Help! New and freaking out! Unexpected eggs

[Kellysaurus]

Hello

So my boyfriend is a big axolotl lover, and we've had two wonderful axolotls for a year and a half. I never knew much about axolotls, as he was the amphibian "expert", but I've been in charge of their primary care as he had to move back in with his parents due to job loss. He has a new job there now, and visits every monday... But again, I'm the one who watches them for the majority of the time.

He told me that it was too warm for for them to breed, as we could never get the temps as low as we'd like. We have discussed possible breeding in the future, but never made any definite plans as we don't have enough money to get coolers and such...

Anyway, sorry for blabbing, but I have a light switch on the tank that goes from on-off-blue. I've had it on blue as I sleep near the tank and prefer it... but I noticed one axolotl was clinging to a plant (which they never did before) .. So I turned on the light, and found a TON of eggs...

I am freaking out! >__<

I don't want them to be eaten! I know we have to get krill, but how do we separate them? He told me a few things before when we would discuss it, like how we'd need tons and tons of tanks... is true? I don't want these little guys to die, so please I know there is a ton of info on this site, but I'm panicking to the point where I can't find what I need...

Can you guys show me some links with instructions? Or if there are none (which I doubt), tell me what you did?

My bf won't be here till monday, and he's working till 10pm... so it's all me. Do I take them out now? Where do I put them? There are feeder fish that never got eaten and grew to be too large to eat that live there... I don't want them getting revenge on the eggs!!

Gah, I sound like a nut. Sorry. I'm just an animal lover who unfortunately doesn't know enough about the situation to handle it.

 

[SkollSunChaser]

Calm down, it'll be ok! First off, my suggestion is that seeing as how money is tight for you, you are going to want to cull a large portion of the eggs or give them away.

Here's a link for shipping...

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...-if-youre-planning-ship-please-look-here.html

Here's a link for raising BBS...

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...rine-shrimp-hatching-harvesting-tutorial.html

And a link for culling...

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...-eggs-larvae-breeding/93742-culling-eggs.html



You'll want to put the eggs in separate tubs to keep them from being munched on, seeing as how it's your first time I wouldn't try to keep more than 40.

This is a thread from another first timer.

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...rvae-breeding/94047-what-do-axolotl-eggs.html


I can't give you much info myself, but read into these links because they WILL help. Also, if you google "how to raise axolotls" then just click on pretty much any link that says caudata.org in it and you'll get good info. If I weren't in a rush, I would have been more informative, sorry! I'll probably add more later. Make sure you check out the area where you posted this; that's where most of the links I posted are from anyways.

 

[auntiejude]

You cannot raise all the eggs - you need to understand that from the outset. The kindest thing is to cull them to a sensible number before they develop a nervous system (and can feel anything or be 'aware') which is about day 5-7. Freezing is easy, just bung them in a pot in the freezer, put the resultant dead eggs out as bird food or garden fertiliser.

Decide how many to keep - I'd suggest a handful unless you know you have buyers for larvae or juveniles. Get some plastic tubs (I use 5L shoe storers), move part of the plant with the required eggs into a tub, freeze the rest. And wait about 2 weeks impateintly until they start to hatch!

Do some reading up on brineshrimp, minifoods, raising babies, and decide if you have the time, resources and money to raise them. The links above are gold, and of course you have your friendly forum to grill! Read through the other 'help I have eggs' threads.

BTW axies don't generally nibble on eggs if they are well fed, but they will eat larvae.

 

[Kellysaurus]

Thanks so much guys!

I've been texting my boyfriend like a madman so he can decide about giving away eggs or culling them... They're his axies so I think he should decide how many and stuff.

But I have another issue ...

I just tried to take the eggs out because I noticed the fish were nibbling on them... but a lot were on the dirt bottom. I was able to scoop several up, but I scooped a lot of dirt up as well...

Now I have a bunch of "dirty" eggs in a plastic container with distilled water. How do I "clean" the eggs? Most look like dirt balls

 

[Kellysaurus]

Here are some pictures... I managed to separate which I *think* are fertile (someone told me because the axies are wildtype, they'll turn black/brown if fertile) But I'm holding on to the ones I'm not sure about just in case.

Looks like only 50-75 are fertile. So I don't have to worry too much

Closeup of two I think are fertile ...

All of the ones that I separated

Ones I'm not sure about and will wait to see

 

[SkollSunChaser]

Just thought I'd inquire about some things...

You said the fish were munching on your eggs? Fish aren't good tankmates for axies. Are they just for feeders or what?

Also, from the looks of those pictures you're using gravel? Gravel is a huge no no, seeing as how your little water vacuums can accidentally suck them up when they're eating and become compacted. Just wondering on these things, so that you can do what's best for your little guys.

 

[auntiejude]

All eggs laid by a wildtype will be black/brown, sometimes with a paler yolk visible. All eggs laid will have been fertilised - axies don't lay unfertilised eggs. Viable eggs will change shape at about day 4-5 from round balls to kidney bean shaped.
Don't worry about the 'dirty' eggs, inside they are fine. You can rinse them so you can see inside, they are pretty hardy and can withstand a bit of washing.

Do you really want to raise 50+ babies? What will you do with them? Do you have buyers lined up for them once they are big enough? 50 axies will require more than 50 gallons of water - do you have space and money for all of them? Unless you have somewhere to put the babies long term you need to cull down to about a dozen - some will not make it, but you'll still have some babies to raise.

And yes, if you have gravel in your tank you need to get rid of it - axies eat gravel accidentally and it can kill them.

 

[Kellysaurus]

Yup! The fish are feeders that simply got too big. I don't know for sure if they actually ate the eggs, but they're always nibbling on the plants and I got really nervous.. Plus it seemed like the eggs were disturbed. Idk if I was being paranoid or not.
As for the gravel.. I have no idea what the exact reason was, but it's dirt (for the plants), gravel, and then sand. I forgot why, but there was a reason why a layer was needed, but then the sand was placed on top so they wouldn't suck any up. I was just swishing everything around that I accidentally picked some up.

 

[SkollSunChaser]

I would suggest larger river rocks as a replacement, just because gravel is so dangerous. Good to know that you're aware though :3

 

[Kaysie]

River rock is a real pain to clean under. Either go with sand, bare bottom, or something like slate tiles.

 

[SkollSunChaser]

The bare bottom and slate wouldn't really work for her plants though. I imagine the gravel is for roots or something...? She already has sand on top.

 

[Kellysaurus]

All eggs laid by a wildtype will be black/brown, sometimes with a paler yolk visible. All eggs laid will have been fertilised - axies don't lay unfertilised eggs. Viable eggs will change shape at about day 4-5 from round balls to kidney bean shaped.
Don't worry about the 'dirty' eggs, inside they are fine. You can rinse them so you can see inside, they are pretty hardy and can withstand a bit of washing.

Do you really want to raise 50+ babies? What will you do with them? Do you have buyers lined up for them once they are big enough? 50 axies will require more than 50 gallons of water - do you have space and money for all of them? Unless you have somewhere to put the babies long term you need to cull down to about a dozen - some will not make it, but you'll still have some babies to raise.

And yes, if you have gravel in your tank you need to get rid of it - axies eat gravel accidentally and it can kill them.

I didn't see your comment, sorry! I appreciate the information. I'm so excited for the eggs to take shape, I'm going to take the best pics I can to see the little axie fetuses! I think I can tell which are viable and which aren't, but I haven't gotten rid of any just in case.

As far as culling.... My boyfriend is seriously against it. I do have a lot of tanks and critter keepers, but no I can't keep them all. Fortunately I'm very active in the reptile community and know a lot of people who would take them in. They may not be lining up per say, but I know I have several options

I definitely agree that culling is the humane thing to do when there's so many... so you guys don't need to convince me. However, my boyfriend is the true owner of the axies, and he is against it. (Yet he is pro-choice... -___- ) So I'm going to bust my *** making sure these guys have a place to live. No worries.

Also, about all the gravel comments -- I know it's a big scare, but trust me I am aware! It was buried deep underneath the sand, I just messed it up with all the scooping... But I fixed it. We are planning on getting additional sand to make sure it doesn't resurface again. We're just waiting till all eggs hatch just in case I missed any in the tank... I wouldn't want to bury them alive!

Thanks so much everyone, I feel a LOT better! I'll keep you all updated, and once the eggs take that kidney shape, I'll take tons of pictures!

 

[SkollSunChaser]

Hey there, how're things going with the eggies?

 

[Kellysaurus]

Hey there, how're things going with the eggies?

Herro! :3 Good! I mean, it appears as though many of the eggs that I thought were fertile (50-75) are not. That means there are less babies, and therefore less worry. And it was natural, so I don't have to feel bad about it or anything.

They're turning a kidney shape! There are a few that still look like a walnut, but most are gaining more shape. I'm struggling to get good pictures, even though I have an expensive camera... I'm gonna look up some tutorials on the silly thing so I can get a clear zoomed in shot.

Once I get some, I'll post the pics here! Thanks for thinking of us!

 

[Kellysaurus]

Okay, so here's when they looked more like a kidney bean instead of a ball ...

The little beans are taking shape

Tonight they're really looking interesting!

So difficult getting a close up pic >_<

 

[AquaticJess]

How exciting!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SkollSunChaser]

Those pictures aren't too bad :3 They look like little leeches

 

[Kellysaurus]

Those pictures aren't too bad :3 They look like little leeches

Ha, yeah! I guess the pics are okay, but I was honestly hoping for something sharper than my eyes could see. I wanna see closerrr~ lol
Maybe my video camera can do it. I'll try tomorrow. I was just staring at them a few minutes ago and I can see their little gill buds sprouting! Now they're looking more like axolotls (to me) !!

I'm pretty sure only a handful are actually developing. As they grow I can really see the difference between the viable eggs and the cloudy ones. I don't think there could be more than 20, honestly. And it could be less than 10, but I won't know until they hatch.

 

[SkollSunChaser]

Well, at least it'll be a little easier on you with less mouths to feed. That way the brine shrimp will at least stretch a little farther.

 

[Kellysaurus]

OMG GAIS!
My video camera is apparently AMAZING and I got some really really neat shots!!!
It's so cool!!

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And then he did a flip for me! *squee*

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