Caudata.org: Newts and Salamanders Portal

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!

Daphnia ate axolotl

cherryscented

New member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
47
Reaction score
1
Location
East Midlands
My axolotl's started hatching on friday, my biggest is probably about 13mm now. Some are slightly smaller, about 10mm. I'm currently feeding them live daphnia which they are happily eating. Yesterday I took a glance at them and they were all doing fine, when i went back to them bout 30mins later, one of the smaller ones tails was totally eaten off by the daphnia and has since died. The daphnia are all very small, so i can't understand it. Has anyone had this problem before?:confused:
Thanks
 

Kaysie

Site Contributor
Joined
Mar 10, 2003
Messages
14,465
Reaction score
110
Location
North Dakota
Daphnia are filter feeders. I don't think they're capable of biting off an axolotl's tail. It was probably one of it's siblings, rather than the daphnia.
 

Jake

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
1,635
Reaction score
87
Location
Illinois, US
I've seen Daphnia pulex congregate on axolotl and newt larvae corpses, but never on the live larvae. I think copepods might eat hatchling axolotls and newts, but I'm not sure.
 

Jennewt

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
May 27, 2005
Messages
12,451
Reaction score
146
Location
USA
I've seen Daphnia pulex congregate on axolotl and newt larvae corpses, but never on the live larvae. I think copepods might eat hatchling axolotls and newts, but I'm not sure.
I have the same two suspicions: either the larvae are dieing first, then the daphnia moving in on them, or else what you have aren't really daphnia. Where did you get the daphnia?
 

cherryscented

New member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
47
Reaction score
1
Location
East Midlands
Daphnia are filter feeders. I don't think they're capable of biting off an axolotl's tail. It was probably one of it's siblings, rather than the daphnia.
It was in a container on its own because it was smaller than the others so i wanted to give it a better chance. The daphnia were all around it still eating it, while it was still alive. With Daphnia being filter feeders i cant understand it?
 

cherryscented

New member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
47
Reaction score
1
Location
East Midlands
I have the same two suspicions: either the larvae are dieing first, then the daphnia moving in on them, or else what you have aren't really daphnia. Where did you get the daphnia?

I bought the daphnia from a aquatics centre, they are definatly dahpnia, however there are a few cyclops in there- i think these are Copepods-they have thin bodies with two black dots above their "heads"? Shall i try and remove them? It should be easy as their aren't many at all, but they are pretty speedy critters.
Thanks for your help:happy:
 

cherryscented

New member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
47
Reaction score
1
Location
East Midlands
I've been feeding them daphnia from my pond instead, as there doesnt seem to be anything else in the water apart from a few mosquito larvae which i easily took out.
Had no more problems since! :happy: My axies are now growing very quickly! I'll post some pictures in the gallery section.:animal:
 

oceanblue

New member
Joined
Sep 27, 2007
Messages
654
Reaction score
52
Location
Brecon beacons
They'll probably soon reach a size where they will relish the mosquito larvae as well! Try leaving one or two in.
 

philbaker76

New member
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
450
Reaction score
9
Location
Chesterfield, England
I've seen Daphnia pulex congregate on axolotl and newt larvae corpses, but never on the live larvae. I think copepods might eat hatchling axolotls and newts, but I'm not sure.

Interesting; I've been feeding my Axolotl hatchlings Copepods (introduced with daphnia) ~ saying that; I have lost quite a few this year - although I've put it down to the water conditions and bad luck. And haven't had any problems in the past.

Anyone else with experience of Axolotl hatchlings being eaten or killed by Copepods?
 

Seizan

New member
Joined
Apr 18, 2009
Messages
26
Reaction score
1
I bought the daphnia from a aquatics centre, they are definatly dahpnia, however there are a few cyclops in there- i think these are Copepods-they have thin bodies with two black dots above their "heads"? Shall i try and remove them? It should be easy as their aren't many at all, but they are pretty speedy critters.
Thanks for your help:happy:

Could the thin bodied black dotted critters be triops? They are pretty nasty and vicious but it usually takes at least a week for them to get big enough to do damage
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    There are no messages in the chat. Be the first one to say Hi!
    Top