Beta Carotene and its effect on Axolotl coloration

[Silver]

Has anyone feeding their axolotl a diet high in beta carotene (blood worms, earthworms gut loaded with foods high in BC, cherry shrimp, etc) found that it enhances their pink/red/orange tones? I know axolotls can become lighter/darker based on environment, and many species change color depending on diet. Let me know what you think!

 

[Ed]

Carotenes are unlikely to change the pigmentation of a an axolotl a whole lot since in normal or melanoid animals, the melanin will cover the xanthopores, albinos color is predominately pteridine in nature and axanthics lack the xanthopores.... See for example What insights into vertebrate pigmentation ha... [Int J Dev Biol. 1996] - PubMed - NCBI (google the title for a free access copy).
Yellow pigment in axolotls appears to be primarily due to pteridines which are not changed by adding more carotenoids to the diet of the axolotl.

Ed

 

[Silver]

Thanks, Ed! Good input, I appreciate it!

 

[Jennewt]

One other minor FYI: bloodworms are red because of hemoglobin, not carotenoids.

 

[Silver]

I know that, but if you look at the 'ingredients' on the package of bloodworms, beta carotene is one of the first things listed. It's to help them absorb vitamin A or something, right?

 

[Jennewt]

I didn't know that. I have been buying San Francisco Bay brand bloodworms, and I don't think they are supplemented with anything, but maybe I should read the package and see.

 

[caleb]

I've found that live bloodworms from my local fish shop intensified the belly colour of yellow-bellied toads (Bombina variegata). They don't have ingredients listed, but they must have some added colour, as the water they come in is bright pink.

 

[Silver]

I didn't know that. I have been buying San Francisco Bay brand bloodworms, and I don't think they are supplemented with anything, but maybe I should read the package and see.

Ah, I see. I've been feeding mine Hikari. I think I read somewhere there was a difference in supplements for the different brands :happy: