Hatchlings

[mark]

Some shots of larvae on their day of hatching. Pleurodeles and Triturus.

 

[rodrigo]

wow...those are impressive pics and definitely an impressive camera. Amazing quality man! big congrats!
I wish more ppl posted pics...i will never get tired of them.

 

[ryan]

Wow, that third and forth picture down look almost alien and their gills are simply amazing!

 

[cameron]

They look really cool. Just like aliens in the third and fourth pic with the weird looking gills as Ryan stated.

 

[jonathan]

amazing detail on those pics. Thanks for sharing.

 

[mark]

Thanks guys! I was trying to get a shot of the yolk sac but it was looking a bit dull so I tried lighting it from behind and hey presto - highlighted gills!

 

[cameron]

It sure did the trick.

 

[mark]

10 days later. The Triturus have put their efforts into growing long front arms and fingers.

This one made me laugh - it looks so miserable!

Whilst the Pleurodeles have put their efforts into growing their heads big and wide to accommodate as much food as possible. Notice the cyclopoid copepod next to his head. A tasty snack.

 

[annmarie]

I just love that show with the copepod. your little monsters must be very tiny. I need your camera

 

[cameron]

They really are aliens with their long arms and fingers just like in the movies. Cool!

 

[ryan]

They still look great! I also love that shot of the copepod.

 

[coen]

Very nice shots Mark. My T. marmoratus hatchlings also just grown their front legs.

 

[jonathan]

I love the fact that the detail shows the tiny individual units of pigment

 

[mark]

13 days later. The marms have become efficient mid water hunting machines.

The Pleuros have gone outside in one of my old daphnia tubs. It's choked with hair algae but I sometimes see one swimming past and they are growing well.

 

[ryan]

Man look at the fingers on that thing! Its always nice to see that someone is raising larvae proficiently.

 

[kelly]

wow those are some great pictures! Sid and Sally are reproducing daily and I am facinated watching the eggs...waiting with excitement for the births. How long was it before yours hatched? And just how did you take such great pictures?

 

[mark]

Thanks Kelly! I'm not exactly sure how long they took to hatch as they were so well hidden in leaves and laid over a period of weeks. I'd guess at 3-4 weeks.

To take photos of very small larvae you need a camera with a good macro function or lens and a lot of patience. I leave the camera next to the tank so I'm ready to take a picture if I see one in a good position

Good luck with Sid and Sally's offspring!