Question: Help please

[ClaireMc]

Hi Guys, I really need some help. I had about 30 Axolotl eggs hatch 5 days ago. I got some fresh brine shrimp and gave it to them about 2 days after they hatched, which they didn't really seem interested in. I read they may not eat for 72 hours so yesterday I went back to the shop to get some more and the shop can't sell me any as it's in short supply.
I have tried various other aquariums etc but nobody seems to have any, now i'm worried they are going to starve to death. Can anybody advise me of an alternative to fresh Brine Shrimp, Daphnia etc which I could feed them.
Many Thanks
Claire

 

[Wild TONY appeared!]

I haven't tried it, but you can try buying frog and tadpole bites, crush them, and sprinkle them in. I used to feed frog tadpoles like that. I believe the larvae only eat live food, though.

 

[Neil C]

Unless you want to be going back to the pet shop every day to buy baby brine shrimp or can get hold of some small Daphnia (very hard in Australia), then you really need to hatch your own brine shrimp at home. It will probably cost about $40 to set up plus however much your brine shrimp eggs cost but once brought you can use it year after year. You might already have some of the equipment already. You will need:

1. An aquarium air pump plus tubing and air stone.
2. An aquarium heater ( I use a small 25w heater)
3. Desk lamp with 40w bulb.
4. Container ( I use a 3 litre milk container).

Then all you need is some brine shrimp eggs and some salt and you are good to go. Set up correctly you will have baby brine shrimp 24 hrs later.

Some people have had success feeding their babies cooked egg yolk so try searching the Forum for that and give it a try if you get desperate.

Regards Neil

 

[ken1981]

You can buy the eggs from ebay, then hatched them yourself. I did it myself after 2-3cm you can feed them cut black worms which you can buy from local store.