From Our Living Room to Dream Storefront

When we brought home our very first axolotl, we had no idea how much we would enjoy it. Little time had passed and one axolotl turned into three in a 75-gallon aquarium. We spent hours watching them, while losing track of time. We began to refer to this axolotl viewing time as "Axolotl T.V."

We had a lot we needed to learn about their care.

The problem was that there wasn't much reliable information available at the time. It was difficult to know if our axolotls were healthy, or if we were providing the best possible care. Like most beginners, we made mistakes, learned from them, and slowly became more confident. Jeremy wondered if there were other axolotl owners in the Tulsa area, so he created a facebook group named "Axolotls Tulsa"

As we learned, I had an idea.

I created a simple informational website where I could share everything we were discovering. Right on the homepage, I explained that our goal was to share what we were learning so that other axolotl owners could benefit from our experiences. Since we had already established a presence on facebook as Axolotls Tulsa, it became our website name as well.

Something unexpected happened

We hadn't planned on raising baby axolotls, but one day Jeremy discovered eggs in our tank. We kept a few of the eggs and started the adventure of learning to care for axolotl hatchlings. There was a lot of trial and error, and the good news is that we were successful. At first we sold the baby axolotls by appointment out of our home. Customers would schedule a time to visit, and we would introduce them to the babies, answer their questions, and help them prepare for bringing an axolotl home. Those appointments were some of our favorite moments because we weren't just selling an axolotl—we were helping someone begin the same journey we had started ourselves.

As demand continued to grow, our home wasn't enough.

We rented a small space that served primarily as a nursery for our growing collection of baby axolotls. We also tidied up the area so customers could continue visiting by appointment. It wasn't fancy, but it gave us room to grow while allowing us to keep providing the personal experience we wanted every customer to have. Many of you may remember visiting us or even buying your axolotl here.

Even then, we knew we were dreaming bigger.

Over time our dream wasn't only to raise axolotls. We wanted to create a place where families, hobbyists, and first-time owners could walk in during regular business hours, explore, ask questions, and experience the incredible world of axolotls.

That dream eventually became reality.

Today, our storefront includes a dedicated showroom where visitors can come in during showroom hours to see our axolotls, learn about their care, and find everything they need to get started. Behind the scenes, our nursery continues to raise the next generation of healthy baby axolotls. As they grow and become ready for new homes, they're brought into the showroom where they meet the families who will care for them. To add an extra layer of fun, we added a candy and gift store where you can find everything axolotl.

Looking back, it's amazing to think that everything began with one curious family, three axolotls in a 75-gallon tank, and a simple desire to learn.

We still don't claim to know everything. We're still learning every day.

But that's always been part of our mission.

Learn. Share. Help others.

That simple idea is what grew into Axolotls Tulsa, and it's still at the heart of everything we do today.