Ambystoma maculatum ( Breeding and Larval Development)

[Bellabelloo]

Once again I found myself looking through 'For Sale ' adds...and saw a couple of these advertised. Being weak willed, I could not resist.
These are a few years old, and I believe they have been happily fending for them selves in his greenhouse. I am not yet sure of their sexes. These will eventually be living outdoors.

 

[Azhael]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

Wow, those are some fat sallies xD
Don´t worry, Julia, if it´s any consolation, we all have the will power of a slime mold...
They look fantastic, and i think i see a pair! People have been having good success breeding these outdoors, so i can´t wait for you to show us their future breeding center.

 

[Neotenic_Jaymes]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

Once again I found myself looking through 'For Sale ' adds...and saw a couple of these advertised. Being weak willed, I could not resist.
These are a few years old, and I believe they have been happily fending for them selves in his greenhouse. I am not yet sure of their sexes. These will eventually be living outdoors.

The salamander in the upper part of the photo looks like a big girl for sure!

 

[Bellabelloo]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

Thanks gentlemen, I do hope they are a pair. When I first saw them I thought they where both the same sex, no idea which though. One is much chunkier than the other, but I wasn't sure if that was because it is greedier.

 

[grius]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

Of course you can't resist something that nice. Congrats Julia.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

I went to check on these three this afternoon and found one in its water bowl, which had a thin layer of ice. One of the others was by the bowl but ran for cover as soon as I took off the lid.

 

[Azhael]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

I´m not that familiar with ambystomatids, but looks to me like the pictures of breeding A.maculatum photos i´ve seen. I´m thinking male in breeding mode, Julia, you might want to offer a bigger water bowl!

 

[MarioR]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

Looks very good!
Normally they don't enter the water outside breeding season - so, breeding season started already

A layer of ice is no problem, but the water should be deeper them. It might be a problem when all the solved oxygen in the water is depleted.
It might be better to heat the water up to 3-5°C.

Regards,
Mario

 

[Bellabelloo]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

I went back later and added more water as I wondered if he had got trapped in there, but no, he had climbed out.I was hoping this was a good indication of potential breeding. I'll have another look tomorrow and hopefully he will be back. If not do you think it may be worth putting them in another tank with only water?

 

[Bellabelloo]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

A few days ago I found two of them back in water.....and look what I found today . This is me ----->

 

[Neotenic_Jaymes]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

This is greatness! I'm happy for you!

 

[Azhael]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

Congratulations Julia!! That´s fantastic!
I hope they develop nicely and that you´ll end up with many, many juveniles. The ranks of CB maculatum swell!! Muahahahaha!
Really, kudos to you, what amazing news

 

[twistedfisher]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

YAY julia

i got a pair last night i am hoping will lay for me

 

[TylototritonGuy]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

A few days ago I found two of them back in water.....and look what I found today . This is me ----->

This is amazing news Julia!!!

 

[Bellabelloo]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

Despite lots of staring and hoping, there has been no change in the eggs, it looks like the eggs are infertile.

 

[froggy]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

What a shame! Still, its a lot of progress getting eggs. Maybe next year with a bigger water area.....

 

[Bellabelloo]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

And as if by magic.....

 

[Bellabelloo]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

These eggs have caused me more trauma than anyone could imagine. I have thought they were infertile but I hopefully have a few that will now survive to hatching.
I would say all the eggs on the top of the mass failed to develop. The eggs would start and get to develop a tiny tail bud, then the stomach area would become white and the embryo appeared to dissolve from that area and the inside of the egg would become white.
A group of eggs towards the base of the mass looked like they would do the same, but I noticed over the last few days that the embryo had become more elongated. These are now just starting to move inside the egg.
The eggs are now 18 days old, kept indoors under a light for approx 12 hours and at approx 16 degrees.

 

[Azhael]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!!!!!!!!

 

[Bellabelloo]

Re: Ambystoma maculatum

I have discovered my camera has a zoom thing...so here is one of the eggs at 21 days old...if you look really hard you can see gills