Finding Axolotls in Minecraft: A Complete Guide

Axolotls, those charming aquatic creatures, really liven up Minecraft's oceans. Since their introduction in the 1.17 update, they've captured players' hearts with their unique look and surprisingly aggressive behavior towards most sea creatures. If you're on versions of the game before 1.18, you could find them in warm ocean biomes.

Now in the newer updates, finding these mobs can be a bit tricky if you don't know where to look. It seems the game developers have hidden them well. But don't worry! This guide will break down the easiest ways to locate Axolotls in Minecraft, so you can add these cool mobs to your collection.

This guide works for both Minecraft Java and Bedrock editions. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

What Exactly Are Axolotls in Minecraft?

Axolotls are semi-hostile aquatic mobs, meaning they can live both in and out of water, similar to frogs. They will not attack players, but they do attack most other aquatic mobs like squids — except for frogs, dolphins, turtles, and other axolotls.

Each Axolotl attack causes 4 health points of damage. But before you start your search, it helps to know what types of Axolotls you can find.

Different Types of Axolotls in Minecraft

There are five variations of Axolotls that appear in the game:

• Leucistic — Pink with black eyes
• Wild — Brown
• Cyan — Light blue with dark pink gills
• Gold — Yellow
• Blue — Dark blue/purple

These differences are only visual. Each type has the same health and abilities. The Blue Axolotl is the rarest, with less than a 1% chance of appearing when breeding Axolotls.

Where Do Axolotls Spawn in Minecraft?

In older versions (Minecraft 1.17), you could find Axolotls in warm ocean biomes. However, this location made them difficult to find and harder to capture and breed.

Since the 1.18 update, Axolotls spawn exclusively in lush caves. These plant-filled cave biomes came with the Caves & Cliffs Part 2 update. They're quite different from other cave biomes, but not too difficult to find once you know what to look for.

How to Find Lush Caves in Minecraft

If you want to find Axolotls, you first need to locate a lush cave. Lush caves are found underground and are easy to spot while exploring. If you'd rather not go underground right away, look for azalea trees above ground — lush caves almost always grow directly below them. These trees can even grow above lush caves that are located underwater.

Although there is no specific above-ground biome linked to lush caves, they are most commonly found beneath jungle and forest biomes. You can also use specific Minecraft seeds to spawn near lush caves.

How to Find Axolotls in Lush Caves

Once you're inside a lush cave, Axolotls should not be hard to find. According to the Minecraft Wiki, Axolotls have a 100% spawn rate in lush caves in Java Edition. In Bedrock Edition, the spawn chance drops to 10%, but Axolotls spawn in groups of 4–6 in both editions, so with enough searching you will find them.

Look for water that is at least two blocks deep. Axolotls typically stay close to the water, and even when they're out of it, they'll be within 6–8 blocks of the nearest water source. Make sure to check both in and around the water to spot them.

Now Go Find Some Axolotls!

Now you're all set to find and breed Axolotls in Minecraft! These creatures are great for decorating your server builds. Just remember to keep them in a water tank, as they can only survive on land for up to five minutes.

So, what are you planning to do with your Axolotls? Let us know in the comments below!