Unexpected Eggs

[Ibkikn]

After downsizing my aquarium setups after a house move, I kept my 3 younger Axolotls in my 4 foot tank, and a few days back now surprise surprise eggs.....

I am quite surprised as they are barely a year old and its very cold here at the moment, with my tank temps being around 15^C on average, and lower at times.

Wasn't the biggest batch of eggs ever, but have gathered them up and have them isolated in an in-tank breading box.
Eggs are just reaching the stage were the centre embryo no longer looks spherical.

Ebayed up some Brine Shrimp eggs and they are on the way.

Few things/questions:
- As my tank temps are quite cold thinking of grabbing a spare tank and putting the eggs in it with a heater at say 20^C. Every time I have had eggs before it has been in spring or hotter weather, so thinking a more stable water temp will help juveniles.
Anyone agree or disagree with that?

- these eggs are from the same bloodline, so need/want to add some diversity in the mix. (See image of parent below)
Does anybody want to swap some juveniles with me?
Would love a gold, wild and any darker coloured Axies.
Travel into Melbourne (Australia) every month and can arrange a meet and swap.

 

[axowattyl]

Don't be surprised, mine spawned as soon as the temp dropped to 15 degC.

I have heard that cold snaps trigger spawning, but I read it on the internet so who knows.

I let my last 2 batches (one mine laid and a small number of eggs another breeder sent me) develop in the same water and temp they were laid in with excellent results.

There was no real difference in the incubation period, they started hatching at about 12-13 days, really started hatching right on the 14 days and were pretty much finished at 15-16 days.

The first batch of 300 I left in one of those cages with mesh around it, suspended in the tank they were laid in.

The second batch of 20 I left in the same tank, but in a chinese food container, and did a little water change each day with my turkey baster.

Both ways worked very well.

I thought about heating my eggs as well, but wondered why everyone wants to second guess nature.

After all, the mothers instinct told her to lay in that water and temp. No one was then going to heat her eggs for her.

Mother knows best...

 

[Flee]

Mine laid her eggs just after axowattyl and mine inside water is about 18-19 so I removed the eggs and put them into a container but the water kept dropping lower and I was worried it was to low so I bought a small fish tank and a small heater and put them in there and mine started hatching early at I think 12 days but the ones I sent axowattyl didn’t hatch till well after all mine had finished.

My other girl laid her eggs yesterday about another 200. I had put her in a tank with a male so I know for sure who the daddy is this time. Unlike with my other female.


Im not going to use the heater this time..


I would be interested in swapping juveniles with you. Not sure what I my eggs will produce this time,but the ones i have now seem to be wilds and some hopping to be coppers ????? they are little orange with dark eyes at this point so have to see how they turn out it is very early days.

 

[axowattyl]

Mine laid her eggs just after axowattyl and mine inside water is about 18-19 so I removed the eggs and put them into a container but the water kept dropping lower and I was worried it was to low so I bought a small fish tank and a small heater and put them in there and mine started hatching early at I think 12 days but the ones I sent axowattyl didn’t hatch till well after all mine had finished.

My other girl laid her eggs yesterday about another 200. I had put her in a tank with a male so I know for sure who the daddy is this time. Unlike with my other female.


Im not going to use the heater this time..


I would be interested in swapping juveniles with you. Not sure what I my eggs will produce this time,but the ones i have now seem to be wilds and some hopping to be coppers ????? they are little orange with dark eyes at this point so have to see how they turn out it is very early days.

Flee,

Same at this end...8 of the 10 you sent are looking like wildtypes, the other 2 are orangish but still with black eyes and plenty of freckles.

Time will tell.

Keep an eye on my babies thread, and if I don't end up with eggs to send you by the time mine get legs I'll send you one of my juvies (you pick the color).

 

[auntiejude]

Completely agree on the temp thing - I keep eggs in the plastic container floating in the adults' tank as it keeps the temperature stable. You can easily kill eggs at higher temps, or by fluctuating the temp too much.

I've also heard stories of high mortality rates in eggs that hatched quickly due to heating. I usually reckon hatching time is around 12-15 days for 18C, as little as 9 at over 20C, but as long as 21 days at under 10C.

 

[Ibkikn]

Eggs coming along nicely, even in the cold winter temps we have down here.
No going to use a heater I decided.

They are 1st time parents so not surprised at a low egg count, got around 100 I'd say.

Now my daughter and I are both keen to see them hatch and what colouring develops.

=)

 

[axowattyl]

Eggs coming along nicely, even in the cold winter temps we have down here.
No going to use a heater I decided.

They are 1st time parents so not surprised at a low egg count, got around 100 I'd say.

Now my daughter and I are both keen to see them hatch and what colouring develops.

=)

Good call I'd say.

Good luck!