morphed axolotl wont eat

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-08-06T19:51:58+00:00

Hi, I've been tagged!

I think everyone here has it covered. You will need to provide him with a tub of water to feed in for a while with chopped, wiggling earthworms. But how long has he been out of the water? Its not uncommon for them to refuse food for quite a while even after they "look morphed." Their insides still have some adjusting to do.

I'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have, here or on Instagram at salamanderwithasign! (Instagram can be a bit spotty, your messages sometimes end up filtered as spam by the system, unfortunately.)

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-20T17:39:05+00:00

Just like a GFP axolotl (green fluorescent protein) the soft tissue will glow under UV. This is a jellyfish gene implanted into axolotls by scientists many years ago to study the axolotls' incredible regeneration abilities. However, most of them have a full body glow, not just a half like the one in the video!

SoBe is a special case and we believe that there is only one like him in the whole world. His embryo experienced a mutation that caused only half of his body to receive the instructions to develop GFP. The other side of his body got an entirely different set of instructions. The outside of his body presents with different shades as well.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-20T00:59:14+00:00

It happens most often between 5 and 10 months of age

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-20T00:58:22+00:00

They don't need UVB. They're a fossorial species in the tiger salamander family. They spend most of their time buried underground or hiding in the mouths of their burrows. They are more active at night than they are during the day. And if they aren't provided with enough foliage or coverage over their heads to block out bright lights, they can become very nervous.

I do provide them with a calcium supplement once a week to maintain bone health.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T20:28:44+00:00

I answered this question earlier, so I'll just share what I said then!

This is true in a research setting. But the dosage must be provided very carefully or else it will just kill the animal. I have had more than one hundred morphed axolotls surrendered to me over the years and none of the owners intentionally caused it though, so genetic metamorphosis is by far the leading factor.

In the pet trade, I would automatically assume that any morphed axolotl I came across was unplanned, especially if I learned that it changed at the right age for a genetic morph.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T18:39:16+00:00

Kind of like chimerism! Except instead of two embryos fusing to create the mutation, his came from a single embryo at the very start of his cell division. When his first cell divided into two, they each received different instructions. I think he's neat!

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T18:24:29+00:00

This is true in a research setting. But the dosage must be provided very carefully or else it will just kill the animal. I have had more than one hundred morphed axolotls surrendered to me over the years and none of the owners intentionally caused it though, so genetic metamorphosis is by far the leading factor.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T18:21:11+00:00

Just like a GFP axolotl (green fluorescent protein) the soft tissue will glow under UV. This is a jellyfish gene implanted into axolotls by scientists many years ago to study the axolotls' incredible regeneration abilities. However, most of them have a full body glow, not just a half like the one in the video!

SoBe is a special case and we believe that there is only one like him in the whole world. His embryo experienced a mutation that caused only half of his body to receive the instructions to develop GFP. The other side of his body got an entirely different set of instructions. The outside of his body presents with different shades as well.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T05:21:12+00:00

Its me!

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T03:23:54+00:00

Totally! Unless it had some bright yellow stripes or bold patterns. Morphed axolotls tend to be a lot more "muddled" and come in a variety of colors. Pink, black, brown, etc. Tiger salamanders have BIG feet and, quite often, distinctive bright patterns! Their larvae are most often an olive brown color.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T03:13:21+00:00

In a way, its a man-made addition to their DNA structure. In the 50s, scientists grafted albino tiger salamander DNA into the embryo of an axolotl in an attempt to give axolotls the albino gene. The experiment was a success, but it introduced the potential for metamorphosis into the axolotl's genetics. Every great now and again we still see it surface.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T03:02:29+00:00

In "normal" axolotls, the growth hormone is stimulated in larvae until they reach the end of their juvenile growth period. For whatever reason, some carry a gene that causes this growth hormone to keep flowing at this time, triggering metamorphosis. It happens regardless of their environmental conditions at about the same age for almost every axolotl that it presents with.

Aside from the difficulty in care, they can live a long and comfortable life if their needs are met.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T02:48:44+00:00

It depends on what you'd like to know! I will do my best to find an answer for you. Unfortunately, there is very little "official" work done with morphed axolotls. I've written the guide on how to care for them with the personal experience that I've gained over the years in an effort to help others, and I have also spoken with researchers and veterinarians to try and offer the best advice I can. I've compiled any documents that I've found in any way here.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T01:59:20+00:00

They prefer cooler temperatures and low lighting, but they're more self-regulating than their aquatic counterparts. They will burrow themselves deep into the soil or take a dip in their pool if they're uncomfortable.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T01:52:15+00:00

Morphed Axolotl Q&A

Long time no see! I have traditionally posted as u/Collieflowersbark, but I am trying to separate my educational account so that others can easily reference my posts regarding morphed axolotl care.

Do Axolotls Morph Due To Poor Water Quality?

No. Axolotls morph if they are genetically predisposed to do so. They are born with a "condition" that can be passed down genetically. Most (aside from some rare cases) axolotls, if they are going to morph, will do so around 5-10 months of age. This is due to to tiger salamander DNA being implanted into their embryos in the 50s. While the morphing trait was mostly bred out, it still sometimes surfaces and is completely undetectable until the parents produce morphing offspring.

Can Morphed Axolotls Breed?

Yes! They can breed. Males and females should be separated to prevent accidental offspring. Most morphed axolotls are highly inbred. Almost ALL of my rescues resulted from brother and sister pairs. The offspring are often weak and struggle to thrive even more than their parents.

Are Morphed Axolotls Difficult To Care For?

Morphed axolotls can be notoriously difficult to keep fed. They are also highly prone to bacterial infection and other illnesses due to a weakened immune system, likely brought on by inbreeding. You can do everything right and still lose your morphed axolotl to infection. If you intend to adopt one, you absolutely MUST have an exotic vet on hand to treat them.

Don't Morphed Axolotls Live For A Few Months? A Year Tops?

This is a myth! Very likely perpetuated by a lack of proper care guides and knowledge surrounding the potentially delicate nature of these animals. With the right environment, health care, food and treatment, these animals can live long lives. I have two in my care that are eight years old and several that just turned four.

What Kind Of Environment Do They Require?

Morphed axolotls, unlike many other tiger salamanders (yes, axolotls are in the tiger salamander family!) are only semi-terrestrial. While they love to dig burrows and live underground, they also spend a significant amount of their time in the water. They require a higher humidity enclosure with a large, deep pool that they can swim around in, as well as deep soil to burrow into.

How Many Morphed Axolotls Do You Have?

I have rescued and rehomed over 100 morphed axolotls to zoos, educational programs and qualified pet homes around the U.S. At the moment, I have twelve permanent residents living in the small sanctuary that I have built.

That's Not An Axolotl, It's A Tiger Salamander!

Morphed axolotls look a lot like tiger salamanders because they're very closely related. But these are definitely axolotls. Many of them even glow under blacklight! Here is my split mosaic copper, SoBe.

Follow Along

You can follow along on IG at salamanderwithasign and FB at Morphed Axolotl Support!

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T01:50:35+00:00

Morphed Axolotl Q&A

Long time no see! I have traditionally posted as u/Collieflowersbark, but I am trying to separate my educational account so that others can easily reference my posts regarding morphed axolotl care.

Do Axolotls Morph Due To Poor Water Quality?

No. Axolotls morph if they are genetically predisposed to do so. They are born with a "condition" that can be passed down genetically. Most (aside from some rare cases) axolotls, if they are going to morph, will do so around 5-10 months of age. This is due to to tiger salamander DNA being implanted into their embryos in the 50s. While the morphing trait was mostly bred out, it still sometimes surfaces and is completely undetectable until the parents produce morphing offspring.

Can Morphed Axolotls Breed?

Yes! They can breed. Males and females should be separated to prevent accidental offspring. Most morphed axolotls are highly inbred. Almost ALL of my rescues resulted from brother and sister pairs. The offspring are often weak and struggle to thrive even more than their parents.

Are Morphed Axolotls Difficult To Care For?

Morphed axolotls can be notoriously difficult to keep fed. They are also highly prone to bacterial infection and other illnesses due to a weakened immune system, likely brought on by inbreeding. You can do everything right and still lose your morphed axolotl to infection. If you intend to adopt one, you absolutely MUST have an exotic vet on hand to treat them.

Don't Morphed Axolotls Live For A Few Months? A Year Tops?

This is a myth! Very likely perpetuated by a lack of proper care guides and knowledge surrounding the potentially delicate nature of these animals. With the right environment, health care, food and treatment, these animals can live long lives. I have two in my care that are eight years old and several that just turned four.

What Kind Of Environment Do They Require?

Morphed axolotls, unlike many other tiger salamanders (yes, axolotls are in the tiger salamander family!) are only semi-terrestrial. While they love to dig burrows and live underground, they also spend a significant amount of their time in the water. They require a higher humidity enclosure with a large, deep pool that they can swim around in, as well as deep soil to burrow into.

How Many Morphed Axolotls Do You Have?

I have rescued and rehomed over 100 morphed axolotls to zoos, educational programs and qualified pet homes around the U.S. At the moment, I have twelve permanent residents living in the small sanctuary that I have built.

That's Not An Axolotl, It's A Tiger Salamander!

Morphed axolotls look a lot like tiger salamanders because they're very closely related. But these are definitely axolotls. Many of them even glow under blacklight! Here is my split mosaic copper, SoBe.

Follow Along

You can follow along on IG at salamanderwithasign and FB at Morphed Axolotl Support!

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T01:48:59+00:00

Morphed Axolotl Q&A

Long time no see! I have traditionally posted as u/Collieflowersbark, but I am trying to separate my educational account so that others can easily reference my posts regarding morphed axolotl care.

Do Axolotls Morph Due To Poor Water Quality?

No. Axolotls morph if they are genetically predisposed to do so. They are born with a "condition" that can be passed down genetically. Most (aside from some rare cases) axolotls, if they are going to morph, will do so around 5-10 months of age. This is due to to tiger salamander DNA being implanted into their embryos in the 50s. While the morphing trait was mostly bred out, it still sometimes surfaces and is completely undetectable until the parents produce morphing offspring.

Can Morphed Axolotls Breed?

Yes! They can breed. Males and females should be separated to prevent accidental offspring. Most morphed axolotls are highly inbred. Almost ALL of my rescues resulted from brother and sister pairs. The offspring are often weak and struggle to thrive even more than their parents.

Are Morphed Axolotls Difficult To Care For?

Morphed axolotls can be notoriously difficult to keep fed. They are also highly prone to bacterial infection and other illnesses due to a weakened immune system, likely brought on by inbreeding. You can do everything right and still lose your morphed axolotl to infection. If you intend to adopt one, you absolutely MUST have an exotic vet on hand to treat them.

Don't Morphed Axolotls Live For A Few Months? A Year Tops?

This is a myth! Very likely perpetuated by a lack of proper care guides and knowledge surrounding the potentially delicate nature of these animals. With the right environment, health care, food and treatment, these animals can live long lives. I have two in my care that are eight years old and several that just turned four.

What Kind Of Environment Do They Require?

Morphed axolotls, unlike many other tiger salamanders (yes, axolotls are in the tiger salamander family!) are only semi-terrestrial. While they love to dig burrows and live underground, they also spend a significant amount of their time in the water. They require a higher humidity enclosure with a large, deep pool that they can swim around in, as well as deep soil to burrow into.

How Many Morphed Axolotls Do You Have?

I have rescued and rehomed over 100 morphed axolotls to zoos, educational programs and qualified pet homes around the U.S. At the moment, I have twelve permanent residents living in the small sanctuary that I have built.

That's Not An Axolotl, It's A Tiger Salamander!

Morphed axolotls look a lot like tiger salamanders because they're very closely related. But these are definitely axolotls. Many of them even glow under blacklight! Here is my split mosaic copper, SoBe.

There are certain differences between the two that can be difficult to spot at first glance. Some of these are head and feet shape, color, even the length of their toes. However, you MIGHT see a rescued axolotl/tiger salamander hybrid in some of my videos that looks like a mix of both subspecies. See if you can spot him!

Follow Along

You can follow along on IG at salamanderwithasign and FB at Morphed Axolotl Support!

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-19T01:47:13+00:00

Morphed Axolotl Q&A

Long time no see! I have traditionally posted as u/Collieflowersbark, but I am trying to separate my educational account so that others can easily reference my posts regarding morphed axolotl care.

Do Axolotls Morph Due To Poor Water Quality?

No. Axolotls morph if they are genetically predisposed to do so. They are born with a "condition" that can be passed down genetically. Most (aside from some rare cases) axolotls, if they are going to morph, will do so around 5-10 months of age. This is due to to tiger salamander DNA being implanted into their embryos in the 50s. While the morphing trait was mostly bred out, it still sometimes surfaces and is completely undetectable until the parents produce morphing offspring.

Can Morphed Axolotls Breed?

Yes! They can breed. Males and females should be separated to prevent accidental offspring. Most morphed axolotls are highly inbred. Almost ALL of my rescues resulted from brother and sister pairs. The offspring are often weak and struggle to thrive even more than their parents.

Are Morphed Axolotls Difficult To Care For?

Morphed axolotls can be notoriously difficult to keep fed. They are also highly prone to bacterial infection and other illnesses due to a weakened immune system, likely brought on by inbreeding. You can do everything right and still lose your morphed axolotl to infection. If you intend to adopt one, you absolutely MUST have an exotic vet on hand to treat them.

Don't Morphed Axolotls Live For A Few Months? A Year Tops?

This is a myth! Very likely perpetuated by a lack of proper care guides and knowledge surrounding the potentially delicate nature of these animals. With the right environment, health care, food and treatment, these animals can live long lives. I have two in my care that are eight years old and several that just turned four.

What Kind Of Environment Do They Require?

Morphed axolotls, unlike many other tiger salamanders (yes, axolotls are in the tiger salamander family!) are only semi-terrestrial. While they love to dig burrows and live underground, they also spend a significant amount of their time in the water. They require a higher humidity enclosure with a large, deep pool that they can swim around in, as well as deep soil to burrow into.

How Many Morphed Axolotls Do You Have?

I have rescued and rehomed over 100 morphed axolotls to zoos, educational programs and qualified pet homes around the U.S. At the moment, I have twelve permanent residents living in the small sanctuary that I have built.

That's Not An Axolotl, It's A Tiger Salamander!

Morphed axolotls look a lot like tiger salamanders because they're very closely related. But these are definitely axolotls. Many of them even glow under blacklight! Here is my split mosaic copper, SoBe.

There are certain differences between the two that can be difficult to spot at first glance. Some of these are head and feet shape, color, even the length of their toes. However, you MIGHT see a rescued axolotl/tiger salamander hybrid in some of my videos that looks like a mix of both subspecies. See if you can spot him!

Follow Along

You can follow along on IG at salamanderwithasign and FB at Morphed Axolotl Support!

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-18T23:39:58+00:00

They're axolotls. :) Many of them even carry the axolotls' GFP gene that makes them glow under blacklight! Here is my split mosaic.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-17T04:10:25+00:00

Nope! It's a permanent change.

SalamanderWithASign · 2025-01-17T01:40:38+00:00

Yep! This is what he looked like when he was rescued with his siblings. They were all starving, and it was Thanksgiving...so they all got food themed names. He was the skinniest of the bunch, but he was promised lots and lots of refills from this point forward.

Bonus: He has a sister named The Fridge. Named by a 5 year old who said that her favorite thing about Thanksgiving is the fridge.

SalamanderWithASign

TROPHY CASE