Question: Axolotl varieties

mrthomasjohansson · Jun 22, 2008

Hello everyone!

I wonder first of all how many varieties of axolotl exist?

I have been looking for harlequin axolotl for a long time. Does anyone know if this variety exist on the market?

Sincerely
Thomas

madeve · Jun 22, 2008

Hi,

have a look here http://www.axolotl.org/genetics.htm it shows the different axolotls colors. I don't believe they have a "harlequin" so to speak, I think what you refer to is a leucistic axolotls with some markings. You can also have a look at the gallery.
Eve

blueberlin · Jun 23, 2008

Hello Thomas,

There is another thread about harlequin axolotls:
http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=54876&highlight=harlequin

Also, right on the home page of the axolotl.org site is a picture of the various colors of axolotls. None of those in the pciture have spots, but the basic colors are there:
http://www.axolotl.org/

-Eva

ali000 · Jun 23, 2008

Yes, there is such a colouring as harlequin/pied but it is extremely rare.

Gismonikon · Sep 27, 2008

AW: Axolotl varieties

Rare by normal Axolotl
But,
Tigeraxohybrids are often Harlekins-

Theres both possible-
terrestic or neotenic Morphs...

Kaysie · Sep 28, 2008

Re: AW: Axolotl varieties

Gismonikon, can you give us more information on the source of these pictures?

Gismonikon · Sep 28, 2008

AW: Axolotl varieties

Thats my Hybrids-
I´ve mate a neotenic Tiger with 2 white female Axolotl 2003-
And thats the result.
The neotenic looks very simular to Axolotl-with very long gills and different colours-
In the F1-Generation the Regeneration was not so good,but thats ok now.
All Hybrids are fertil and sometimes they morphe,see the last two pictures.

Kaysie · Sep 28, 2008

Re: AW: Axolotl varieties

Don't you fear that by making hybrids, you may be 'muddying' the gene pool?

Gismonikon · Sep 28, 2008

AW: Axolotl varieties

Thats a good question-

This crossbreeding is not new-
it was made several times before and I think the Axolotl Genpool was mixed with Tigers years ago-
Golden and Albinos are very common and they are also Tigerhybrids-
However-
at the moment,I do not give them away,only sometimes exchange with friends who know about the hybrids and the facts
-but.....I´m not shure if it really matters.

Daniel · Sep 28, 2008

Re: AW: Axolotl varieties

Gismonikon said:
...at the moment,I do not give them away,only sometimes exchange with friends who know about the hybrids and the facts

They have been given away by you and others for years, even without the information that they are hybrids - I have one of those of the first generation myself. They have been used for breeding (several generations) since then, thereby muddying the genetic pool at least in Germany quite a lot.

Of course there has always been a part of A. tigrinum genes in Axolotls as pets (since Prof. Humphrey created the first albinos) but in my opinion this recent cross breeding was an attempt to play god and did no good to the genetic pool (however nice or interesting they might look). It might have been interesting if it was just for a scientific purpose and the population would have been kept to itself, but they have been sold in dozens to hobbyists knowing almost nothing about genetics.

blueberlin · Sep 28, 2008

I apologize for piping in here as I am just a Stupid, but I must say that those animals look kind of unhealthy compared to my more simple versions of axolotls. The animals in the pictures have various body parts looking like straining - eyes, heads, legs - the best example I can think of offhand are pumped up humans on steroids. The pictures kind of hurt me just to look at them. What kind of axolotls are these, again, please?

-Eva

Nathan050793 · Sep 28, 2008

blueberlin said:
I apologize for piping in here as I am just a Stupid, but I must say that those animals look kind of unhealthy compared to my more simple versions of axolotls. The animals in the pictures have various body parts looking like straining - eyes, heads, legs - the best example I can think of offhand are pumped up humans on steroids. The pictures kind of hurt me just to look at them. What kind of axolotls are these, again, please?

-Eva

These are direct axolotl X Tiger salamander hybrids, Eva- apparently they are the result of a neotenic male tiger salamander and a female axolotl. I believe the strange look may be because they look a lot like tiger salamander larvae- although I'm no expert on axolotls or their genetics...

John · Oct 10, 2008

It's a pity that this is going on in what appears to be an unscientific manner. Humphrey only hybridised the two species in order to get the albino gene into axolotls. Then the tiger salamander influence was diluted enormously in order to retain the albino gene and ~nothing else.

mamatoulouse · May 30, 2011

so... all of the ones in the jar... they will lose their gills and become land dwellers?

Zalth · May 31, 2011

mrthomasjohansson said:
Hello everyone!

I wonder first of all how many varieties of axolotl exist?

I have been looking for harlequin axolotl for a long time. Does anyone know if this variety exist on the market?

Sincerely
Thomas

Hello Thomas!
I know there's been one axolotl called "Paddis" in Sweden. The girl that kept her sold her at some point, tho.

<- "Paddis"

I don't know, but if there's one there should be more, right? I'm not sure where she got her from, but maybe I can find her email!

caseeybrown · May 31, 2011

This is a link to a similar thread i posted: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...n-free-all/75396-whats-rare-type-axolotl.html

Theres some beautiful pics on there and a rare type called Chimeara (cant spell it lol!)

Take a look!

Alioth · May 31, 2011

Spot the axolotl on youtube is also like Paddis. I love those colours as well

.

Star · May 31, 2011

Spot is beautiful!

Star · May 31, 2011

@Mamatoulouse

I would suspect that as they were crossed with A. tigrinum there is a higher chance they would metamorphose however as the father was neotenic I would hazard a guess that some would reach metamorphosis. I think it would depend on their generation though? F1 could possibly be ~50/50 but later generations would probably have more remaining neotenic. I guess it depends on which gene is dominant and which is recessive. I have no idea in this case

I could also be talking out of my a***

but that is what I have understood so far of it. I'm guessing someone will jump in and correct me or add more info to what I've said

Zalth · May 31, 2011

Thomas, I contacted the girl that kept Paddis.
She said that she bought her from a girl from Umeå that was moving out, although she sold her to someone else a year ago. I asked if she had any contact details on this new owner.

Haha, I feel like I'm stalking a celeb. The axolotl celeb, Paddis!

Question: Axolotl varieties

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