Will newly hatched axies handle travel?

[evershine]

Hi
I have to go to the city for three days about five days after my axie eggs are due to hatch. They are developing pretty much as shown on this site. Axolotls - Embryo Photo Log
I have done a rough count and think I have about 50 eggs that are incubating.
I cannot cancel my trip as I really need to see this specialist so don't know what I should do.
I am considering taking them with me, but do you think that they would handle the 500km trip and then the return 500km trip.
I will be hatching brine shrimp for them also.

Or could I hatch three days worth of brine shrimp and leave them with a friend? Do they need to eat the brine shrimp on the day they hatch?

Or should I try putting the eggs in the fridge, if so how long can I leave them there?

Thanks in advance :bowl:

 

[Mycenaean]

Hi
I have to go to the city for three days about five days after my axie eggs are due to hatch. They are developing pretty much as shown on this site. Axolotls - Embryo Photo Log
I have done a rough count and think I have about 50 eggs that are incubating.
I cannot cancel my trip as I really need to see this specialist so don't know what I should do.
I am considering taking them with me, but do you think that they would handle the 500km trip and then the return 500km trip.
I will be hatching brine shrimp for them also.

Or could I hatch three days worth of brine shrimp and leave them with a friend? Do they need to eat the brine shrimp on the day they hatch?

Or should I try putting the eggs in the fridge, if so how long can I leave them there?

Thanks in advance :bowl:

It looks like it might be too late to slow down the hatching with the fridge. I would feed the ones that come out twice daily (they could hatch over a period as long as a week). Then do three feedings the day before you leave. They should be able to survive for the three days you are gone. Also the ones that are just hatching will be able to sustain themselves on their yolk for 1-2 days.

Taking them on a road trip presents variable temperatures, jostling and more. The BBS will die after about 2 days (you'll know by the awful smell).

The best option is to leave BBS with your friend and have him feed them for the first two days you are gone. They can easily make it through the third day and you will be back to set up another BBS hatchery. Doing this you will lose very few, if not none. Make sure your friend changes the water after feedings!

Out of the three options (increased feeding, friend feeding BBS for two days, or fridging), I would recommend the increased feeding or having your friend feed. That should leave the fewest casualties. Hope I helped!

 

[evershine]

Thanks Garett, that sounds like a great idea!
I have also purchased some micro worm culture, not sure if the axies will eat these but thought I would give it a go :happy:
I will be able to feed them on day one before I leave and again on day three when I return, or atleast get the brine shimp set up.


Do you think the micro worm would be too big for the larvae?

BTW I have only had my axies for just over two weeks, I have found a wealth of information on this site and doing my best to look after them properly.

 

[Mycenaean]

Thanks Garett, that sounds like a great idea!
I have also purchased some micro worm culture, not sure if the axies will eat these but thought I would give it a go :happy:
I will be able to feed them on day one before I leave and again on day three when I return, or atleast get the brine shimp set up.


Do you think the micro worm would be too big for the larvae?

BTW I have only had my axies for just over two weeks, I have found a wealth of information on this site and doing my best to look after them properly.

Microworm will be too large, there are very few options for the first month or so (Daphnia/BBS. Try the microworms at 3-4 weeks. I think they will be fine :happy:

This site is great! Feel free to pm me questions anytime, raising larvae is what I'm most knowledgeable about in terms of axolotl care.

I forgot to mention! When I switch larvae from BBS I cut up bloodworms and don't feed them for 1-2 days. They are hungry and the transition to non-live food will be much easier.

 

[evershine]

Thanks Garrett
I will deffinately pm you if I need to, thanks for the offer.

I will have a go at daphina another time, I didn't really have enough time to get myself organized to hatch some. I would , also like to have a go at breeding some feeder fish as my axies are currently being fed beef heart, which is what they came with.
I bought some feeder fish, but just to expensive and not easy to get hold of.
I also have some bloodworm in the freezer so will keep this for the larvae, I don't like feeding it to my adults as it''s too messy. I am seriously thinking about replacing the river stones with sand, but will seek advise first.

I will pick up my new tank tomorrow and will half fill with tank water and fresh water and move the eggs into there. Does that sound like a good idea? I don't want to let them hatch in the container they are in.

 

[Skilly]

Hi evershine!

First our babies should be fine for the time you are gone. I had trouble hatching brine shrimp one time and my newly hatched babies went without eating for 4-5 days before they got to eat. I think their egg yolk can last quite a while. I would feed them the day or night before your leave- if they eat at all, they should be just fine.


Also you said you were thinking about putting the eggs in a tank with half water...
This will ed up being a ton of work and very hard to get the BBS to the larvae.

If you buy a large tupperware storage container- these are golden for raising babies! They make water changes and sucking out dead left over BBS super easy. Also they are shallow enough that the babies ca get to the BBS easy yet still have tons of room to spread out.

When they get larger I would recommend moving them to the tank- but I do think it will be easier to do water changes and feedings if they are in a large tupperware container instead of a tank. I have one that is about 1.5 feet x 2.5 feet. Works great!

 

[evershine]

Ok will see what I can find, I am in a fairly remote area so am limited to what I can get my hands on. I think I have some small tubs about 30cm across that may do the job. I think the tank I am getting is quiet small and actually a hex shape. Is it ok for me to move the eggs now?

I need a filter for the babies though don't I?

I will also need to pinch my adults air-rater until I can get my hands on another. But I will set the filter up so the arm is out of the water and water hits the glass wall of course. Am hoping that this will be fine.

With my adults is it possible to change the water too often? I changed it twice last week, even though I had the filter running all the time it smelt fishy after a few days. I still have the eggs in this tank too.

Cheers

 

[Mycenaean]

Ok will see what I can find, I am in a fairly remote area so am limited to what I can get my hands on. I think I have some small tubs about 30cm across that may do the job. I think the tank I am getting is quiet small and actually a hex shape. Is it ok for me to move the eggs now?

I need a filter for the babies though don't I?

I will also need to pinch my adults air-rater until I can get my hands on another. But I will set the filter up so the arm is out of the water and water hits the glass wall of course. Am hoping that this will be fine.

With my adults is it possible to change the water too often? I changed it twice last week, even though I had the filter running all the time it smelt fishy after a few days. I still have the eggs in this tank too.

Cheers

Personally I'd move the eggs to something smaller so you can monitor the hatching. Tupperware from walmart is cheap and effective for keeping your axolotls in at a young age. I don't use a filter, but I use a bubbler for oxygen and I clean the tank every two to three weeks or so.

I clean hatchling/juvies tanks after every feeding, so a filter isn't needed. The more you feed the more you need to clean.

 

[Jennewt]

Microworm will be too large, there are very few options for the first month or so

Microworms are TINY, definitely not too large for newly-hatched axolotls! They probably aren't the answer for evershine though.

 

[Mycenaean]

Microworms are TINY, definitely not too large for newly-hatched axolotls! They probably aren't the answer for evershine though.

Oh shoot you're right! I was thinking black worms. Thanks!

I've had experience with blackworms/bloodworms/earthworms/daphnia/bbs. I tend to stay in those food groups for my lotls.

 

[evershine]

Microworms are TINY, definitely not too large for newly-hatched axolotls! They probably aren't the answer for evershine though.

Why would they not be the answer for me?
I have already ordered some and the instructions seem pretty easy, even easier than the brine shrimp.

 

[evershine]

Moved the eggs last night, I have 68 fertile embryos.
I am hoping that I will be able to find homes for them all!

And they are all still white!

 

[axolotl lvr]

awww too bad u cant ship to US ..;( Im a sucker for lil eggs Do you have pics of the mom and dad axie?

 

[Skilly]

If you have a tub for the larvae then you don't need a filter. I don't use a filter or a bubbler for my babies. I just make sure that the water is nice and clean. And after the BBS feeding is done, I chop up live blackworms and they don't spoil the water so cleaning is even easier then.


You can get rid of the fishy smell with carbon. :happy:

 

[evershine]

Not sure who the dad is as I have two males.
The mum is a golden albino. I think perhaps the dad is my Leucistic or the black one I think it's a Melanoid.

I will take some photo's soon.

 

[evershine]

 

[evershine]

What do you think the black one is?

 

[wian]

hes def a melanoid

 

[Lady Rassilon]

Good Luck Evershine!
I have just had eggs too - unexpectedly, the parents are only 8 months old.
Mine have hatched in ~ 15 days and I have had a better than expected rate.
I am feeding them BBS.
But I am having trouble breeding enough food - I seem to get a low hatch ratio for the BBS (using NT labs decapsulated eggs as directed). I hope yours are doing better. Did you have trouble getting the eggs? There don't seem to be many stockist near me.

If you were closer, I'd ask if we could swap some - mine are all black and wild type. But you said you are remote WA, I'm in Melbourne...

Good Luck!

 

[evershine]

I bought my BBS off ebay
50g for $20.99 including post.
I thought was pretty good.

Posted same day as purchase, just waiting for them to arrive

I will pm you the details if you like