In the 1970s, Zambrano said, the Mexican government introduced African tilapia and Asian carp into the lake in an effort to create fisheries, but the fish began eating the axolotl eggs and young.

At 1 year of age, axolotls are ready to make some babies. Females can lay between 300 and 1,000 eggs. The mating season is between March and June when water temps are stable. Males and females ...