What does Xochi mean?
Xochimilco is a district of Mexico City, a region know for the canals of Lake Xochimilco, and the flowers growing in floating gardens. For hundreds of years, people have admired and studied the unusual salamanders that are native to this lake system. Named for the god of lightning and fire (Xolotl), axolotls were discovered by the Aztecs and have over the years become a scientific marvel and a beloved pet. Axolotls are special and unique for many reasons, but they are particularly important to Xochi Exotics.
​
Xochi Exotics was founded by two aquarists who are passionate about the responsible care and breeding of unique pets, and the education of those who want to keep them. Our first big project at Xochi Exotics was breeding axolotls!
Our first axolotls were from a group of class pets that had been loved and raised from babies by elementary students. Each of these four has an Aztec name to respect the culture that discovered and named them. One of our females is named after Xochimilco Lake, and we just call her Xochi. Xochi is a dirty leucistic axolotl, who is special and has five rather than six gills, and she was the first of our axolotls to lay eggs. That batch of axolotls is the first animals we bred, raised and sold at Xochi Exotics, so our name reflects that history. As long as we are breeding and selling animals, providing education and helping aspiring aquarists, we will have a reminder of where we came from.