Pet of the Month: A Lotl Love for Lottie

Charlotte Catholic’s very first pet of the month is Lottie the Axolotl. While she may be a strange creature, she is popular with crowds. Lottie, who resides at OrthoCarolina’s hand center, serves as a form of hope to patients and amputees. 

Axolotls are a critically endangered salamander species native to Lake Xochimilco in the Valley of Mexico. In captivity, their population has flourished. Axolotl’s typically live for 10-15 years and are carnivores that enjoy bloodworms and axolotl pellets. As they grow older, they can have more diverse diets that include shrimp, salmon and chicken. 

Dr. Glenn Gaston, an orthopedic hand surgeon at OrthoCarolina, got Lottie on February 16th, 2025, after waiting for close to six months. Since axolotls are extremely sensitive, it typically takes close to three months to adequately prepare the 40-gallon tank for them. After the extensive search for Lottie, an albino pink axolotl, OrthoCarolina had to prove they were up to the task. 

Since axolotls are just making a comeback in captivity, breeders want to ensure that they find a perfect home. In addition to the hefty prices required to produce a suitable habitat, owners must provide a water sample with perfect ammonia, nitrate, and pH levels. 

After working hard for three months to meet all the requirements, OrthoCarolina was extremely excited to welcome Lottie home. Although they are uncertain of her age, she is likely close to six months old. 

Lottie quickly adapted to her environment and has already made a big impact. Dr. Gaston mentions that both “adults and kids love to stop by and take pictures and videos of Lottie swimming by.” He notes that even the faculty at OrthoCarolina loves to check in and see what she's doing. He says that “she’s a huge source of entertainment.”

While Lottie proves to be a fun pet, she is not all show and tell. Lottie’s true purpose is to serve as a form of inspiration to all amputees and patients. Axolotls are unique in that they can lose their limbs and regrow them. 

Dr. Gaston, in addition to his work at OrthoCarolina, runs a nonprofit amputee foundation called Arms For All. He works to provide prosthetic arms to those who are incapable of paying for their own. Since axolotls are capable of regeneration, Dr. Gaston thinks “Lottie is the perfect mascot.”

Dr. Gaston saw it best fit that Lottie should reside at the OrthoCarolina hand center. In just a short period of time, she has captured the hearts of many. Patients young and old enjoy stopping by her tank before visits. While she might not do much more than swim around in her tank, she proves as a constant reminder that visitors are getting the best care possible. 

Dr. Gaston remarks that “kids love to take [him] by the hand and show [him] their crayon masterpieces of Lottie.” He ensures that there are new coloring pages of Lottie to match each holiday and season. She loves the attention, and may be the most popular axolotl in the world.