Babies don't want to eat!

[elessarspatriot]

I've kept axies for quite a while and i'd consider myself very well up on axie knowledge but this is only the 2nd time i've experienced spawn so i'm at a loss.

The first time i had spawn i fed them after 3 days with brine shrimp (but the shrimp was bigger than the babies so that didn't work) then daphnia but they seemed disinterested, i changed water regular and even put a gentle bubble stone in in hope it would make them more active but they all died..... totally heartbroken!

This time i've done the same but with daphnia after 3 days, they do seem more active but they just lie around on the bottom not doing much, our water is very clean and a good ph so i know thats not the issue, especially as they were spawned in it etc.

Basically if someone can give me a relatively fool-proof way of raising babies i would really appreciate it.......i am expecting some casualties as is the way of nature, and nothings totally perfect but i'd at least like some to survive

 

[animalloversfb]

Most tend to eat within 24-48 hours after hatching, so waiting 3 days might have drained their energy reserves some. Also, adult daphnia may be too large for them. Make sure you are offering the tiniest ones you can get. They're not going to seek out food - they'll snap at it if it comes in front of them, so there needs to be a lot of food to ensure they will encounter some.

You can raise baby brine shrimp(from eggs), which is one of the most popular methods, but does take 1-2 days to hatch and you have to be careful to avoid the shells, but its the perfect size for newly hatched larvae.

 

[smily sam]

Don't worry if they are not moving around alot, they don't really move alot till they are a few months old. If you gently touch them with a pipette they should move but don't do it to much or they may play dead ( they stop playing dead when they setle down again.) When they eat they don't run after the food they hop, move to the side or just move there head a little bit, as animalloversfb said they snap at food which swims past. The best foods to feed axolotl lavae are live dathnia and live baby brine shrimp (adult brine shrimp are to big.)
Hope your axolotl lavae survive, Sam:wacko::happy:

 

[Jennewt]

It's normal for them to be inactive. The amount they eat at this stage is very small, so you might not see them actually eating. In another day or two you should be able to see material in their gut if they are eating. Try to find a way to size-sort the Daphnia, so you only put in the smallest ones. Try various kitchen strainers, course fabrics, etc. to strain.

 

[elessarspatriot]

Thanks guys, The first step i took was to split them up into 4 bowls, i've lost one bowl, though don't know the cause and the other bowls are totally fine, doing wanter changes every 1-2 days. Feeding them daphnia. Makes sense to put lots in then if they just snap at what comes by. Will get lots more daphnia in 'stock' to give them more of a chance of eating something.

Some have been dying, it seems to be the smaller ones so i assume they're the 'runts' as the bigger ones seem fine....is that normal? I'm guessing its natural

 

[bayhicoach]

It's not natural for these animals to die in large numbers. The high losses they face in the wild (the reason so many eggs are laid at one time) result from their being a great source of food for many other organisms. In captivity, under proper care, you should not expect to lose many. Proper nutrition and water conditions are the requirements for success. Hatch brine shrimp for the best and easiest food for newly emerging axie larvae.

 

[elessarspatriot]

The ones that are dying are going sort of bent up and then go on their sides mostly and die.
Anyone know the cause for that? I know the waters fine, and i'm still feeding them daphina. The 'strong' ones still seem to be dominating. They're swimming round more now.

 

[animalloversfb]

The bent tail is usually a sign of stress and that they are about to die, usually due to poor water quality. I'd bet that some of the smaller ones aren't able to find small enough daphnia to eat. They may also be getting picked at by the other larger ones. It could also be something in the water that is bothering them. They can also be stressed by constant bright light or vibration.

 

[esoteric]

The majority of daphnia are just too big for tiny axolotl larvae mouths - the fortunate larvae that manage to find the smallest daphnia will survive and grow and will eventually be able to prey on larger daphnia - but the smallest larvae will never really get going and if they don't die, they could develop into weak, sickly specimens.

Putting large quantities of daphnia in the water is going to give a greater chance of the larvae finding food, but I can't imagine it does much for the water quality - I assume daphnia consume oxygen and excrete poisonous substances and I suggest that 2 days between water changes might just be too long.


Freshly hatched brine shrimp is simply the best food to give axolotl larvae.


1. they are tiny enough for the smallest larvae to eat.
2. they are extremely nutritious and larvae thrive off them.
3. they are orange and the larvae get big orange bellys after eating.
4. brine shrimp eggs are inexpensive and easy to hatch.

I always advise anyone planning on raising axolotls from eggs to give them the best possible start and feed the larvae on a staple of freshly hatched brine shrimp. In my opinion anything else is a compromise.

If larvae are kept in small groups in small tubs and are fed on freshly hatched brine shrimp each evening, after a 100% water change with clean, dechlorinated water people will experience very few losses.

Obviously there are other environmental factors to take into account. Don't put the tubs in direct sunlight. Don't put tubs near radiators. Watch out for positioning near speakers or other sources of vibration. Don't put them near areas were people use aerosol sprays (and make sure everyone knows this.)

Good luck with your tiddlers.