Question: Can obviously fertile eggs just NOT hatch?

[swimupstream]

My batch of eggs (my first) are well into their third week and almost all of them have developed to the stage where you can see the gills beginning, and many of them had started to wriggle. It's cool in the tank, 14-16C, but they were laid in a much cooler 10C, and they've been growing slowly, so I figured it was fine.

Except that two days ago they stopped wriggling and just seem to be sitting there, not getting any bigger. Some of the egg sacks seem to be clouding over/going white, and I'm worried I've failed to do something they need (I've added nothing to the tank, just left them alone since I got the parents out two weeks ago).

I would be devastated if I lost them all... any suggestions from anywhere??

 

[yellowpebble]

Mine did this too, and they are fine. They seemed to stay in that fetus shape for AGES... and then one day they got gills and eyes, that part happened suddenly.

My eggs took 4-5 weeks to hatch, it all depends on temperature i think. Some did stop developing at different stages and died, but that’s natural. I don’t think they all would have stopped... There is not much you can do to axie eggs to stop them growing, they are VERY sturdy. I found one I missed in the parents tank after 3 water changes and pebble vacuums just floating around 4 weeks later almost totally developed. I scrape them off the plant leaves and they go EVERYWHERE, some of the jelly breaks and still they are ok. I don’t think you have done anything to stop them developing, and even if they have (not likeley) i don’t think it would have been anything you did... all you have to do is leave them in some water for a while. The first lot of eggs from a female is meant to be a little less fertile, but if you have seen them developing, do not worry, just give them some more time! AND LET US KNOW UPDATES

 

[lea]

The temp might have something to do with it. I noticed with the eggs I have that the egg goes really big and cloudy just before they hatch. Hang in there they will come out soon. Enjoy the peace before the busy times arrives.
Sorry yellowpebble we must've popsted at the same time

 

[swimupstream]

Thank you both SO much!! It's wonderful to know we're not alone, and everything has already happened to someone...

I'll let you know how we go :wacko:

 

[lea]

please make sure you keep us up to date....we love photos especially when they are of beautiful little babies.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

It truly is all about temperature and oxygen saturation. Be careful though. To high a temperature and the little ones can hatch prematurely resulting in a quick death.

Personally, I shoot for a water temperature average around 20C (68F) with aquatic ambystomid eggs.

 

[yellowpebble]

its interesting about the oxygen saturation. I have found my second lot of eggs which didn't have an airstone have developed faster...