Egg-laying Documentary

madFrankie · Jun 13, 2009

Hi Guys,

The family just got bigger, so I got out the camera!
I've managed to get some shots of the whole process. It's the first time I've actually been able to watch, the only other time we've had eggs the job was all done when I found out.

You can actually see the egg coming out in the shot below...

Dad's got the universal "Oh no, what have I done!?" look that new fathers of every species get...

She gets into the stangest positions while laying the eggs! the one below doesn't look particularly comfortable!

Here's hoping they develop so that I can continue this thread as they progress.

Enjoy

flan123 · Jun 13, 2009

That is absolutely amazing! What lovely looking axolotls!!!

Are you planning on removing the eggs? The axies will start to eat them if not!

Keep us updated, great pics!

madFrankie · Jun 13, 2009

Thanks for the thoughts Mike

flan123 said:
Are you planning on removing the eggs? The axies will start to eat them if not!

Yep, most of the eggs have come out into a separate hatching tank now that she's finished laying. There's still about 40 or so in the main tank that I'm going to leave to nature... you never know some of them might make it!

Darkmaverick · Jun 13, 2009

Hi Madfrankie,

What excellent timing! This photo-doco is invaluable. I shall highlight this post to Jennewt. I think she would love to have them included in caudata culture.

Cheers.

madFrankie · Jun 13, 2009

Hey Ray,

Fantastic, I'd love to be in on that!

Jennewt · Jun 13, 2009

Really nice shots!! I would suggest submitting a few to the Photo Comp:
http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=60712
As calendar shots, I like the 5th, 6th and 8th ones. Thanks for posting!

madFrankie · Jun 13, 2009

Jennewt said:
Really nice shots!! I would suggest submitting a few to the Photo Comp:
http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=60712
As calendar shots, I like the 5th, 6th and 8th ones. Thanks for posting!

Thanks Jen, I already put in my five entries for the calendar comp before I got these shots (D'oh!) but these ones are much better pics... :angry:

Jennewt · Jun 13, 2009

Ask Mark AT. He might be willing to withdraw your previous entries.

madFrankie · Jun 13, 2009

Have done, we'll see what he has to say

axolotlgangster · Jun 14, 2009

Cool i hope that some come out like the dad. If so can i buy one very nice! P.S cool piks!

madFrankie · Jun 14, 2009

axolotlgangster said:
Cool i hope that some come out like the dad. If so can i buy one

Haha, somehow I don't think they'd survive the trip from Melbourne to Denver and there may be some men in suits from quarantine asking us a few questions if I tried... lol

Clairey Beary · Jun 15, 2009

WOW!!! Those are some absolutely amazing pics you have there!!! I dont think alot of people actually catch their female in the act of laying so these are some pretty rare shots.

I Hope Mark lets you withdraw your last ones cause these ones would be excellent pics for the calender!!

Well done and hope to see more of the babies growing up!

Claire

big a little a · Jun 15, 2009

HOW DO YOU MANAGE IT FRANK?!?!?

Picture number 4 is my favourite, he totally looks like he's just made the connection that lots of eggs might mean lots of babies...

Zoe x

madFrankie · Jun 15, 2009

Thanks Claire, I feel pretty honoured to have been able to watch the event. Possibly slightly pervy...but honoured nonetheless!

big a little a said:
Picture number 4 is my favourite, he totally looks like he's just made the connection that lots of eggs might mean lots of babies...

Zoe x

He does, doesn't he? lol I'm guessing that he hasn't got as far as realising that 'Responsible Fatherhood' translates to 'Tasty Snack' for an Axie...

madFrankie · Jun 16, 2009

Next update....

The two photos below show the first stages of the egg development.

This one is of the freshly laid eggs, day one after laying:

This one is on day four, you can see the embryos starting to develop, and turning into little Jelly Bean shapes.
'Neurulation', I believe, is the correct term for it:

John's already made an excellent series of photos on the day-by-day development of axie eggs here: http://www.axolotl.org/embryo_series.htm so there's no need to do the same thing again. I'll post anything particulary interesting that I come across during the process though.

Stay tuned!

axiewhisperer · Jun 17, 2009

Oh Frank!! That is amazing!! More please! Good luck with them and I hope they inherit their parents' good looks. :happy:

madFrankie · Jun 23, 2009

Here we are on (I think) day 11 and I thought I'd get as close-up as possible for a shot of the little dudes.

Sorry about the hefty download for this image but I wanted to make it as big as possible so y'all can really see what's going on in there.

You can see the definite axie shapes now and the interesting colour-morphs that wildtype dad and albino mum are producing.

More close-ups as the next few days progress.

:happy:

Kerry1968 · Jun 23, 2009

Wonderful photos Frank, can't wait to see the development of these little ones. Are you going to try to rear them all? Looks like you're going to have your hands (as well as your house) full!

madFrankie · Jun 25, 2009

And here they come....!

Will endeavour to get some better photos this weekend.

madFrankie · Jun 26, 2009

Slightly better picture of the new babies, they're so tiny! I need a proper macro lens

You get a sense of scale by looking at the daphnia - the biggest ones are about 1mm long...

Egg-laying Documentary

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