Pyrrhogaster egg development

[Molch]

Check out this awesome pyrrhogaster development photo series by Mark:

Caudata Culture Photo Series - Cynops pyrrhogaster development

this fascinates me. My oldest eggs are now 8 days old and are at the same stage as Mark's 4-day egg. His hatched on day 22 but last year mine took almost 6 weeks to hatch (n=only 2, all others were duds). My temp is around 55-60 F. Mark - if you see this, was yours much higher? I'm still trying to get this thing about development times..temperature's gotta be the main variable, but maybe there's others?

Does anyone know if temperature and development time have any influence on hatching success or hatchling vigor? I mean, should I keep my eggs warmer to make them develop a bit faster?

[Niels D]

I allways love articles about egg development. It's beautiful to see the whole proces.

I don't have experience with pyrrhogaster, but I've noticed that H.orientalis eggs kept in the cold salamander room took longer to hatch than the eggs I kept in the living room.

[Perry]

Not Pyrrhogaster but my dobrogicus eggs that were laid in the fall when water temps were around 50F developed way slower than their most recent batch (temps around 59F now). Probably took 6 weeks to hatch versus around 4-5 now. I sent some eggs to another caudata member who kept them closer to 68F and hers hatched about a week earlier than mine kept at 59F.

I've always kind of felt that slower development resulted in hardier larva but I can't back this up with anything :). Would like to see some real data about this if there is any floating around.

[Angie]

This isn't anything near hard evidence, but I raised 1 CFBN larva very slowly - it took him 6 months and 3 days to reach eft stage, but he breezed through the transition. I consider it fortunate, considering a good few larvae die early, and I had just the 1 egg which reached eft stage without a problem

[Niels D]

Originally Posted by otolith

I've always kind of felt that slower development resulted in hardier larva around.

Don't have any evidence as well, but I've got the same feeling.

[Rodrigo]

While temperature most certainly affects development speed, i also ignore if it has an effect on vigor or hatching success. I mean, it very obviously does if the temps are inadequately high or low, but as long as they are in the acceptable spectrum, i have no idea.