Axolotl babies

[freddie1990]

Hi new to this site and first post but does anyone know how much i should feed my axolotl eggs when they hatch, i have a setup with them in around 150 eggs i would say and have more containers ready the only food i can get my hands on is microworms has anyone had any success on using these, cheers

 

[auntiejude]

It's worth hatching your own BBS if you have that many hatchlings - look up the tutorial here or on Youtube. Microworms are useful as a stop-gap such as if the BBS are slow to hatch but you'll probably run out if you use tham daily. BBS are better in terms of nutrition.

 

[freddie1990]

Brilliant thanks for the reply, what do you mean by BBS brine shrimp ? how often do you feed yours i herd about twice a day

 

[auntiejude]

BBS = baby brineshrimp. They are most nutritious staight after hatching while they still have their yolk - hence hatching them yourself.

I feed mine once a day, some people do twice.

 

[freddie1990]

Also my black female decided to also lay eggs this morning can i combine the eggs from the albino there about a week old already or should i separate the different eggs, not sure on what colour the babies will be the eggs are white and brown multicolour eggs should be interesting

 

[auntiejude]

I would keep the eggs separate. And I would cull down to a sensible number - you're gpoing to have your hands full as it is with the first batch.

If you post what the parents are we might be able to give you some idea of what babies you'll get.

 

[freddie1990]

I've uploaded the photos as attachments, two albino male and female and one black female, would it help if i get a photo of the new eggs ?

 

[auntiejude]

Your albino x albino pairing will only produce albino babies. If both albinos are white you'll end up with all white albinos, if one of them is golden you'll end up with a 50/50 mix or all golds.
Is your dark female melanoid or wildtype? Either way you will probably end up with at least 1/2 wildtypes from her and the albino male - to predict further than that requires knowledge of the grandparent generation.

The egg colour is dependant on the female laying them, not the baby that will hatch. Albinos and coppers lay white eggs, all others lay black/brown eggs, sometimes seen with a white yolk on one side initially.

 

[freddie1990]

Thanks for getting back that makes sense on what colours i should be expecting i think ill cull about of the new batch to make things alot easier

In Perth western Australia there is a high demand as there is not many axies around anymore so i would be nice to try and raise a few to get them out there also be a fun project,
do you know how big they will need to be until i can start to use blood worms as a shop down the road has heaps some people say they can be bad though ?

 

[auntiejude]

As soon as your axies' mouths are big enough for bloodworms you can start switching over - I find mixing live and frozen food a good way to make the change.

Bloodworms are fine for small axies, but adults need a different mineral mix hence earthworms being recommended.

But I warn you - if you have 200 axie larvae you'll be getting through a LOT of bloodworm. I buy my frozen bloodworm from a trade specialist in 1kg blocks rather than the little cubes you get from pet shops. I had about 60 babies from my last batch, they were getting through 150g of bloodworm between them per day at 1-2". I now have 18 left at 3-7" and they get through 1kg a week between them as well as earthworms!