Question: Axolotl Tadpoles will not Grow

[katieswainston]

My Axolotl had her first clutch of babies on New Years Day, fast forward to now (almost 4 months later) and they're still tadpoles. We are feeding them brine shrimp daily mixed with daphnia periodically, but they don't seem to be growing. We have the water sitting around 60 degrees and it's city water (ph and water quality seem good). We had them in what we thought was too big of a tank before, so we thought them not seeing the food was why they were not growing, but we have moved them into a smaller tank (feeding the same amount) and they still do not seem to be growing. They are about an inch long and do not have legs yet. What could we be doing wrong?

 

[axolotl nerd]

My Axolotl had her first clutch of babies on New Years Day, fast forward to now (almost 4 months later) and they're still tadpoles. We are feeding them brine shrimp daily mixed with daphnia periodically, but they don't seem to be growing. We have the water sitting around 60 degrees and it's city water (ph and water quality seem good). We had them in what we thought was too big of a tank before, so we thought them not seeing the food was why they were not growing, but we have moved them into a smaller tank (feeding the same amount) and they still do not seem to be growing. They are about an inch long and do not have legs yet. What could we be doing wrong?

could you provide pictures for us? larvae grow at about an inch a month, so it is concerning to hear they're so small

 

[Tellie Tellie 2]

could you provide pictures for us? larvae grow at about an inch a month, so it is concerning to hear they're so small

My Axolotl had her first clutch of babies on New Years Day, fast forward to now (almost 4 months later) and they're still tadpoles. We are feeding them brine shrimp daily mixed with daphnia periodically, but they don't seem to be growing. We have the water sitting around 60 degrees and it's city water (ph and water quality seem good). We had them in what we thought was too big of a tank before, so we thought them not seeing the food was why they were not growing, but we have moved them into a smaller tank (feeding the same amount) and they still do not seem to be growing. They are about an inch long and do not have legs yet. What could we be doing wrong?

What are you feeding the shrimp and dafnia.

My Axolotl had her first clutch of babies on New Years Day, fast forward to now (almost 4 months later) and they're still tadpoles. We are feeding them brine shrimp daily mixed with daphnia periodically, but they don't seem to be growing. We have the water sitting around 60 degrees and it's city water (ph and water quality seem good). We had them in what we thought was too big of a tank before, so we thought them not seeing the food was why they were not growing, but we have moved them into a smaller tank (feeding the same amount) and they still do not seem to be growing. They are about an inch long and do not have legs yet. What could we be doing wrong?

what are you feeding the daphnia and shrimp. Try some spirilina green powder.
First clutches aren’t always the strongest. Well done to get them to hatch

 

[katieswainston]

could you provide pictures for us? larvae grow at about an inch a month, so it is concerning to hear they're so small

 

[katieswainston]

What are you feeding the shrimp and dafnia.

what are you feeding the daphnia and shrimp. Try some spirilina green powder.
First clutches aren’t always the strongest. Well done to get them to hatch

The daphnia we are feeding plain yeast and the brine shrimp we dont feed because we have incubators to get them to hatch and then they are fed to the lottles as soon as they do.

 

[axolotl nerd]

they are remarkably small, which is both concerning and confusing. it sounds like you're doing everything right, so im stumped.
honestly, i think that it may just be because it's the mother's first clutch. ive heard of the first clutch being weak, but never experienced it myself. summoning @wolfen

 

[蝾螈CtrlC]

The food may not be nutrient-rich enough, or it may be too little

 

[frank beard]

If you are feeding freshly hatched brine shrimp the bellies of the little axolotls should show distinct orange bulges pretty much all of the time.

 

[katieswainston]

If you are feeding freshly hatched brine shrimp the bellies of the little axolotls should show distinct orange bulges pretty much all of the time.

They do have orange bellies, it’s hard to photograph

 

[frank beard]

If you were feeding brine shrimp when you took the photo you shared you it should easily show the bulging orange belly. I suspect you are not feeding them anywhere close to satiation. When feeding brine shrimp it generally requires 100% water changes essentially every day because the brine shrimp die and tank the water quality .