Just because something doesn't look different does not mean it is not genetically different - phenotype and genotype operate subtly. No offence, but if you've ever seen a F1 wolfdog, you could argue it doesn't look 'much different,' but in fact, you have thousands of years of selective breeding on one side of its heritage and goodness knows what kind of breeding on the other. I can see your point - any axolotls are better than none, right? - but the issue is not the actual number or type of axolotls in their native home. It is the home that is the issue. Lake Xochimilco (I hope I have spelt that correctly) is full of human activity, waste from farming on 'water gardens,' and pumped full of sewage from Mexico City - hence why they only found one on the old Olympic Rowing Course, and why one researcher claimed that the axolotl Mr Baker found was not technically part of the wild cohort, because it was not in what was deemed that axolotl's 'usual' habitat.
While you are correct that our 'mutant' or captive bred axolotls may well have some kind of genetic trait that might help the wild population, I can't help thinking that natural selection should play more of a part in that than humans - we have not had the natural processes that would 'weed out' undesirable traits. Indeed, some people might support the undesirable traits by breeding for them. And with all due respect, I think the fact that some of them glow under black light, are colours that would stand out a mile off underwater, and might have scads of underlying recessive genes leading to issues probably puts researchers off using them.
I don't mean to be rude, I love the fact you are passionate about this, but surely if we were to save the wild axolotl, we would have to sort out its habitat first? Moreover, the researchers are using good, solid stock, and an established, healthy breeding female can produce over 1,000 eggs per clutch. I'm not sure its the frequency of the animals that is the issue. I believe it to be the habitat that is causing the problem. I don't believe it is a matter of 'nah, too much hassle.' It's a matter of, 'it's a lot of money, needs a lot of people, and those that might help might not necessarily be able to get over there.' It's also worth remembering that a lot of zoos and aquariums won't display or even raise axolotls because they are so numerous in the pet trade - even though I know a herpetologist who disagrees with this, since you can 'breed out' by using unrelated stock, which is exactly what he is doing. But even if we had super axolotls who would take to the Lake like...well, fish to water, you would still have the issue that the Lake is pretty contaminated.
So I guess the problem is twofold. I know someone trying to do something about it - no matter how small - but the simple fact is that clearing up the Lake would take a lot of pressure, probably from the people who matter most to the local Government - the local people. You could, by all means, raise awareness and do what you can. The hard part is knowing what we can do.
PS I am not sure about carp eggs as food. Hopefully someone on the board will know a little more
