Photo: Axolotl Larvae Development Journal

[Grete]

For those unaware, my partner & I had decided to get out of breeding axolotl's. We sold our breeder group months back, but failed to mention it to the one pair we kept. Just over a month ago, I found eggs in their tank & decided to maintain a photo journal of their growth.

Leucistic and Golden Albino parents. Axolotl pictorial growth journal from lay date to (hopeful) juvenile stage. Photo's are of 2 specific larvae (first to hatch) of the 250+ eggs laid. Larvae have been separated 2 per petri dish.

November 26, 2011 - Day 1

November 27, 2011 - Day 2

November 28, 2011 - Day 3

November 29, 2011 - Day 4

November 30, 2011 - Day 5

December 1, 2011 - Day 6

December 2, 2011 - Day 7

December 3, 2011 - Day 8

December 4, 4011 - Day 9

See the little guy who's already hatched?

December 5, 2011 - Day 10 2 have hatched out so far

December 6, 2011 - Day 11 5 have hatched out

December 7, 2011 - Day 12 11 more have hatched out

December 8, 2011 - Day 13 16 more hatched out

December 9, 2011 - Day 14 16 hatched out, giving us 49 in total

December 10, 2011 - Day 15

December 11, 2011 - Day 16 1 larva died, 48 left

December 12, 2011 - Day 17

December 13, 2011 - Day 18 1 larva died, 48 left

December 14, 2011 - Day 19

December 15, 2011 - Day 20 Down to 46 larvae alive

December 16, 2011 - Day 21

Can you see his arm?

December 17, 2011 - Day 22

December 18, 2011 - Day 23

December 19, 2011 - Day 24

December 20, 2011 - Day 25

December 21, 2011 - Day 26

December 22, 2011 - Day 27 I just picked up a new macro lens for my camera, hopefully the photo's will be better quality from here on :happy:

December 23, 2011 - Day 28 We bought brine shrimp eggs with a higher (90%) hatch rate which is awesome since they eat so much!

December 24, 2011 - Day 29

December 25, 2011 - Day 30

December 26, 2011 - Day 31

December 27, 2011 - Day 32

December 28, 2011 - Day 33

December 29, 2011 - Day 34 1 larva died, down to 45

December 30, 2011 - Day 35

You can see his gill filaments & front arm

 

[Rubyfox]

What fab pics, lovely to watch them grow isnt it.

 

[Shanny]

This is so cool! I wish I had a better camera, my pics of eggs are horrid haha.. Mine are currently day 4 and about three of my 24 are taking the bean shape already.
What was you water temp for your eggs?


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926736,-93.081121

 

[Rubyfox]

Mine are kept in the open kitchen/diner and can get warm so around 19 / 20 degree's most of the time. I bought approx 20 eggs and only 8 hatched and I have 4 left. plus my Jibber that is a few weeks older.

 

[Grete]

December 31, 2011 - Day 36 - 1 larva died, we're down to 45 now. They've been temporarily relocated to 1 bedroom apartments (rubbermaid takeout containers) from their bachelor suites (petri dishes) until we're able to find suitable containers.

This is so cool!
What was you water temp for your eggs?

Thanks Shanny :happy: Temps ranged from 67 - 70 degrees for the eggs

 

[vagus]

Heehee! This is great! Thank you for sharing this!

 

[Shanny]

Ok, my temps right now stay between 64 (usually at night) and highest is 68, which is what I've been recoding it at during the day when I have a small light on.
I just checked on my eggs this morning and all but one look to be developing!


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926714,-93.081187

 

[Grete]

January 1, 2012 - Day 37 - No fatalities today! We're trying them with frozen bloodworms to see if they show any interest.

 

[andyng00]

id like to ask what is the average number of eggs per laying ??? and what is the ratio of hatching success ??? cuz Im planning on breeding but would like to gather as much information first.

 

[Shanny]

Gawd they're so cute! I cannot wait til mine start looking more like little axi's!! Congrats on your babies!


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926658,-93.081226

 

[Grete]

January 2, 2012 - Day 38 - No fatalities! We're slowly transitioning them from brine shrimp to frozen bloodworms.

 

[Shanny]

I witnessed a couple of my 7day old embryos move this morning, so exciting!


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926664,-93.081277

 

[Grete]

January 3, 2012 - Day 39 - No fatalities & we're all onto bloodworms!! No more daily BBS hatchery!! This is our fastest growing spawn ever, they'll be ready to find homes in no time!

Can see the bloodworm through his head?

 

[Grete]

January 4, 2012 - Day 40 - No fatalities & everyone's completely onto bloodworms now!

 

[crazylady]

i love following this

 

[Grete]

January 5, 2012 - Day 41 - All 45 are still here They're growing like mad with the abundance of bloodworms! Good god, I hope this reaches page 2 soon, sorry for the photo overkill!

 

[Grete]

January 6, 2012 - Day 42 - No fatalities & they're eating more bloodworms than expected.

Note the difference in size/growth? The one on the left is the one I've been photographing for the past month & a half. He's got full front arms & mostly developed legs. The smaller one barely has his arms in & no legs

 

[Grete]

January 7, 2012 - Day 43 - No fatalities, a few have grown their full back legs & toes in. They can be upgraded from larvae to juvenile now

Can you see his skull?

 

[Shanny]

Aww that's so cute!


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926746,-93.081139

 

[larn]

Can i ask what temperature you had the water at the beginning?