Axolotls are not able to live without water at any stage of their life. They are fully aquatic as adults and do not have the ability to live entirely on land like some other amphibians:
Respiration: Axolotls breathe through their gills as larvae and through their skin and lungs as adults. While they do develop rudimentary lungs, they also rely significantly on their skin for gas exchange, which requires them to keep their skin moist.
Skin Moisture: Their skin is permeable and must remain wet to function properly. Dry conditions can lead to dehydration and even death.
Habitat: Axolotls spend their entire lives in water, whether it's in home aquariums or their natural habitats, such as freshwater canals and ponds.
Reproduction: Axolotls lay and fertilize their eggs in water. The entire process of mating and egg-laying occurs in an aquatic environment.
Survival: Being amphibians, axolotls require water to survive, and they struggle to thrive or may die if deprived of it.
In summary, axolotls cannot live without access to water throughout their lives. They are unique among amphibians in that they often retain their larval form, including gills, throughout adulthood, emphasizing their dependence on water.