C. cyanurus larvae (Part III)

[TJ]

Another new arrival:

(Message edited by TJ on December 16, 2005)

 

[TJ]

(Message edited by TJ on December 16, 2005)

 

[TJ]

 

[TJ]

 

[TJ]

Here's the oddest of them all, though not quite as light at that one of Ed's:

 

[TJ]

same from the other side:

 

[garrison]

That last one looks so cute

 

[terry]

The light coloured larva is arguably the oddest indeed. Do keep is updated on how that one develops! I'll be watching intently!

 

[edward]

The light one I have still has not developed any more color. I even moved into a container that has a heavy dark green algae growing on the bottom and it did not darken up.
Its almost at the size I would expect to metamorph so I am waiting to see if it pigments up during metamorphosis.

Ed

 

[TJ]

I appreciate that Terry, but while you're watching my pale one, I'll be watching Ed's

(it's at http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/42644.html?1131498981 for anybody who has just tuned in)

Ed, I was going to post about mine on your thread until I compared the two larvae and saw...well, that they aren't comparable, yours being so pale. I sure do hope you continue that thread with some pictures.

Here's a nice example of a transitional larva, tri-colored at this point, with balancer semi-absorbed:

 

[edward]

Hi Tim,
I managed to get a couple of sucky pictures as I took them in the rearing container instead of moving it to a photo tank. I'll try getting some better pictures later in the week but here is a repeat of the first picture from before and the latest lousy picture (and then another lousy picture of a "normal" light colored larva from a slightly later clutch).

(Message edited by TJ on December 19, 2005)

 

[pin-pin]

Absolutely amazing pictures, Tim.

What are those white worm-like creatures in the gravel?

 

[TJ]

Ed, that light one of yours almost looks like an albino axoltl!

It turns out that my light one is not alone, there are at least 3 others like it. So I'm a bit confused and at the same time intrigued, having never raised up larvae of this species before. Do they change from yellow to a fairly dark shade of brown and then lighten up again or what? I have so many larvae now that I haven't been able to follow the progress of individuals.

Pin-pin, those are tubifex worms that have tunneled their way into the substrate. And they'd better watch out before sticking their heads up!

 

[terry]

Tim, might I suggest a small petri dish or even a small saucer or some kind of recepticle to contain the tubifex? it makes feeding easier. That way you do not get any tubifex lost in the gravel.

Please keep us updated on those odd coloured larvae!

 

[TJ]

Terry, I'm not confident the larvae are mobile enough to search out a petri dish in a roomy tank like this. This way, food is readily available throughout the tank. The downside I can see in having gravel full of worms is that the water quality could be affected. But I am changing 2/3 of the water every 2-3 days anyway, mostly to get rid of brine that finds its way into the tank with the shrimp hatchlings. The water is cycled water siphoned in from the neighboring large tank, so basically it's the same water but cleaner.

Pin-pin, I'm not so sure now that the tiny, thin white worms in the substrate are tubifex, now that I've had a closer look. Tubifex as I recognize them are pinkish, even the small ones. I'm thinking the thin white worms are either baby tubifex or another species of worm that piggybacked in with the tubifex. Here's what the tubifex in the same tank look like:

 

[ester]

Tim could the little white worms be some kind of flat worm? I seem to have an infestation of these small white crawlers (always on glass or something, never free swimming) in my larval setup too.

Looking forward to see how the light larvae develop!

 

[edward]

Hi Tim,
I have larva that do indeed lighten up and darken up. One of the ones I have been holding back pictures of posting is a larva cyanurus that stayed gilled and has now sexually matured (hopefully pictures this weekend).
That one is indeed almost as white as a albino axolotl.

Ed

 

[TJ]

Ed, I'm sure looking forward to seeing those photos

I'm new to this species, so I've really just been making random observations about the development of larvae coloration. The nice thing about having many larvae to work with like this is the variations really stand out. This morning I noticed a very light one in an early but "post-stripes" stage of development, a stage in which its same-size siblings all seem to be brown.

I've really got quite a bumper harvest here, and the task ahead of me now is to find people locally who are interested in and capable of keeping them.

Hi, Ester. Sorry but I don't know much of anything about worms. They sure look to be about the right size for a small larvae to eat. But I'm not sure how accessible they are, burrowing down in the gravel like that.

Will keep ya'll posted on the light larvae!

(Message edited by TJ on December 21, 2005)

 

[terry]

Just a quick one Tim and Ester,

As you know those worms are commonly identified as aquarium flatworms. Not the pond variety which are dark brown and have prominent "eye-spots" but the smaller kind. It might have been introduced together with the tubifex.

 

[TJ]

Is that what they are? Flatworms? As long as they're edible!

Here are some typical larvae: