Blue Axolotls In Real Life

Are Blue Axolotls Existent?

Many new axolotl enthusiasts oftentimes inquire the question: Do blue axolotls be? The respond to this is no, truthful bluish axolotls do not exist. While there are many photos and videos on the net of "blue" axolotls, these pictures and videos are either heavily edited or feature axolotls who have been dyed blue. It is not possible for an axolotl to have naturally occurring blue pigmentation.

An axolotl'southward coloration is determined by its chromatophores. Chromatophores are skin cells that control the production of color in the axolotl'southward skin. There are half dozen major types of chromatophores that occur inside aquatic animal species like salamanders, crustaceans and fish:

Erythrophores - Red pigmented chromatophores.
Iridophores - Chromatophores that are irised and reverberate light.
Leucophores - White pigmented chromatophores.
Melanophores - Black or Brown chromatophores.
Cyanophores - Blue chromatophores.
Xanthophores - Yellow pigmented chromatophores.

Axolotls do not possess erythrophores or cyanophores, then it is really genetically impossible for an axolotl to be blue or even scarlet. There is yet some other variation of axolotl that is the closest you can get to blue under certain lighting weather. These axolotls are called melanoid axolotls which are actually black or very dark brown axolotls, but nether certain lighting can oftentimes have a greyness/blue advent. It is important to note that these axolotls are actually black and it is simply a trick of the calorie-free that makes them announced blue. Below we take photographed ane of our melanoid axolotls nether different lighting to demonstrate this effect.

You can see in the top photo that this melanoid axolotl appears more than black with some bluish tinting while in the photograph below the axolotl appears more brown, but neither is actually blue. All morphs of axolotls can appear a slightly dissimilar color or hue depending on the blazon of lighting they are displayed under!

More Virtually Melanoid Axolotls

If blue is your favorite color, and y'all want the closest matter to a real life blueish axolotl, and then a melanoid axolotl is what you are looking for! Melanoid axolotls are axolotls that do not produce iridophores (iridescent skin pigment) and have a decreased product of xanthophores (xanthous pigmentation). This is what gives them their unique black appearance! Melanoid axolotls can exist a smooth velvety black, being completely solid in color with slightly lighter bellies, or they can be a nighttime gray with darker spots all over them!

All melanoid axolotls are unique from other morphs considering they completely lack a shiny ring around their eyes. Non-melanistic axolotls volition accept this shiny eye ring, which oft appears gilt or silver, and that is how you can tell the difference between a very dark wild blazon axolotl and a melanoid! You can also tell the difference between normal leucistic axolotls and leucistic melanoid axolotls using the same method! This shiny eye ring is actually a very important part of axolotl biology as it is composed of iridophores which reflect light and assist the axolotl to run into better. So, melanoid axolotls actually have poorer vision than other axolotls because there is nothing in their eyes to reflect the excess light! Melanistic axolotls too have a significant reduction in the production of pteridines in their peel which are an of import component of their immune system. This leads to melanoid hatchlings and larvae being harder to heighten, making melanoids a more rare and expensive morph of axolotl!

What About Dyed Axolotls?

Some axolotl owners have been known to dye their pets in order to make them blue. This is extremely dangerous and Axolotl Planet considers this behavior to be abusive. We strongly discourage anyone from doing this to an axolotl or any other amphibious/reptilian animate being. For the sake of education, we will go over some specifics as to why this is considered an abusive practice.

The reason why dyeing an axolotl is and so bad is due to axolotls having very delicate skin. It is porous and covered in a slime coat that protects the axolotls from dangerous pathogens in the water effectually them. In order to dye an axolotl you lot would accept to strip them of their slime coat which is an of import component of keeping an axolotl healthy. This process alone can kill the axolotl.

Axolotl skin likewise passively absorbs oxygen and chemicals around it in the water which means that the dye can also be absorbed and poison the axolotl. Because of the lack of a functional slime coat and the absorption of harmful chemicals, this weakens the axolotl's immune organisation, making it vulnerable to opportunistic bacterial and fungal infections which can be notoriously difficult to treat if intervention is not immediate.

Dye is likewise not permanent and will leach out of the axolotl's pare into the water around it, which can create extremely dangerous h2o conditions that tin can potentially crash an established nitrogen cycle. All in all, dyeing an axolotl is a horrible practice that should never be done no matter how badly someone might desire a uniquely-colored axolotl.

Decision

While the purported "bluish" axolotl is in actuality a myth, there are still a wide variety of axolotl colors available that are just equally capable of bringing you joy! Axolotls are wonderful and inquisitive creatures that make wonderful pets for anyone looking for something a trivial more exotic! For anyone looking to get an axolotl as a pet, we strongly recommend you read our Tank Cycling Guide and Axolotl Care Guide to better prepare yourself for welcoming your new friend into your home!