When it comes to choosing an axolotl, it is important to answer the question, “what colors can an axolotl be?“. Since people have different preferences for colors, choosing the right axolotl appearance is necessary.
Though axolotls are widely accessible for adoption, they are considered endangered, especially for some unique color skins. Thus, you should give them great care when you have one. Axolotls may make excellent pets if properly housed and cared for.
Contents
- 1 What Is An Axolotl?
- 2 What Colors Can An Axolotl Be?
- 2.1 Mosaic Axolotl
- 2.2 Chimera Axolotl
- 2.3 Firefly Axolotl
- 2.4 Lavender Axolotl
- 2.5 Black Melanoid Axolotl
- 2.6 Copper Axolotl
- 2.7 Golden Albino Axolotl
- 2.8 Piebald Axolotl
- 2.9 Leucistic Axolotl
- 2.10 White Albino Axolotl
- 2.11 Wild Type
- 2.12 Speckled Leucistic
- 2.13 Heavily Marked Melanoid
- 2.14 Green Fluorescent Protein
- 2.15 Enigma
- 3 Conclusion
What Is An Axolotl?
The axolotl is a pet that has been popular for its appearance recently. It grows to be around 9 inches long and weighs nearly about 300 grams. Some can grow to be 12 inches long.
Axolotls can regenerate numerous parts of their bodies, which is their most distinguishing quality. It enables them to fully recuperate from traumas without leaving any scars.
What Colors Can An Axolotl Be?
Since human has interfered with the selection of axolotls, there are wide varieties with diverse shapes, colors, and sizes. You may now get different axolotl choices that match your visual preferences.
Mosaic Axolotl
This pet is the result of two eggs combined. One must be an albino/leucistic egg, and the other is a wild or dark type.
The outcome is also hard to control. It is a randomly patterned salamander with white, golden, and black spots. Besides, the mosaic may possess purple gills or striped red.
Chimera Axolotl
Chimera axolotl morphs are also extremely unusual mutations created by chance. They are the outcome of two eggs: one albino and one wild type.
They are recognized with half-black, and half-white skin divided right along the horizontal body length. They are so uncommon and scarce that retailers do not routinely sell them.
Firefly Axolotl
This is one of the disputed axolotl color morphs, as some argue the method for creating them is unsuitable. The pet is a wild axolotl with dark color.
Because there is a fluorescent green protein, the firefly morph features an albino tail that glows at night with a black light glare.
Lavender Axolotl
This axolotl color morph has a purple and light silvery color. The unique feature is gray-red gills and black eyes that will turn green or gray when the pet ages.
The prominence of spots covering the entire body has earned its fame and name, silver Dalmatian axolotl.
Black Melanoid Axolotl
Found in 1961, The black melanoid is now one of the most widespread axolotl color morphs.
The skin colors are a wide range of morphs ranging from dark green to nearly black, with a purple or grey belly and dark purple gills.
Some resemble wild-type axolotls but for the absence of the golden eye.
Copper Axolotl
This unusual morph possesses a light green and gray body with copper-like specks dispersed over the skin surface. It also features red-gray eyes and red-gray gills.
The special mix is caused by reduced melanin pigment levels. You can find this kind of Axolotl in Australia and the United States.
Golden Albino Axolotl
The golden albino Axolotl is the most often seen artificial hue. It has bright golden skin (along with yellow, white, or pink eyes and shiny spots across the body).
The skin color will gradually change from white to orange and gold throughout its lifecycle.
Piebald Axolotl
The piebald morph is a unique axolotl hue. The black or dark green spots cover areas of translucent or white skin.
Most spots cover the back and face, with only a few covering the legs and sides. The high number of dots on the body distinguishes it from the leucistic morph.
Leucistic Axolotl
Despite its appearance as an albino, the leucistic axolotl features more transparent red gill filaments, see-through skin, and black or dark brown eyes.
The fundamental biological distinction is that the albino is generated by reducing only the pigment melanin. Meanwhile, the leucistic is generated by minimizing all pigments.
White Albino Axolotl
One of the most popular axolotls is the white albino. This albino variant, distinguished by white or pink eyes, a white body, and red gill, is the consequence of the axolotl generating less melanin.
It is a pigment that controls skin color and shields it from UV light.
Wild Type
You can expect the most common and oldest color with wild axolotls. They can be virtually gray, black, or light yellow.
Black eyes, purple gill filaments, and golden iris distinguish this variant. Because of their tint, they may mix in with the mud lakebeds around Mexico City.
Speckled Leucistic
Speckled Leucistic is a form of leucistic mutant. Their backs, tails, and heads are spotted with black, brown, or dark green.
Unlike a regular leucistic, the degree of mottling is not that dramatic.
Heavily Marked Melanoid
This type is a distinct variant of the black melanoid form. It features purplish-gray and black dots like conventional black melanoid morph but with mild yellow and green patches.
It’s been observed just a few times, and there is little information.
Green Fluorescent Protein
Actually, Green Fluorescent Protein axolotls appear to be any morph. Nevertheless, if under UV light, they flash a dazzling fluorescent green.
This characteristic is undetectable in usual illumination but apparent under UV light.
Enigma
The Enigma morph is colored dark gray with a white belly and toes, golden eyes, and red gills.
It has bright golden spots that can be seen from different angles. A breeder in America discovered this axolotl, and so far, there’s been only one enigma.
Conclusion
Now you have all information for the question, “What Colors Can An Axolotl Be?“. Your job is to choose the color you want and find a suitable Axolotl.
Some can be quite rare, and you will need to spend more time looking for them. However, having a unique and suitable axolotl will bring you pleasure.