There are many axolotl colours available in the hobby all around the world today. Some are very common and others are very rare. Here in New Zealand we have a very limited gene pool and unfortunately it is illegal to import axolotl currently. However, with extensive research and patience it is possible to create some colours that New Zealand currently lacks. Here we explain the different types of colour morphs available in the hobby and some basic genetics to each of those colours.
Wildtype: This colour morph has a wide range of colour from green to brown to black. They often have a varying colour such as green with yellowish and black spots and shiney iridophore patches. They have black eyes with a shiney ring which is one way to tell a black wildtype apart from a melanoid. They are non-melanoid, non-albino, and non-axanthic. Wildtypes are not homozygous to any colour and have a genotype D/d.
Leucistic: This is one of the most commonly available colours around the world. A leucistic axolotl has a white body, pink gills and black eyes. There are some variations on this colour depending on the parentage of the axolotl. It is very common to have a "dirty leucistic" which is when they have freckles on there face and occasionally down their back. This is caused by melanophores which indicate they are not albino. Some are more heavily marked then others and can even end up with solid brown masks across their face or heavily speckled heads. Quite often leucistics will also appear to have a blue ring around their eyes. Leucistic axolotl have a genotype d/d and are homozygous. They are non-melanoid, non-albino, and non-axanthic.
Golden Albino: The golden albinos are one type of albino available in axolotl and has a genotype of D/d a/a. The golden albino lacks melanophores but has the normal pigment migration which is what makes the gold colour of the albino. Golden albino also have iridophores which are very commonly seen as shiney speckles over the body. They have pink or golden gills and gold or red eyes. The intensity of the gold colour can vary from very pale to very rich gold.
White Albino: The white albino has a phenotype that has red eyes, white body, and pink gills. They lack melanophores so there will be no black speckles on the body but they do have iridophores which are commonly noticeable on their gill branches. Their genotype is d/d a/a. Occasionally white melanoid albinos are mistake as white albinos, or visa versa, but the easiest way to tell the difference is to look if there are irridophores on their gill branchs and/or see if they have a shiney ring around their pupil. If they do, they are a white albino.
White Melanoid Albino: A white body, pink gills, and red eyes, this albino can be difficult to tell apart from a white albino axolotl. The most obvious difference, as mentioned above, is the melanoid albino lacks the shiny ring around the pupil. The melanoid albino also lacks any irridophores (the same as the normal melanoid) but can also develop yellow tinge on its head and back. This yellow tinge is caused by xanthophores. The genotype for this axolotl colour is m/m a/a.
Melanoid: A melanoid is a black animals with no shiney ring around their pupil and no irridophores. They also have greatly reduced yellow pigments. They are homozygous for melanoid but can be heterozygous to other colours. so can be A/a m/m or simply m/m. The melanoid colour can vary slightly from pale gray to vivid black colour and anything in between and it is very common for the lighter colour variations to have darker spots. Another colour mutation, the silver dalmation, is actually just a variation of a grey melanoid with spots.