Question: What is the lowest temps eggs can be kept at?

[Fastback]

Good evening.

So early this evening, at about 18:00 my partner said to me that there is eggs in the Axolotls tank attached to the plastic plant.

It was a bit of a surprise and not, the female has been behaving funny and floating at the top of the tank for the past couple of days, and last night at 01:30 she was sitting inside the plastic "leaves" which I thought was funny, just thought she needed a perch to rest on.

I have done research in the past and then again just to up date my brain.

But here is the reason why I'm actually writing this!
I have two issues.

I'm in South Africa, and it is winter at the moment and don't heat my Axolotls through winter, as we know they can handle cold water.

The first issue, the temps sit between 10 to 11 degrees on average and from the research it it seems to say that the eggs must be kept at 17 to 18°C (64 °F) for them to hatch.
1: Will it be to cold for the eggs to develop if left at my temps?
2: Will it take longer for the eggs to hatch? (i would be happy if they take longer to hatch as the second issue will explain)

I also don't have food for them, I have got brine shrimp eggs but still have to hatch them and I battle to hatch or keep them alive.

The second issue, I will be going away from the 27th of this month for 12 to 14 days.
In the research I have done it says it is advisable to separate the females from the male to give them a chance to recover or they can die from the whole process of laying eggs.

I don't really have someone to look after them for me who can do it properly, I was not counting on them being gravid and laying eggs 4 days before I'm heading out on my trip.

The person was only going to feed them once in the time I was gone and I was going to feed them and clean the water a day and a half before I leave, so the person just has to suck up the remaining poo and feed them and them clean what ever else is left over.
It has to painless a possible for the person who will be looking after them for me.

3: Will the females need to be looked after, as in feeding them every 3rd day or can they be pushed with 6 day feeding interval??

4: Can I leave the females in the tank with the eggs for the time I'm away or is it better to remove the eggs and the one female?

Another Question, 5: what is the laying time like, she seems to be laying strains of between 2 to 10 at time, if she is going to lay 100's to a 1000 what is the time frame on that?

6: Can I feed while they laying eggs?

I have 2 females, one in the process of laying the eggs the other in the process of dancing with the male, so I have been sucker punched and caught unexpected and all before my trip.So I'm a bit nervous, excited a little unsure and not really looking forward to the the whole process.

 

[Quentari]

well I can answer some of them...

2. Colder water will make it take longer for the eggs to hatch, although apparently it takes about 2 weeks anyway. Maybe you could put in a divider for while you're away?
4. It's better to remove all the eggs. Put them in some dechlorinated water in a tub or something until they hatch.

 

[Bellabelloo]

1. The water temps will slow the eggs development down.
2. Yes it will take them longer to hatch, but I am not sure that they may not still hatch while you are away.
3. I would offer food to the female for the next few days. She can be left with the male, but too frequent egg laying may in the long run be unhealthy for the female and the quality of the eggs.
4. You can leave her in with the eggs...but she will most likely eat the majority.
5. My female laid eggs over night, so roughly 12 hours. This may vary.
6. You could offer food, but I would wait till she is finished.

I think you really have a few options here with regards to the eggs.
1. Leave them in the tank as a good source of food for your axies while you are away.
2. Remove the eggs and put in a tub somewhere even cooler.
3. Quickly put a for sale add and see if you can sell them before you leave.

While there is a male in the tank, the females will lay eggs, they will lay again for you so you may still be able to try raising some eggs