Eggs.. Keep together or separate?

Shanny · Dec 30, 2011

So I just got 24 axolotl eggs from a guy yesterday. They were laid on the 27th, so only a few days old.

I've been reading a lot of conflicting information about keeping them. Some people say keep the eggs together until they hatch and others say separate before they hatch. So I was just wondering what you all think, or what you have experienced works best?
Right now, I have them in a hatchling net sitting inside of my spare 20 gallon, with a small heater (since it's really cold here right now) and a small aerator filter... Well let me just post a pic in my next post, it will be easier than trying to explain.

I have small containers already set aside and ready to go, the only thing is if I put them in there now before they hatch, then the water temp is going to be lower and they won't have any filtration. While all together in the tank the temp is staying right around 65-68F.

Thanks for any input :happy:

Shanny · Dec 30, 2011

This is how they're set up right now...

Should I keep them like this until they get to be about 10-15 day post laid? Then this way they will have the filtration and slightly warmer water temps?

Kaysie · Dec 30, 2011

Keep 'em together until they hatch. They don't need warmer water or filtration. Just a tupperware dish full of aged water, and they'll be fine until they hatch.

Coastal Groovin · Dec 30, 2011

Try to use the water from the tank to avoid shock from temp and ph differences. Keep the eggs together.

Shanny · Dec 31, 2011

Ok

keeping them together it is!
As of today, which would be just about day 4 since they've been laid, there are about 3 eggs that already are starting to take that bean shape. The majority of the others are no longer perfect circle, more like ovals.
Here's a pic of the one that seems to be more ahead of the others..

Sorry about the crappy quality, all I have is my phone to take pics with.

Just thought I'd share, I know they still have a long way to go, but I'm excited haha!

Oh, you say they don't need filtration or heater... So will they still be fine hatching at lower temps?
For example if they had been laid in My tank, my boys water temp is at a steady 60F.... Is that too cold for eggs? Because from what I've gathered from my research is people have been hatching them anywhere from 64 to 70F.. Obviously the warmer water will speed up metabolism and they will hatch sooner. But I want them to take there time and develop.

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926736,-93.081121

Shanny · Jan 1, 2012

So today is day 5, the eggs are all in bean shape, if not further along. Although I may have 3-4 unfertilized ones.

Kaysie · Jan 1, 2012

Won't be long now til you start seeing distinct body parts!

Shanny · Jan 2, 2012

Ahh I know, I'm so excited to start to see them look more like lil axolotls!

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926714,-93.081187

Shanny · Jan 3, 2012

Day 7, I witnessed two of them move this morning while checking water temps. One right after the other, they both made a quick flicking motion with there lil bodies.
Quite exciting

it makes you realize more now that they are actually developing and thriving more than the human eye can see.

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926776,-93.081201

Shanny · Jan 3, 2012

Crappy pic of day day 7..

I should have put a piece of black paper or something under the tank so maybe you can see shape of eggs better.

Shanny · Jan 3, 2012

Forget that above crappy pic... Here's my dark paper under the tank idea... Shows up much better

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926789,-93.081160

Shanny · Jan 6, 2012

Upon further inspection of eggs this morning, I have found that I have 5 that are unfertilized. Also I can now see which babies are already developing melaniod spots on them, I can clearly see that there are albino and melaniod babies.. It's brings me even more excitement than before!

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926672,-93.081299

Coastal Groovin · Jan 6, 2012

Just one question. Do you have your brine shrip eggs and micro worms ready for when they hatch?

Kaysie · Jan 6, 2012

You mean pigment spots. "Melanoid" refers to animals that lack iridophores.

Shanny · Jan 6, 2012

Yep, that's what I mean. Haha I knew it was something different but couldn't remember.
Yes, I do have bbs already to go. In fact I did a test run of the bbs two days ago to make sure it works and it did so I fed those to my fish, they loved it.

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926672,-93.081299

Shanny · Jan 6, 2012

Day 10

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926672,-93.081299

Kaysie · Jan 6, 2012

I see a couple of dark eyeballs. Maybe leucistics?!

obicat · Jan 6, 2012

does dark eyes always mean leucistic? I have, and apologies for the non technical terms

white ones and white ones with darker splodges. Some of the white ones have dark eyes, all of the splodgy ones have dark eyes. Will they stay splodgy or go darker/lighter?

Kaysie · Jan 6, 2012

They'll change a ton between now and when they grow their back legs. There's no way to tell for sure what they'll be until they get a little bigger.

Shanny · Jan 7, 2012

I found 8 that have hatched this morning, day 11!
So far, out of the 8, this is the only one with pigmentation on it.

This is a crappy pic, but the other 7 look like this. You can kinda see the yellow

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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.926745,-93.081133

Eggs.. Keep together or separate?

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