A few questions on eggs/hatchlings

[Alkylhalide]

I received my two juvenile axies on thursday(they are doing awesome, I think! hah) I mean they are eating and pooping and walking around and seem happy anyways!

I also received about 30-35eggs as well. I really want to be a good adopted momma to these little eggs when they hatch(and I hope they hatch). This is all new to me and I'm really just trying to learn as much as I can in the time frame that I have(they were layed on monday)

My first question, if the eggs were to die, would I be able to tell? I hear of people saying "my eggs are dying" and I don't know how they can tell. Im afraid of it!
So far all my eggs except for maybe 3 of them, all have bean shaped embryos now. I figure if they are developing their still alive? I am keeping them at 59F since that is also what my axies are in as well. From what I understood cold is okay =slower developement but hot=death so I would rather just keep it at "room temperature"(whatever temp the water is if I just let it sit)

Is there anything specific I can do except for temperature and aeration to keep them healthy while they are still in eggs? I am just leaving them be but I feel like I should be doing something!

Another question, when they hatch, do I seperate them immediately? Do they too need aeration? I see people who just do daily water changes and dont use aeration, what are benefits/disadvantages to that? I already have brine shrimp eggs I'm just waiting to start a batch, I have 6 containers bought just in case I need that many while seperating. I just think it would be hard to give 6containers aeration, I would need to go and get another pump, right now I just have a 10gallon air pump for 3 airstones(one in each container for the juvies and one with the eggs) I think its like 13-14liters of water in total between all three.

To me, I will do anything that will keep them healthy/alive so if anyone has any tips for me that would be wonderful! I think I know what I'm doing now with my juvies, feel pretty comfortable.

thanks!

 

[JessKB]

First things first, read John's axolotl site, particularly the rearing page Axolotls - Rearing from Egg to Adult if you follow that, you can't lose.

You will know if eggs are dead because they will grow fungus all over them. The embryo will collapse in on itself and it will be pretty obvious.

I keep my eggs warmer than what you have them but not too much warmer. My axolotls live in the basement, I keep the eggs and juvies upstairs. Water temp is probably like only 62 degrees. When I rear larvae I don't use aeration, but many people do. I do 100% water changes every day or two, and I scrub down the containers with hot water once every week or so (before the sides get real slimy)

There's no need to separate larvae until they grow to different sizes and can easily snack on each other. Obviously they will need enough space though, the more cramped they are, the more they will nip each other.

 

[xxianxx]

My first question, if the eggs were to die, would I be able to tell? I hear of people saying "my eggs are dying" and I don't know how they can tell. Im afraid of it!

Is there anything specific I can do except for temperature and aeration to keep them healthy while they are still in eggs? I am just leaving them be but I feel like I should be doing something!

Another question, when they hatch, do I seperate them immediately? Do they too need aeration? I see people who just do daily water changes and dont use aeration, what are benefits/disadvantages to that? I already have brine shrimp eggs I'm just waiting to start a batch, I have 6 containers bought just in case I need that many while seperating. I just think it would be hard to give 6containers aeration, I would need to go and get another pump, right now I just have a 10gallon air pump for 3 airstones(one in each container for the juvies and one with the eggs) I think its like 13-14liters of water in total between all three.

If the eggs die or fail to develop they get infected with fungus, its a fluffy white coating on the surface of the egg. To hatch the eggs clean water temp of 20c or so with light aeration is fine, you can add some almond leaf to help fight fungal infections, water changes are not required. If you have the eggs on plants you can add some daphnia, by the time the eggs hatch they should have some food, though they will not eat for 24-48 hours as they are absorbing their egg sack. The link is for my technique for raising axolotls on baby brine shrimp, its not the only way but one that is successful http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...sing-baby-axolotls-baby-brine-shrimp-bbs.html

 

[Alkylhalide]

Thank you for answering my questions! I did read that article(actually I'm pretty sure I read the whole site >.< *has no life* ) there were just a few things I guess I A) needed anothers opinion and B) a bit of clarification on a few things

Frankly I don't know what I could do other then like a heater to make the water warmer for the eggs. maybe a lightbulb? I dont know, thats just how cold it is here I guess. I thought 59 was a bit on the chilly side.

 

[Alkylhalide]

If the eggs die or fail to develop they get infected with fungus, its a fluffy white coating on the surface of the egg. To hatch the eggs clean water temp of 20c or so with light aeration is fine, you can add some almond leaf to help fight fungal infections, water changes are not required. If you have the eggs on plants you can add some daphnia, by the time the eggs hatch they should have some food, though they will not eat for 24-48 hours as they are absorbing their egg sack. The link is for my technique for raising axolotls on baby brine shrimp, its not the only way but one that is successful http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...sing-baby-axolotls-baby-brine-shrimp-bbs.html

Thanks for the link! I dont know where to get live daphnia around here, thats why I chose brine shrimp. (I'm still looking for daphnia however because I think it would be a good food to just have swimming around just in case they are hungry and I'm not around)
I never heard about almond leaf, thanks for the info!

 

[xxianxx]

Frankly I don't know what I could do other then like a heater to make the water warmer for the eggs. maybe a lightbulb? I dont know, thats just how cold it is here I guess. I thought 59 was a bit on the chilly side.

If eggs are kept cold they take longer to hatch, I have found that hatchlings kept at cooler temps have increased mortality rates, I think it is down to a reduced activity, some of them are non feeders and the cooler temps exacerbates the problem. Other people have reported no difference in mortality rates between hatchlings kept at room temp and 15c, I know one person who kept them at 5c in the fridge, warmed them up to feed then returned to the fridge a couple times a week and had no problems. So its up to you, lots of different opinions on this site based on different peoples experiences. A lot of "facts" about axolotls are just opinions, get as many opinions as you can and decide your own course of action.

 

[Alkylhalide]

If eggs are kept cold they take longer to hatch, I have found that hatchlings kept at cooler temps have increased mortality rates, I think it is down to a reduced activity, some of them are non feeders and the cooler temps exacerbates the problem. Other people have reported no difference in mortality rates between hatchlings kept at room temp and 15c, I know one person who kept them at 5c in the fridge, warmed them up to feed then returned to the fridge a couple times a week and had no problems. So its up to you, lots of different opinions on this site based on different peoples experiences. A lot of "facts" about axolotls are just opinions, get as many opinions as you can and decide your own course of action.

Thanks! Yeah It seems like axolotl care in general has a lot of varying opinions. I read a little book on basic care of eggs/hatchlings/juvies/adults and it was very helpful. But sometimes I like a few opinions just to get an idea of what others do.
I just dont know how to make the water warmer, without warming it to much. I would like to have it at least in the low 60's. I guess so far so good though, Ive had the eggs for 3days and everything seems okay.

 

[xxianxx]

If you want to warm the eggs up just place them in a room with the required temp and allow the water to reach room temp gradually.

 

[Alkylhalide]

If you want to warm the eggs up just place them in a room with the required temp and allow the water to reach room temp gradually.

I will need to find a way to make the room warmer first >.<
I will see if we can figure something out but at this point I will need to wait for spring to come to make them warmer(and hopefully they will be hatched by then)