Copper

What Copper looks like

Homozygous recessive at the Copper locus (cu/cu). Eumelanin production is disrupted. Melanophores produce pheomelanin (brown/red) instead of eumelanin (black), resulting in a warm brown to copper-tan body with golden highlights and lighter eyes (amber, gold, or light brown). Xanthophores and iridophores remain functional, contributing yellow tones and iridescent speckling. The overall effect is a warm-toned animal that lacks any black pigment. Sometimes described as a "tanned" or "caramel" axolotl. Increasingly popular in the hobby since its genetics became better understood. Genotype: D/- A/- M/- Ax/- cu/cu.

The Copper locus controls eumelanin maturation via the Tyrp1 enzyme. Homozygous recessive (cu/cu) animals cannot fully oxidize eumelanin, producing pheomelanin (brown/red pigment) instead of eumelanin (black pigment). The result is a warm brown to copper-colored body with lighter eyes, functional xanthophores (yellow), and iridophores (iridescent). Copper axolotls are sometimes described as a form of tyrosinase-positive albinism because melanin synthesis initiates but cannot complete the full pathway to eumelanin.

How to identify it: Copper (cu/cu): Warm brown to copper-tan body with lighter brown or gold-toned spots. Eyes are lighter than wild type. Often amber, gold, or light brown rather than dark. Xanthophores produce visible yellow/gold tones. Iridophores present, giving iridescent highlights. Distinguished from wild type by the complete absence of black/dark brown pigment. All melanin-derived color is warm brown/copper. Distinguished from albino by the presence of melanin-derived pigment (just brown instead of black).

How Copper is inherited

Copper follows a recessive inheritance pattern, carried on the Copper allele (locus Copper).

Combo morphs with Copper

• Melanoid Copper

  Double homozygous for Melanoid (m/m) and Copper (cu/cu). Melanoid removes iridophores and increases melanophore density; copper converts eumelanin to pheomelanin. The result is a uniformly dark brown animal with a matte finish. Like a melanoid but brown instead of black. No iridescent speckling.

• Melanoid Axanthic Copper (MAC)

  Triple homozygous recessive for Melanoid (m/m), Axanthic (ax/ax), and Copper (cu/cu). One of the most sought-after and expensive axolotl morphs. Melanoid removes iridophores, axanthic removes yellow pigment, and copper converts eumelanin to pheomelanin (brown). The net result is a unique lavender to purple-gray animal with a smooth, matte appearance. The lavender coloration arises because the copper-derived brown pigment, without yellow or iridescent interference, appears as a soft purple-lavender tone.

• Axanthic Copper

  Double homozygous for Axanthic (ax/ax) and Copper (cu/cu). Axanthic removes yellow pigment and copper converts eumelanin to pheomelanin. The result is a warm gray-brown animal with copper undertones but no yellow. Iridophores remain functional (unlike melanoid), so some iridescent speckling is visible. An important building block morph for producing the triple-recessive MAC.