HMontross
New member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2011
- Messages
- 27
- Reaction score
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- Age
- 34
- Location
- New Mexico
- Country
- United States
- Display Name
- Haley
Hi all!
I added my third axolotl to a tank with two others about three weeks ago. I rescued her from a pet store a little over a year ago, and she was malnourished, and about two inches long. They said they had her at the pet store for four months . I didn't even think to check gender when I added her to the tank, but now I have eggs! The female (the one I moved) is a leucistic albino, and the father is either the leucistic, or the wild type. This is the female's first spawning.
I have moved the eggs from the parents' tank (they were all attached to plastic plants) to a six-gallon "bookshelf tank", and culled about a hundred eggs in the freezer. I think I kept around 100. I added a heater to the nursery tank, and now the water is at 20C/68F. I live in New Mexico, where we have very hard water, so I used dechlorinated tap for the nursery, and also added an aerator. Thank you for the helpful articles, because I don't feel so lost! And, luckily, I have MANY family members and friends who want axolotls in their lives!
I have never reared axolotls, so I wanted to check in and ask for some help in determining the health of the eggs. Comparing them to the egg development photos on the breeding/rearing page, I think these guys look great. The tank I have is plastic, so getting a clear picture is difficult. I photographed another set of eggs for Day 4 because it appeared that the four in the first two photos hadn't changed (but they have as of this afternoon...). What should I be looking for as far as healthy eggs? Should I be worried about the female's difficult beginning and her ability to lay healthy eggs? She has been eating salmon pellets for the past year or so. She definitely isn't the same stature of the males, and is probably a good two inches shorter than they are. She just stopped growing about three months ago, and is now at about 7in in length.
As far as getting ready for hatching, I have a 40 breeder and a 20L cleaned and ready. I ordered brine shrimp eggs, which should arrive on or before this Friday (Day 9 since laying).
Right now, I have a few questions:
Should I move the plants/eggs before hatching to a larger tank so I don't have to move them once they hatch? I know that it's best to have a very low water level, so I'm assuming that's a no...
What is a safe way to move the babies? Are they hardy as hatchlings?
What is a good water temp for the babies?
And, do I sound like I have everything under control? I'm in a state of excited frenzy, and I imagine this is how a new parent would feel in the days before their little one arrives :crazy:
Thank you, in advance, for any advice and well wishes you guys have to offer!
-Haley
I added my third axolotl to a tank with two others about three weeks ago. I rescued her from a pet store a little over a year ago, and she was malnourished, and about two inches long. They said they had her at the pet store for four months . I didn't even think to check gender when I added her to the tank, but now I have eggs! The female (the one I moved) is a leucistic albino, and the father is either the leucistic, or the wild type. This is the female's first spawning.
I have moved the eggs from the parents' tank (they were all attached to plastic plants) to a six-gallon "bookshelf tank", and culled about a hundred eggs in the freezer. I think I kept around 100. I added a heater to the nursery tank, and now the water is at 20C/68F. I live in New Mexico, where we have very hard water, so I used dechlorinated tap for the nursery, and also added an aerator. Thank you for the helpful articles, because I don't feel so lost! And, luckily, I have MANY family members and friends who want axolotls in their lives!
I have never reared axolotls, so I wanted to check in and ask for some help in determining the health of the eggs. Comparing them to the egg development photos on the breeding/rearing page, I think these guys look great. The tank I have is plastic, so getting a clear picture is difficult. I photographed another set of eggs for Day 4 because it appeared that the four in the first two photos hadn't changed (but they have as of this afternoon...). What should I be looking for as far as healthy eggs? Should I be worried about the female's difficult beginning and her ability to lay healthy eggs? She has been eating salmon pellets for the past year or so. She definitely isn't the same stature of the males, and is probably a good two inches shorter than they are. She just stopped growing about three months ago, and is now at about 7in in length.
As far as getting ready for hatching, I have a 40 breeder and a 20L cleaned and ready. I ordered brine shrimp eggs, which should arrive on or before this Friday (Day 9 since laying).
Right now, I have a few questions:
Should I move the plants/eggs before hatching to a larger tank so I don't have to move them once they hatch? I know that it's best to have a very low water level, so I'm assuming that's a no...
What is a safe way to move the babies? Are they hardy as hatchlings?
What is a good water temp for the babies?
And, do I sound like I have everything under control? I'm in a state of excited frenzy, and I imagine this is how a new parent would feel in the days before their little one arrives :crazy:
Thank you, in advance, for any advice and well wishes you guys have to offer!
-Haley