Copper Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

Copper axolotls are named for their Copper color tone on their bodies. This color can range from dark to light. They also possess spots and some shiny speckles known as iridophores. As legend has it, the axolotl is the Aztec god of fire and lightning, Xolotl, which disguised himself as a salamander to avoid being sacrificed. They are neotenic, meaning that the adults retain traits seen only in juveniles of similar species. While most amphibians grow out of their aquatic phase to begin their lives on land, the axolotl largely retains its larval characteristics and spends its adult life in the water. They can grow up to a foot long but generally only reach to about 8 inches. Through captive breeding, we are able to help relieve pressure from wild populations and are able to provide different color morphs, such as albino (pinkish white with translucent red eyes), leucistic (white with black eyes), iridophores / starburst (iridescent speckles), and GFP (green fluorescent protein - glow in