Question: Axolotl sexual maturity? Advice urgently required.

[sillymoogle7]

Hi everyone,
So I saw something unusual in my tank today, a little white blob floating a little way off the gravel. Being a hands on type of gal I stuck my hands straight in the tank and dragged it to the surface only to discover that I was holding a big, transparent, pile of jiggly stuff which I can only assume is what little boy axolotl's produce once they reach a certain age. Now my two are both nearly ten inches and I've been pretty sure up to this point that they were both boys. Do they actually produce sperm sacks even if there isn't a female around or have I mistaken the gender of one of them? If I have a breeding couple I'd like to know as soon as possible as I'm not in a position to raise babies. Any advice greatly appreciated!

 

[SludgeMunkey]

If it has dark toe tips, yes. Males will drop them first, then hunt for females to push onto the spermatophore. If there are no females around, they will continue to produce them in hopes of finding one.

 

[sillymoogle7]

My leucistic has dark toes, that means he's a boy doesn't it? It's hard to tell on the wildtype to be honest!

 

[xxianxx]

If you have a female you need to rehome i can probably swap you a male.

 

[sillymoogle7]

Thanks Ian, think I'm just going to have to wait and see what happens.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

My leucistic has dark toes, that means he's a boy doesn't it? It's hard to tell on the wildtype to be honest!

No, it means that he is sexually mature. This indicator also applies to females. Sexing is achieved by examine the vent as described on the axolotl site and everywhere throughout the forums and caudata culture.

 

[Light of Dae]

Your wild type will have light toe tips when sexually mature, albinos will have the darker toes.

 

[JessKB]

They can be sexually mature without the change in toe tip color. I had a male leucistic spawn with my female a few times this year and he doesn't have dark toe tips.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

They can be sexually mature without the change in toe tip color. I had a male leucistic spawn with my female a few times this year and he doesn't have dark toe tips.

Agreed. I have a leucistic female that is visibly full of eggs, but never developed darkened toe tips.

Frustratingly enough, like with many other aspects of axolotl morphology, nothing is set in stone.