Question: Breeding through temp changes and daylight changes

[saviefav]

Hi, I'm doing axolotl research in a lab and trying to breed some and right now the axolotls are housed in a room with 10 hours of daylight at approximately 22 degrees, separately. The plan, to breed them, is to lower the temperature while lengthening the daylight hours, but I'm not sure how far to lower the temp, and how long the day would be. I also wanted to know when I should put them together - before lowering the temperature and such?

Thanks for the help!

 

[madFrankie]

Hi Saviefav,

You'll find heaps of useful information of stimulating axolotls to breed here: http://www.axolotl.org/breeding.htm

Should be a good starting point.

 

[Darkmaverick]

Hi Saviefav,

Since your current holding tank is about 22 degree celsius, i would think perhaps transferring your axie breeding pairs to a spawning tank of about 12 degree celsius can help stimulate breeding.

A sudden increase in water volume can also help stimulate breeding activity. So if previously your holding tank is half filled, perhaps a fuller tank can help as well.

You would have to decrease the photoperiod gradually over 2 weeks from 10 hours to lets say 5 hours and then over the next subsequent 2 weeks, increase it back up to 10-12 hours. The photoperiod adjustment has to be synchronised with the other triggers.

You can furnish the spawning tank with slate or rocks and elodea masses as well as some hiding spaces. The tank parameters as well as nutrition should be optimum.

Axies are prolific breeders and it shouldn't be difficult breeding from them assuming they are properly sexed, sexually matured and in good health.

Cheers.

 

[saviefav]

Thanks for the info! I'm going to keep an eye on them, and see what happens. I hope it works!