Question: Questions regarding separating larvae

[evut]

I've got about 30 Cynops pyrrhogaster larvae at the moment. 2 are kept separate as they are older. They are kept in small plastic tubs.

I know I should be separating them according to size as they grow....but how?
I really don't know how to take them out of the containers... are miniature fish nets sold? Or is there another method? I really worry about hurting them.

Another question - what sort of size difference is considered dangerous?

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Joost]

You can seperate them, by sucking them out with an airhose. This works well, but it isn't necessary with small size differences. Does not mean you can put new born larvae with larvae which are almost morphing ofcourse. Feed them well and put in enough plants, and there's nothing to worry about.

 

[evut]

Thanks, Joost. I have used a turkey baster but felt like it could hurt the little larvae. I suppose I don't have to worry too much about separating them as the size difference between them isn't really that big.

 

[Nathan050793]

Additionally, you could try catching them with a brine-shrimp net (which are fairly tiny). The only problem is, if you have a lot of larvae, netting them could be a pain.

 

[vistajpdf]

I did separate my C. orientalis as they hatched. I'd just start up a new tank/container every so often and move the eggs, not the larvae, or just start putting the unhatched eggs in a new container. Later, when they get limbs, they're easier to move around. I can't remember exactly when I'd decide to start a new tank, but I know I didn't want larvae with all four limbs in with newly hatched ones. Every so often, just start putting the eggs in a new tub. I sometimes just fetched the newly hatched with a little cup and moved them into a larvae tank depending on where we were in the cycle.

Good luck,
Dana

Dana

 

[evut]

Dana, that's pretty much what I'm doing already :happy: I have 5 tubs at the moment with eggs/larvae at a different stages of development. I think it might also be good because if there was an issue with mould or something in one of them it wouldn't affect all eggs and larvae.
There will be more even though the egg laying seems to be slowing down and the newts really got a taste for the eggs.

I haven't got a brine shrimp net at the moment. I'm just filtering the BBS through a sieve with a bit of paper towel. I might look into getting one of them if separating becomes an issue.

So far the guys are developing well. Most are hatching really underdeveloped but in a few days they are upright and looking good. I wonder if it's because it's quite warm.