Holiday help?

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Lua

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Hey all, I'm in the middle of the nerve shredding process of rearing my first axolotl eggs, but the timing is awful! I'm catching the ferry to Ireland next monday (we live in scotland), just at the point my axies should be hatching out..aah!
I don't have much faith in my neighbours ability to mind them, they always manage to kill our fish, and I know the baby axies will be waay more delicate, and feeding is tricky at best..

So I was wondering, is it viable to take them with me? They'll be pretty tiny..I could fix them some snug containers, +a cool box, might be a massive hassle, but I'd have peace of mind!
The question is, how much food do I have to bring? I plan on feeding them daphnia, and its probable I'm going to end up with roughly 20 babies..eek..I'm away in quite a remote spot for 3 weeks, although I know if there was an emergency I could source some daphnia from the local pond.. when will I need to wean them onto bloodworms? and how many times will they need to be fed a day initially?
What do you think? Should I hand them over to the fish killers or attempt a summer of manic axie rearing?:confused:
 
Are you going to Irland or north Irland? It may be ok to bring them to north Irland but i doubt you can bring them to Irland because your not aloud to transport axolotls internationaly unless you do alot of paper work so you can get an exspensive permit.

I don't advise you take them with you to Irland for your and your axies sake, I recomend you get some one too look after them for you, maybe someone on the forum near you or a local petshop if you leave specific instructions.

any more questions feel free to ask.
Sam:eek:
 
Well we'll be passing through both, wow I didn't realize that, don't want to be billed as some kind of axolotl smuggler...(sounds kind of cool though:p) I suppose it's more sensible to do what you suggest, I'll check out my local petshop, mabye they have a boarding service or something..although I know its quite specialist care they need.
 
As you're taking the ferry I'd be tempted to take them. They'll need super specialist care and unless you can find someone you are absolutely confident will be able to keep them happy it's a bit of a risk. Wouldn't trust pet shops unless they're very special. Guessing you'd feed them once a day on anything small and live, probably for the whole time you're out there, not certain though. I know this is very bad of me but I'm sure you could take them on the ferry without anyone noticing!
 
aeviette said:
As you're taking the ferry I'd be tempted to take them. They'll need super specialist care and unless you can find someone you are absolutely confident will be able to keep them happy it's a bit of a risk. Wouldn't trust pet shops unless they're very special. Guessing you'd feed them once a day on anything small and live, probably for the whole time you're out there, not certain though. I know this is very bad of me but I'm sure you could take them on the ferry without anyone noticing!
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Oh thank goodness! I was secretly harbouring the urge to just take them and see how it goes, but thought I'd just keep it quiet to escape any manic axolotl lovers wrath :D I think its feasible, I'll keep them somewhere dark and cool, and they'll be so tiny it won't be too big a problem, I'm sure sniffer dogs dont detect baby axies! The pet shops round me are pretty dire. I think I'll take the risk, I was imagining being apprehended smuggling them across the border by some kind of SWAT team with helicopter and guns:D
But I'm sure nothing as dramatic will occur. It'll be more of a matter of me sitting at home nursing my wee axies while everyone else hits the beach. fun times!
 
Haha. I love that mental image. There are sniffer dogs on ferries? The last time I was on a ferry was an orchestra tour in the middle of a bad patch of insomnia, so I have no idea what actually happened, but I don't remember there being dogs. It's probably their best chance. Just keep them in a tupperware box in a cool bag or something, nobody needs to know. *stealthy face*
 
well occasionally they sniff cars as they go on:eek: I'll have to sew them inside my coat or something. jks, yup, I'm thinking lots on tiny tups in a coolbox of water should do the trick. hehehe I'll feel like a spy :D
 
They will need a constant supply of live food, you would probs need a good amount of daphnia too, as they are so small i wouldnt bother with worms, i first fed mine worms when it had its front leg buds but that was just as my supply had run out, id try changing them to worms when they have their front legs, but make sure you wiggle them about infront of there faces otherwise they wont think its food ;P

You could take them, but it wouldnt really be ideal. If you are away for 3 weeks its probably the best option, unless you can get someone who knows what they are doing. Water changes / seperation / feeding / poopy scooping lawl.

If you do take them - 1 stock up on dechlorinator - 2 take some frozen bloodworm incase you run out of live(try keep this frozen or atleast chilled) 3- try find pet shops in advance in the areas you are going. (ring ahead and maybe reserve food) 4- take a net if you intend to catch wild, but be careful(can carry parasites) and lastly.. good luck.
 
Aaran said:
They will need a constant supply of live food, you would probs need a good amount of daphnia too, as they are so small i wouldnt bother with worms, i first fed mine worms when it had its front leg buds but that was just as my supply had run out, id try changing them to worms when they have their front legs, but make sure you wiggle them about infront of there faces otherwise they wont think its food ;P

You could take them, but it wouldnt really be ideal. If you are away for 3 weeks its probably the best option, unless you can get someone who knows what they are doing. Water changes / seperation / feeding / poopy scooping lawl.

If you do take them - 1 stock up on dechlorinator - 2 take some frozen bloodworm incase you run out of live(try keep this frozen or atleast chilled) 3- try find pet shops in advance in the areas you are going. (ring ahead and maybe reserve food) 4- take a net if you intend to catch wild, but be careful(can carry parasites) and lastly.. good luck.
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thank you! It's going to be a massive hassle, but I think I'd rather have the peace of mind of knowing they're safe. This is a little off topic, but its really warm outside in my area. If I put the eggs outside for a bit so they can warm up, would that speed up hatching? Its definitely not warm enough to cause discomfort/ kill them, but its probs a few degrees up from indoors. Is there an issue with putting them in sunlight?Thanks for your advice,I figure the bigger I can get them before I go on holiday the better they will be able to cope..
 
Wow! Lots of things to consider :D
The eggs will hatch quicker in warmer temperatures, definately. However, I don't know if fluctuating temperatures will cause any harm. Also, when your little guys get eyes, don't forget, they don't have eyelids, so won't appreciate being in direct sunlight + not being able to escape it :(
As for taking them with you... They can definately be taken away on holiday - ask Zoezakella, as she took hers at the start of the year. Not sure about whether you'd be legally allowed to take them with you or not. It would be better to find out before you go + while you still have time to make other arrangements, just in case it's illegal to take them. I doubt you'd be allowed to take them through Southern Ireland with you (I could very well be wrong though!) + have mental images of them being taken off you at the border + destroyed :(
Now for feeding... The little guys won't eat for 24-72hrs after hatching, while they absorb their yolks. After that, they ill eat only tiny live MOVING foods (although a few people have managed to use tiny pieces of frozen food, this is a rarity), which happen to swim past their heads - they don't go hunting. It's recommended that at this stage you feed them twice daily. Larger foods, such as bloodworm and adult daphnia, can be introduced when the front legs have started to appear + frozen foods can also be tried.

Check out axolotl.org's page on rearing axies - Axolotls - Rearing from Egg to Adult

Also, while the pond is a good idea as an emergency, I would try to avoid using anything taken from it - as already mentioned, wild-caught foods can carry transmitable diseases, but also, there could be many other creatures in the pond, including predatory ones which will try to eat your little babies.
 
memojo1979 said:
Wow! Lots of things to consider :D
The eggs will hatch quicker in warmer temperatures, definately. However, I don't know if fluctuating temperatures will cause any harm. Also, when your little guys get eyes, don't forget, they don't have eyelids, so won't appreciate being in direct sunlight + not being able to escape it :(
As for taking them with you... They can definately be taken away on holiday - ask Zoezakella, as she took hers at the start of the year. Not sure about whether you'd be legally allowed to take them with you or not. It would be better to find out before you go + while you still have time to make other arrangements, just in case it's illegal to take them. I doubt you'd be allowed to take them through Southern Ireland with you (I could very well be wrong though!) + have mental images of them being taken off you at the border + destroyed :(
Now for feeding... The little guys won't eat for 24-72hrs after hatching, while they absorb their yolks. After that, they ill eat only tiny live MOVING foods (although a few people have managed to use tiny pieces of frozen food, this is a rarity), which happen to swim past their heads - they don't go hunting. It's recommended that at this stage you feed them twice daily. Larger foods, such as bloodworm and adult daphnia, can be introduced when the front legs have started to appear + frozen foods can also be tried.

Check out axolotl.org's page on rearing axies - Axolotls - Rearing from Egg to Adult

Also, while the pond is a good idea as an emergency, I would try to avoid using anything taken from it - as already mentioned, wild-caught foods can carry transmitable diseases, but also, there could be many other creatures in the pond, including predatory ones which will try to eat your little babies.
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Mojo, thanks so much for some really solid advice, the information on feeding was particularly helpful, there are just so many conflicting sources online, that's why I come here!
As for crossing the border, there are no actual crossing points/ check, you just drive on in, so I'm pretty sure there will be no problem there, let your mind be at rest! I'll check up on the legality of it just in case.
I've ordered a few bags of daphnia and hopefully will be able to get a culture started. The last resort is that I use the pond, in which case I'll use a strainer to make sure no nasties get in in terms of predators. Hopefully I wont need to resort to this though! I've had a good read of a lot of info about rearing them, so hopefully I'm as well informed as I can be.
The timing is just madness,The eggs came in the post and I just didn't think! Hopefully they'll come back none the worse the wear from their holiday! If it doesn't work out, I think I'll start off with a juvie instead, raising eggs is really quite tricky for a beginner, especially when they have to be ferried across the irish sea! Although I can guess it will be a very rewarding experience to raise a wiggly little blob into a full grown axolotl! Fingers crossed it all works out :)
 
Even with a strainer lua, you cant stop the predatory micro food! There is an article around here on the nasties. Think its in the live food section .. who'd have though :rolleyes:

You will still get things like damsel fly larvae etc. Best thing to do would be to print off any information and pictures on pond life. Just to be safe :)
 
Hey, maybe there could be a new sub-heading on this site, a babysitting service, so that anyone going away can find out if there is anyone local to them who is a member here that could help out, who better to babysit than someone who has the same species themselves???

Im in West Cumbria, UK, just dont know of anyone closer than a hundred miles or so, but I know there are alot of you in the South of England, and many in the same towns. Maybe we could start the ball rolling, and then progress onto play dates or mother/father and tiddler groups? (Only Joking!!) ;)
 
Aaran said:
Even with a strainer lua, you cant stop the predatory micro food! There is an article around here on the nasties. Think its in the live food section .. who'd have though :rolleyes:

You will still get things like damsel fly larvae etc. Best thing to do would be to print off any information and pictures on pond life. Just to be safe :)
Click to expand...

Aah! immune to strainers? the sly dogs! I'm hopeful I can just rely on my own culture. If the worst comes to the worst, I can see myself picking through teaspoon after teaspoon of pondwater to sort the food from the beasties.. :/
 
laalflaach said:
Hey, maybe there could be a new sub-heading on this site, a babysitting service, so that anyone going away can find out if there is anyone local to them who is a member here that could help out, who better to babysit than someone who has the same species themselves???

Im in West Cumbria, UK, just dont know of anyone closer than a hundred miles or so, but I know there are alot of you in the South of England, and many in the same towns. Maybe we could start the ball rolling, and then progress onto play dates or mother/father and tiddler groups? (Only Joking!!) ;)
Click to expand...


haha that would be awesome! you could suggest it in the new subheadings thread? We could have some kind of interactive map with flashing symbols:D Seriously though, I'd put more trust in a lot of forum members than my local petshop.
mother/father tiddler groups? Hmm might turn into limb munching sessions :D
 
Just grab a pair of tights and cut one leg off, then cut the toe part on and attach it to a jar at the end, then you will have all the buggies you want in one part so easier to go through :)

Good idea on the axisitting
 
That babysitting idea sounds good! Already wondering who I can trust to look after mine when I go away, thankfully my grandparents are 100% reliable so I'm most likely leaving them there. I'm in Prudhoe, inbetween Newcastle and Hexham, Northumberland, North East England, UK. I would axie sit no probs for someone if needs be ;)

Good luck with moving the eggs! I hope it all works out, you have to let us all know how you get on
 
Thank you! no internet where I'm going, it's literally the middle of nowhere! But I'll keep you posted when I return in around 4 weeks, hopefully with a tanks brimming with well travelled axie babies! Thanks everyone for the concern and advice. Axiesitting sounds intriguing:D
 
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