Paramesotriton h. larvae

[chris]

As you may know, two of my eggs hatched (perhaps a little prematurely) a week ago. I have not seen them eat yet. They spend all their time under their shelters of pebbles and only wriggle about when disturbed, always returning 'home'. They are just starting to develop front legs. I have added daphnia and assorted 'pond plankton'. This seems to decrease in numbers, but I am not sure if this is the larvae feeding at night, or the (very low power) bubble filter sucking them in...I have also tried dropping microworms in front of the larvae's hiding place, but to no apparent avail. They are in a 10gall low flat plastic tank, with a clump of egeria, a few pebbles and a bubble filter. The water is changed completely weekly, for dechlorinated, aged tap water. Any wate is removed on site.
Any ideas?
Chris

(Message edited by froggy on March 26, 2004)

 

[alan]

How big are the larvae? Microworms might be a bit small for them. Tried small grindalworms?

As a matter of general principal, 100% water changes are stressful to the animals, no matter how well the water is prepared. 20-50% water changes are better and should be all that is needed with filtration.

 

[chris]

Cheers Alan
I have a whiteworm/grindal worm culture arriving soon. The larvae are just under a cm long. I think I sa one eating the grindals. It actually came out of its hiding place yesterday and seemed to sort of zoom in and out of the worm patch. There is plenty of food in the tank should the larvae be hungry without me realising. I will cut down water changes to minimise stress.
Chris

 

[alan]

As soon as I get larvae onto grindalworms, I always know I'm there and that they will grow away rapidly.
I keep my grindalworm cultures covered with sheets of glass and harvest by washing the worms off the glass. After a few rinses with clean water, put the worms in a cup and blast them with a stream of water, causing a vortex. Wait a few seconds and as the larger worms settle faster than the smaller ones, you can carefully pour some water + small worms into the larvae tank.