Axolotl?

Had anyone heard about this animal, Axolotl? Guess most of u don't, I don't too. Today, I was checking my e-mails as usual and found out this interesting email from my friend that says about water animals (fish). While browsing over the pictures, this one attracted me, Axolotl:

Cute huh??

Here are some information about this animal:

"The axolotl is a species of tiger salamander that is found the lakes around Mexico City. It is a neotenous species of tiger salamander, retraining its gills throughout its life. It can be stimulated into metamorphosis, if certain hormones are introduced into its system or if it gets iodine treatments. The British naturalist Julian Huxley was among the first to cause metamorphosis in the axolotl using hormones. However, the metamorphosed axolotl is an unhealthy creature that lives only a year or two afterward. This lifespan is greatly shortened from the 10-15 years it would have experienced as a neotenous specimen.

They are found in these lakes, which are polluted, but pollution alone has not killed off the Axolotl. Carp and tilapia have been introduced. These fish have discovered tha Axolotl larvae are a good source of protein, and the axolotl cannot survive this level of predation.

Interestingly, even if this species went extinct in the wild, it would not be extinct in captivity. In fact, you can buy axolotls as pets, which are kept a diet of bloodworms, salmon pellets, and other food for carnivorous fish. It has been in capitivy for so long that different color morphs have been produced, including albino, yellow albino, and leucistic (like the one pictured at the top of the post)." - quoted from a website that resulted from Google's search.

Well, it is said that it can be pets but i wonder if they sell it in Malaysia? Hope I could see this Axolotl with my own eyes one day. :)