike most hostile mobs. Light up the area to prevent other creatures from spawning nearby.

Decoration: Add blocks, plants, and coral to make the space look nice. Axolotls don’t care, but it looks great.

Safety: Build walls or fences around the water to prevent axolotls from jumping out accidentally.

My base has a large underground pond where I keep my axolotl collection. It connects to my main base through tunnels.

Breeding Axolotls

You can breed axolotls to get more of them, including a chance at the rare blue variant.

What you need: Two axolotls and tropical fish (not fish buckets, actual tropical fish items).

How to breed:

1. Catch or kill tropical fish to get tropical fish items
2. Hold the tropical fish and approach your axolotls
3. Right-click each axolotl with the tropical fish
4. Hearts appear above them
5. A baby axolotl spawns shortly after

Baby growth: Baby axolotls take about 20 minutes to grow into adults. Feed them tropical fish to speed up growth by 10% per fish.

Blue axolotls: There’s a 1 in 1200 chance of getting a blue axolotl from breeding. Otherwise, babies have a 50/50 chance of being either parent’s color.

I’ve bred hundreds of axolotls trying to get blue ones. It takes serious patience and lots of tropical fish.

Taking Axolotls on Adventures

This is where axolotls become really useful. They’re excellent combat companions underwater.

Leading axolotls: Hold a bucket of tropical fish (not the item, the actual bucket with a fish in it). Axolotls within 10 blocks will follow you.

Combat abilities: Axolotls attack most underwater hostile mobs, including drowned, guardians, and elder guardians. They don’t attack turtles, dolphins, or other passive creatures.

Regeneration buff: When an axolotl kills a mob, it gives you Regeneration I and removes Mining Fatigue. This is incredibly helpful during ocean monument raids.

Playing dead: When axolotls take damage, they sometimes pretend to be dead for a few seconds, during which they regenerate health. They’re tougher than they look.

I always bring 2-3 axolotls when raiding ocean monuments. They make guardian fights much easier.

Protecting Your Axolotls

Axolotls face several dangers:

Drowning prevention: This sounds weird, but axolotls need water. They can breathe air temporarily but will die if out of water too long.

Mob attacks: Hostile mobs will attack axolotls on sight. Keep your base well-lit and protected.

Accidental escape: Axolotls can jump and might leap out of shallow water. Build adequate walls.

Getting lost: Axolotls wander randomly. If you want them to stay put, keep them in an enclosed area.

Use name tags on your favorite axolotls. This prevents them from despawning and helps you keep track of special ones like blue variants.

Transporting Axolotls Long Distance

Moving axolotls between bases requires planning:

Bucket method: The simplest way. Scoop them into buckets and carry them in your inventory. This works for any distance.

Water tunnel: Build a connected waterway between locations. Lead axolotls through with tropical fish buckets.

Minecart method: Place a minecart in water, push the axolotl into it, then push the minecart along rails. Works on land if you add water to the minecart section.

Nether portal: You can take axolotl buckets through portals. This is the fastest method for very long distances.

I’ve transported axolotls across thousands of blocks using the bucket-and-portal method. Super effective.

Tips and Tricks

Farm tropical fish: Build a simple fish farm near your axolotl area. You’ll need constant supplies for breeding and leading.

Separate breeding pairs: Keep breeding axolotls in their own tank to prevent baby overcrowding.

Color collection: Try collecting all five colors. Display them in separate tanks or together in a large aquarium.

Ocean monument strategy: Bring milk buckets to remove Mining Fatigue, then release axolotls to help fight guardians.

Name the rare ones: Always name tag blue axolotls immediately. They’re too valuable to risk losing.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting water depth: Shallow water isn’t safe. Axolotls need at least 2 blocks deep.

Leaving them on land: Even briefly. They take damage quickly outside water.

Expecting them to follow forever: They’ll wander off unless you’re actively leading them with tropical fish buckets.

Not protecting them in combat: Axolotls are tough but not invincible. Multiple guardians can overwhelm them.

Why Axolotls Are Worth the Effort

These creatures aren’t just cute pets. They provide real gameplay benefits:

• Reliable underwater combat help
• Regeneration buffs during fights
• Mining Fatigue removal in ocean monuments
• Breeding for rare blue variants
• Amazing decoration for bases

After three years of Minecraft gameplay, axolotls rank among my favorite features. They combine usefulness with adorable appearance.

Final Thoughts

So, how to tame axolotls in Minecraft? You can’t traditionally tame them, but you can catch, keep, breed, and adventure with them. Use buckets to collect them, tropical fish to breed them, and bring them along for underwater battles.

The process is straightforward once you know the steps. Find them in lush cave waters, scoop them into buckets, build them a proper home, and breed them for more. They’ll reward you by making underwater exploration much safer and more enjoyable.

Start your axolotl collection today. These pink, brown, gold, cyan, and rare blue companions will become your favorite underwater friends.

Abdul Wasay Khatri
Administrator
Abdul Wasay is the founder and lead author of Axolotl Portal, a trusted site for axolotl care. He spent almost nine months learning about axolotls, including their tanks, feeding, water care, and common health problems. His knowledge comes from trusted vets, research, and real experience from long term axolotl owners. All Posts by