Iguana Morphs

[Dale-Newby]

Is it really wise to make amelanistic forms of animals that are active during the day? I've seen a sunburnt (normal coloured) monitor lizard, and that was not a pretty sight. I can only imagine it would be worse with albinos?

Also, is the blue one a proven genetic morph? There were a bunch of Blue Diamond Iguanas around some years ago, turned out they all had their lovely colours from some special food, flamingo style

All Tom Crutchfields Iguanas Live Out Side Even the albino Morphs he has stated many of times that the sun doesnt affect there skin. The only thing the sun does affect is there eyes when young but once there over so many months old there fine. but like all albino animals they just dont see very well in bright ligh. The only problem these iguanas would have is not being able to surivive out in the wild. as green iguanas are green for camouflage but a yellow albino would stand out like a sore thumb

The Blue/Axanthic are a morph, There Blue/Axanthic as there missing the yellow pigment which would be need within a normal green iguana to make it green. Axanthic Iguanas are bred with albino iguanas producing Het Babies which then are bred together to produce the pink eyed snow iguana!

[eeji]

I'm going to really pick your brain now, what is the albino iggy missing? Is it still melanin as in pretty much every other species? ...and the albinos eyes look dark in the photos you posted, or is that just the lighting on the photo?

(can you tell I'm making a start on the new ig morph section? )

[Dale-Newby]

Yep Albinos are missing Melanin which would make up for the loss in eye, tail and other dark pigments within the iguana But you really have pickled my head Lol Because I read something interesting ages ago and i tried to research it a bit more and now im Pickled to the jar hahaha

As Albinos are yellow I thought it is also missing something else such as Blue chromatophores. Because Albinos Iguanas are Yellow (Not White) So They still retain xanthophores Yellow Pigment! Chromatophores are layerd within the skin. I think its called something like dermis Theres erythrophores reddish to purple or orange pigment cells (I think) and xanthophores The yellow pigment cells (This I Know)

I thought they may have lost the erythrophores but if it didnt the iguana would still be green wouldn't it? the melanin would of removed the black stripes ect... but its main colour would still stand? a very light green iguana! This pickled Me!

Then i thought well if they were missing erythrophores how do they still turn that lovely pink-ish/orange-ish colouration as adults and also some albino iggs still have green colouration within there pigments so i was more pickled

My Overall Conclusion Is That Yes They Are missing Melanin without adoubt. The rest im not 100%sure as of yet....

but before you ask about Axanthic iguanas im guessing there missing the xanthophores as you can clearly see there blue so no yellow is present to make it green.... but what pickles me about this igg if it still cotains the erythrophores Hows it blue? I can feel the headaches coming back lol

[eeji]

erythrin is definitely present in albinos, like you say there are pink bands present especially around breeding season and i've seen photos of really pink looking albinos.