So, you’ve decided to bring home an axolotl? You might be taken aback if you go unprepared. Why do we say so? Well, axolotls are available in many, many colors.
What’s even more interesting is that axolotls change color. So, you ought to buy an axolotl carefully if you do have a specific color in mind.
Axolotls are available in so many colors because they’re crossbred in the labs. The very fact that they can regenerate limbs makes them one of the most fascinating species for scientists.
This article sheds light on the many colors (common as well as rare and rarest) an axolotl is available in, myths and facts about their colors and light preference, and more.
Dive in before you bring this salamander home and try to make it your pet!
Why are axolotls available in so many colors?
Before we take you through our list of 17 most beautiful axolotls you can consider buying (depending upon your budget since not all axolotls are cheap, some are very expensive), we’d first like to take you through the reasons why such color variation even exists other than the fact that axolotls are crossbred in labs.
Axolotls have 3 pigments naturally. Hence, the color variation.
#1. For the cell type, Melanophore: The pigment for this axolotl is Eumelanin. It gives this particular variety of axolotl a blackish-brown color.
#2. For the cell type, Xanthophore: The pigments are Carotenoids and Pteridines. They give these axolotls either yellow or red colors.
#3. For cell type, Iridophore: The pigment is Crystalized Purines. The axolotls with this pigment have a shiny and reflective iridescence hue.
The existence of these hues in the wild has been used in the labs to crossbreed axolotls to bring about countless beautiful hues.
However, color variations do not mean that there’s any genetic difference between axolotls. Just as humans have different complexions but the same number of chromosomes, it’s the same for axolotls too.
Top 17 axolotl colors that’ll mesmerize you
Common colors: albino, black melanoid, speckled dirty beauty, leucistic, wild colors.
Uncommon colors: copper and gold.
Rare colors: Enigma, firefly, glows green in dark, more iridescent, Lavender, mosaic, and piebald.
Extremely rare colors (expensive too): chimera and RFP (glows red in the dark)
Please note: The colors mentioned above have many shades. Those shades are the 17 fascinating hues we will be explaining in the sections to follow.
#1 Golden Albino axolotls
These axolotls have white bodies when they’re born. Their color changes to beautiful deeper shades of gold as and when they grow.
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- They’ve either golden speckles or stripes.
- They have reflective bodies.
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#2 Copper axolotls
These are some of the most uncommon beautiful axolotls you will ever see. They have light hues in copper or olive.
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- You’ll also see hints of speckles on their bodies in either pink, gold, lighter shades of brown.
- They usually have pink gills and reddish eyes.
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#3 Black melanoid axolotls
These axolotls are the blackest shade of black you’ve ever seen. They can be dark gray as well. Their gills are dark purple.
Black melanoid axolotls don’t have any hint of shine or sparkles either.
#4 Green fluorescent protein axolotls
These axolotls are rare beauties. They have a special green pigment that makes them glow green when it’s dark.
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- They can regenerate limbs.
- It’s usually their heads and bodies that glow.
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#5 Firefly axolotls
They have the appearance of fireflies. That’s what earns them their name. The reason that they’re rare is that they cannot be reproduced by cross-breeding.
Scientists have to physically replace their tails while they’re in the embryo stage with a fluorescent green protein tail that glows when these axolotls grow out of their embryonic stage.
Distinctive features:
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- They’re engineered species of axolotls that are a result of changes done to an axolotl embryo.
- They cannot be produced by crossbreeding.
- They can have any color.
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#6 Heavily-marked melanoid axolotls
These are quite interesting variations of the melanoid axolotls. We say interesting because they’ve been spotted in the wild so rarely that nobody knows for sure if they’re born via the mating of two different breeds of axolotls.
What sets them apart from melanoid axolotls is the fact that other than the usual black and purple spots that melanoid axolotls sport, the Heavily-marked axolotls also have patches in light green tint and yellow tint.
#7 Lavender axolotls
These axolotls aren’t common at all. Their bodies are either a uniform (but light) shade of lavender or gray. The silver speckles on their bodies have earned them the regal name, silver dalmatian.
Some might have dark gray spots instead of silver speckles. Also, their eyes and fins are dark, making a striking contrast with the rest of their body that’s light.
#8 Enigma axolotls
Enigma axolotls are one of the rarest axolotls you’ll find. They’re absolute stunners. Why? Well, it’s because they change color as they grow.
They’re born dark black and as they grow older, they change their color to yellowish-green. And, that’s not all!
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- They also develop dark green and dark yellow spots on their bodies.
- They have elegant pink gills.
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#9 Leucistic axolotls
Now, now – these are quite stunning-looking and equally popular pet axolotls that many people love having at their homes.
They have very mild brownish or blackish tints that look highly contrasting with their deep blue eyes and brilliant pink gills. Some Leucistic axolotls can also have black eyes.
#10 Wild-type axolotls
Doesn’t the name give them away? They’re the axolotls that exist in the wild: they’re not lab-synthesized crossbreeds.
They are usually olive with beautiful white, yellow, or black spots on their bodies. The spots can be dense as well as scattered.
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- They have very dark eyes.
- The gills are a very dark shade of purple.
- They have different degrees of shine since not all produce the same amount of iridophore.
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#11 Mosaic axolotls
Mosaic axolotls are just as popular and distinctive as leucistic axolotls! They have mesmerizing mosaic patterns in either pink, black, purple, or gray.
What makes them exquisitely rare is that no two mosaic axolotls will ever have the same pattern.
Sadly, they’re usually not put up for sale!
#12 White albino axolotls
There are many features that set white albino axolotls apart from every other axolotl – not just albino – are as follows:
• They’re pure white. Even their eyes are fully deprived of pigments.
• They have very poor vision.
• When they’re born, they literally have see-through bellies.
• Only their gills change color to red as they grow old, the rest of the body stays pure white all through their life.
#13 Speckled leucistic axolotls
They have the appearance of normal leucistic axolotls when they’re born. But, with age, they start developing speckles in stunning shades of black, dark green, and even brown.
The speckles and freckles they have are nothing like the ones found on mosaic axolotls.
#14 Chimera axolotls
Chimera axolotls are extremely rare! Do you know why? Well, that’s because they hardly live through infancy.
A chimera axolotl is born after two embryos join together. It leads to either the death of this breed early on, and if it somehow lives, it has to suffer from many health problems.
They’re usually half black and half white. They look beautiful! They’re hardly ever put for sale, confined mostly to labs and research centers.
#15 Piebald axolotls
Piebald axolotls are quite large in comparison with other axolotls. Mostly, they have a white body with multiple dots. They have beautiful pink gills and their eyes are either blue or black.
They can be a perfect pet gracing your aquarium.
#16 High iridophore axolotls
As the name suggests, these axolotls have higher iridophore pigment than all other axolotls.
They have a very shiny appearance with dark spots that can be present on any part of their body. The colors that they’re found in can be copper and the many shades of wild-type axolotls.
Don’t be surprised, if it’s any other color apart from what we’ve mentioned. Axolotls can always surprise you!
#17 Red fluorescent axolotls
These axolotls glow red or orangish-red under UV lights. One of the rarest types of axolotls, they’re mostly used for research purposes only. You’ll hardly find any red fluorescent axolotls in the public for sale.
Myths and facts about axolotls answered!
Some of them are wild, some are crossbred, and one is even engineered physically! It’s natural that such a variation gives birth to many rumors.
Some of those rumors are facts and some myths. The most important ones have been discussed in the upcoming sections. Have a look!
Albino axolotls are blind: Myth
Many people have a question, are Albino axolotls blind? To settle the matter once and for all, we’d like to make you aware that Albino axolotls are not blind.
They have less pigmented eyes; especially, the white albino axolotl. Hence, their eyesight is poor, but they’re not blind!
Axolotls glow in the dark: Little more than a simple Fact
Although it’s a fact, it’s a little more than that!
Many people have a question, Do axolotls glow in the dark? The answer is that those axolotls that have the fluorescent protein can glow in the dark. But, they will glow only in the dark when exposed to light that’s below UV rays.
On the contrary, GFP axolotls can glow in the dark with backlights.
Green axolotl isn’t real: Myth
One of the most frequently searched questions is, is there a green axolotl in real life? If you think they don’t exist, then you’re wrong.
Green axolotls are very much real. So are blue axolotls and brown axolotls.
Light-related questions about axolotls unraveled
Is UV light OK for axolotls?
Though they do have UV filters in their retinas, they don’t necessarily require UV light for survival like most other reptiles do.
Do axolotls like light?
No, axolotls do not like lights. You have to understand that, unlike humans, axolotls do not have eyelids. So, there’s nothing that can protect their eyes from sudden flashes and bright lights. That’s why axolotls get restless in bright lights.
Dim light should be enough for axolotls!
Do axolotls like pitch Black?
Yes, they do. Since pitch Black doesn’t affect their eyes, they’re quite relaxed when it’s dark.
FAQs
1. Do axolotls color change?
Yes. There are some species of axolotls that are born a different color and as they age, they change colors.
The axolotls that change color include speckled leucistic, Enigma axolotls, and golden albino axolotls.
Also, there are some axolotls that develop colorful speckles as they age.
2. What’s the rarest axolotl color in real life?
Lavender axolotl color is one of the rarest in real life.
3. How much does a pink axolotl cost?
Pink axolotls can cost you anywhere between 30-75 dollars
4. How much do axolotls cost?
Depending upon how common or rare they are, axolotls can cost anywhere between 30-1500 dollars.
5. Which is the costliest axolotl?
Enigma axolotls are the costliest of all. They can easily cost you 1500 dollars.
6. Are there any axolotls that aren’t sold?
As a matter of fact, yes. Usually, Chimera and Mosaic axolotls are not sold.
Concluding Thoughts
Axolotls are exotic pets; yet, they require the least maintenance. They’re available in as many as 17 beautiful colors. Some axolotls are common while some are very rare, and some aren’t even sold.
If you’re a lover of exotic pets, you’ll definitely love axolotls. They thrive the best when there’s either dim light or absolute dark, the ones with fluorescent lights glow in the dark with a backlight that’s lower than UV light, and some of them even change colors.
We hope now you know which color your axolotl will be after it grows old and whether or not it will develop (or change the color and density) spots, speckles, and freckles. So, purchase one accordingly.
