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Axolotl camoflauge

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axaxaxax

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Hi all, new to the forum so hi! I have had axolotls for a few years or so.

I'm wondering if any one else has noticed "camouflage" with their axolotls? I while ago I transferred a few WT axolotls from a tank with black sand to a new tank with white sand. After a few days, they significantly changed their color and became much less darker.

After some googling it appears that that axolotls have some limited ability to change their melanophores (see: Vision and the skin camouflage reactions of Ambystoma larvae: the effects of eye transplants and brain lesions)

Anyways, thought this was pretty cool. Has anyone else seen this?
 
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Frogg1rl

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Yes! I have definitely observed this, especially in juveniles. My melanoid juvies will change from very light grey to almost black depending on the substrate they are on. I noticed this when I had them in plastic containers on a white surface and then moved them to a dark surface. They will change within an hour.

I've never heard of adults doing this though, but I am less knowledgeable of WTs.
 
xxianxx

xxianxx

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It's common, wildtypes that I raise in outside planted tanks often look quite green, when I move them into unplanted tanks the lose it.
 
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