Axolotls are amphibians and require water for most of their life stages. They are aquatic and spend their entire lives in water, where they breathe through gills and absorb oxygen through their skin. Axolotls cannot survive completely without water for their entire lifetime, as they would not be able to breathe or maintain their necessary bodily functions. If an axolotl were removed from water, it would quickly suffer from dehydration and respiratory problems, leading to its demise.