Axolotl

[dillotest0]

Many places have axolotl.
But many keep them in tanks that, because of dimensions, make photography difficult.
Does anyone have suggestions for places [preferably UK] where the setup is best for photography?

 

[dillotest0]

on a separate note...

Here's one picture taken in 2016 at London Zoo.
For years I was of the impression that these were axolotls.
However, I noticed something recently.
Genuine axolotls have a well defined frill.
But the ones in this photograph do not. The frill is more like Dumeril's Salamander....
But Dumeril's Salamander has webbed feet into adulthood. Axolotl does not. And neither do these.
Spare myself some sanity... it's just this image of the 'axolotl' has been burned into my brain for several years!

 

[Lori Patton]

on a separate note...
View attachment 699051
Here's one picture taken in 2016 at London Zoo.
For years I was of the impression that these were axolotls.
However, I noticed something recently.
Genuine axolotls have a well defined frill.
But the ones in this photograph do not. The frill is more like Dumeril's Salamander....
But Dumeril's Salamander has webbed feet into adulthood. Axolotl does not. And neither do these.
Spare myself some sanity... it's just this image of the 'axolotl' has been burned into my brain for several years!

While I'm no axolotl expert, the animals in your picture look like axolotls to me! Looking at wikipedia for reference there seems to be quite a lot of diversity in axolotl appearance. I have also had trouble getting good axolotl images at the exhibit at my local zoo, but in the best one that I have, the gills are even less pronounced than in your picture. The Los Angeles Zoo has two specimens -- one pink and one black -- in a small tank in a dark cave. Good luck in your quest!

 

[Prochilodus246]

Many places have axolotl.
But many keep them in tanks that, because of dimensions, make photography difficult.
Does anyone have suggestions for places [preferably UK] where the setup is best for photography?

I found WWT Slimbridge's enclosure good for photos as it looks quite similar visually to the one at London you photographed. Some pet shops specialising in aquatic species may also be an option as the axolotls exhibited for sale are generally in well lit tanks

 

[Strathmorezoo]

on a separate note...
View attachment 699051
Here's one picture taken in 2016 at London Zoo.
For years I was of the impression that these were axolotls.
However, I noticed something recently.
Genuine axolotls have a well defined frill.
But the ones in this photograph do not. The frill is more like Dumeril's Salamander....
But Dumeril's Salamander has webbed feet into adulthood. Axolotl does not. And neither do these.
Spare myself some sanity... it's just this image of the 'axolotl' has been burned into my brain for several years!

I agree with Lori Patton,they're definitely Axolotl

 

[dillotest0]

I agree with Lori Patton,they're definitely Axolotl

I found WWT Slimbridge's enclosure good for photos as it looks quite similar visually to the one at London you photographed. Some pet shops specialising in aquatic species may also be an option as the axolotls exhibited for sale are generally in well lit tanks

While I'm no axolotl expert, the animals in your picture look like axolotls to me! Looking at wikipedia for reference there seems to be quite a lot of diversity in axolotl appearance. I have also had trouble getting good axolotl images at the exhibit at my local zoo, but in the best one that I have, the gills are even less pronounced than in your picture. The Los Angeles Zoo has two specimens -- one pink and one black -- in a small tank in a dark cave. Good luck in your quest!

I think I found what it was that caused this confusion ...
Looking over the 2021 photos there was a Dumeril's Salamander for certain. 2016 was close to the time London first got Dumeril's, and 2021 about the time London went out of axolotl. So close shave... but I think I have ascertained that the 2016 animals were axolotl and the 2021 were Dumeril's.