Question: Hatchling food

[dryopteris]

Hi,
I'm doing some research on raising hatchlings and I have a couple of questions that I can't really find the answer to anywhere.

First of all I'm planning to culture daphnia with microworms as a back up in case the daphnia culture collapses. I was just wondering what experienes you guys have had with feeding daphnia and/or microworms to hatchlings. Anything in particular I will have to pay attention to? Or any tips in general?

Second: How much daphnia/ microworms does a hatchling need? Is there a recommended quatitiy or do I just have to pay attention to how well fed they look?

Third: I've read that when they have fully develloped front legs you can start feeding them bloodworms. Is this true? Does the same count for tubifex worms? I was wondering because the tend to stick together in a ball and even my older juvenile struggles to rip them apart sometimes.

Fourth: How old or big do they have to be before they accept chopped up earthworms? Or is this more a matter of how small you cut them up?

Last: Not about food, but I was thinking of starting with a really small quatitiy of eggs (about 10). Is this a good idea? Because I don't really know how much eggs make it to the juvenile stage, so any reccomendations? (I'm planning to keep 2 or 3 juveniles and find another home for the others)

I know these are a lot of question, but I hope you can help me out. Thanks in advance!

 

[auntiejude]

10 eggs is an ideal number for a beginner to raise.

Adult daphnia are too big for new hatchlings, most people hatch baby brineshrimp for the first few weeks. They are very nutritious and it's easy to see when the axie larvae have fed because they get a bright orange tummy. You'll get a feel for how much they eat once you have them, all axies are different.

I find tubifex an issue too, but at 4-6 weeks axie larvae will have front legs and can take first live, then frozen bloodworms. You might need to chop them up a little at first.

The onto earthworms at about 3" / 7 cm, either medium ones cut up or baby worms. They should be able to take a worm as long as they are once they have accepted live worms and are happy with them.

 

[charleybambino]

From ten eggs I got seven healthy babies...the other three died soon after hatching....so good number to start with. Good luck.

 

[dryopteris]

Thanks for the replies, it helps a lot :happy: