Question for Velaria
Firstly, I need to establish if the two larvae as shown in the photos were the direct progeny of the two adult axies shown in the earlier photographs. I thought they are not related?
I thought initially you were trying to sex the two adult axies? If they did produce those larvae, It would have been very self explanatory which of the adults are male and female and would have defeated the purpose of your initial post?
Hi, Ray! No, the two larvae are not the direct progeny of the two adults. The larvae are not related to the adults in any way. I just happen to have a few adults and about 26 larvae, and yes, I was originally simply attempting to sex the two adults, but my question about the larvaes' genetic makeup arose because you stated that leucistics are non melanoid. When I read that, I wondered if I had a larvae that was an anomaly because he is my ONLY white larvae with black eyes who does not have any iridophores.
His lack of iridophores would consequently make him melanoid, so then he must be a very light colored melanoid and NOT leucistic, right? That is, of course, assuming that he will not display any iridophores as he gets older. He was born on November 6, though, so he is exactly four months old now, which means he's hit the 120 day mark, and I should therefore be able to assume that if the iridophores have not yet shown up on him, then they probably won't, correct?
And of course, if the larvae had been the progeny of the two adults, then yes, the gender of the adults would have been quite obvious

. I'm new to axolotl sexing and breeding, but I know enough about the birds and the bees, lol!
The 4 shiny patches on the cephalic (head/neck) region are actually developing internal organs. The axie larvae has very translucent skin at this stage so don’t confuse those with iridosphores.
That's exactly what I suspected. No, I didn't confuse those shiny patches with iridophores
Iridosphores may accumulate anywhere on the axie, not just confined to the gills and eye ring.
This, I was not aware of. My adult albino definitely has iridophores, but they're only in his eyes and on his stubby little gills. He doesn't have them anywhere else on his body.
I guess its much easier to see this in wildtypes because the contrast of the glittery iridosphores against a darker background makes them so much more obvious.
Maybe that's why they're not showing up as much on the albino.
Larvae 1 - I can see melanophores, xanthophores and an obvious eye ring. You are right that it can be leucistic but it can also be a wild type. Remember that wildtypes can appear as a spectrum of colouration.
Interesting! So larvae #1 may actually be a very light colored wildtype! I was suspicious of that because he displays that greenish coloration in his spots. Is there any way to get a definitive determination as to whether he's a wildtype or a leucistic?
Larvae 2 - Your second larvae also has black eyes, so that rules out all the albinos. I can also see some melanophores but no xanthophores. You could have a melanoid, you are absolutely right. However, it could also be a very young leucistic.
Young leucistic if it ends up displaying iridophores, otherwise it's just a light melanoid, right?
I am getting such an education! Thank you so much!
You know, I was thinking that it would be really cool if someone (not me, because I don't know enough) were to make a web page that could diagnose axolotl genetics with a series of yes/no questions which could then determine any and all possible genotypes and phenotypes for the axolotl in question. After that has been determined, it would be wonderful if there were a "progeny calculator", kind of like a Punnet (sp?) Square, where the genetic information of a breeding pair of axolotls could be input and the genetic information about what the offspring would likely look like could be calculated. Just wanted to put that out there in case anyone is up for the task
Ray, I cannot thank you enough for all of your help, and I REALLY look forward to part 3. I will be checking back often. You have been such a huge help. Thank you SO much.
OH- one more question! Now that it has been determined that the albino adult is male, is it strange that I have had him for over two years and I have never ONCE seen any spermatophores in the tank? Up until recently, he was the only axie that I owned, so I'm wondering if male axolotls generally deposit spermatophores in the tank even when there are no potential mates around that they can see. Perhaps now that I recently acquired two more adult axies (the black one and a so-called "blue" one... more on this later, of course!), if one of the two new axies turns out to be female, then the albino male WILL begin depositing spermatophores??