Test Tube Axolotls

[usafaux2004]

So I got this idea to ship eggs...but how to go about it? Test tubes that close was apparently the answer. Got a few different types, but each of these has 25 eggs in them with room to spare.

 

[auntiejude]

Sounds OK to me - I use urine specimen pots! As long as they are filled right to the top to prevent too much sloshing they should be fine.

 

[michael]

I ship hundreds of eggs. I use fish bags. I have already used small water bottles. I ship all salamander eggs in water. I've received some salamander eggs on paper towels and on moss and they did not seem to do well. Test tubes should be fine.

 

[ktolentino18]

Not fine. Do not ship axolotls in test tubes. I received them and they were all exploded. There was no jelly to protect them.

 

[auntiejude]

Not fine. Do not ship axolotls in test tubes. I received them and they were all exploded. There was no jelly to protect them.

Sorry? You cannot 'explode' eggs by putting them in a test tube. It takes a surprisingly large amount of force to 'explode' an egg in a sealed container.

Were they shipped by airmail? It's the only way I can think of to produce enough force (changes in air pressure) in a test tube short of using the package as a baseball.

 

[usafaux2004]

Not fine. Do not ship axolotls in test tubes. I received them and they were all exploded. There was no jelly to protect them.

What exactly exploded? SOMETHING went wrong. But please stop repeating the same bad line all over. We've gone over this by text.

Here's the picture you sent me. I don't see any explosions.

Here's an egg that developed into two beautiful axies I have at 2 months old right now. They have the same amount (or lack there of) of jelly that you claim is the reason those perished.

 

[auntiejude]

Some of those eggs look lysed (where the embryo has disintegrated) - thats normal in any random batch of eggs, but they have not 'exploded'.

 

[EmbryH]

I agree about the lack of "explosion" in the eggs. As auntiejude said, the disintegration of embryos happens. I had about 40 of my batch do this (among the eggs that had started to develop at all).

Some eggs aren't going to produce a living axolotl no matter what you do. What's more, some of those embryos still look viable. The amount of gel wouldn't have had anything to do with protecting them once they were in the glass vial, plus eggs can grow perfectly fine without the gel.

I'd say you got unlucky with the number of eggs that have died, but you should pick out the survivors and focus on them. Usafaux2004 didn't wrong you here, if that's what you're concerned about. Buying eggs is a gamble.

 

[jlobello]

Someone may have answered this already- but are the test tubes plastic or glass? I have seen plastic ones before, not sure I could find them again though...

 

[usafaux2004]

These were plastic. 25 for under $7 on Amazon.

 

[Ominojacu]

I would say that test tubes are a bad idea and that the lysed eggs are probably due to the small water volume and surface to air ratio. Changes in temperature and poor gas exchange, will kill the eggs, dead eggs will pollute the small volume instantly. The larger the volume of water and air the better, the smaller you go the worse off you are. The same volume of water in a petri-dish would probably fair better as the surface to air ratio would be improved. I think fish bags filled half way are better. When I was a teen I worked in a pet store for many years and I noted that transportation deaths of fish in plastic bags were directly related to the amount of air space available and temperature. Interestingly enough double bagged fish died quicker than single bagged fish. I am assuming the double bagged retained more heat.

 

[usafaux2004]

I would say that test tubes are a bad idea and that the lysed eggs are probably due to the small water volume and surface to air ratio. Changes in temperature and poor gas exchange, will kill the eggs, dead eggs will pollute the small volume instantly. The larger the volume of water and air the better, the smaller you go the worse off you are. The same volume of water in a petri-dish would probably fair better as the surface to air ratio would be improved. I think fish bags filled half way are better. When I was a teen I worked in a pet store for many years and I noted that transportation deaths of fish in plastic bags were directly related to the amount of air space available and temperature. Interestingly enough double bagged fish died quicker than single bagged fish. I am assuming the double bagged retained more heat.

I've always seen people suggest filling up egg containers to the top. They don't breathe so don't need air. Fish of course are a different story.

 

[michael]

I've always seen people suggest filling up egg containers to the top. They don't breathe so don't need air. Fish of course are a different story.

Depriving an egg of oxygen will kill it.

 

[Ominojacu]

I agree with Michael, all eggs breathe, just as any living cell, the exchange of gasses is critical, I believe if you tried a bigger container with more surface to air ratio, you will have better success.