Axolotl Babies Play Dead Reflex.

[esoteric]

Hi, I can't find anything about this by doing a search and I thought it was worth mentioning.

I've only just started rearing axolotl larvae and my observations show that they definitely have a play dead reflex of some sort.

Thinking about it, in the wild, they're having to survive amongst bigger axolotls whose feeding reflex is triggered by motion, so what better way to increase their chances of survival than playing dead as soon as they feel threatened?

This reflex seems to decrease as the babies get bigger and stronger, but even after a couple of months I have individuals that still act dead, for anything up to 30 seconds after their daily water change or after their container receives an accidental jolt or even after a sibling knocks into them whilst feeding.

I just wondered if other people who have raised axolotls from eggs have noticed the same thing or if I have oddly cataleptic axolotl larvae.

 

[shoegal]

When you say "play dead," what do you mean exactly?

 

[esoteric]

When they play dead they literally stop moving, making absolutely no effort to escape a gentle nudge from a pipette and they simply float in the current if the water happens to be moving. They might lay on their sides or in some cases on their back and not move from anywhere between 10 and 40 seconds.. They don't however, curl up like real dead babies.

This isn't something that happens every time they are nudged or have their water changed and it's only one or two at a time from a tub of 6. I see it every day from the larvae less than 1 month old, and quite rarely now from the older ones. I did however notice a few of the older ones played dead at the weekend when I was re-organising the larvae, by size, into clean tubs.

I really have no concern for their health or wellbeing as they are thriving and I firmly believe this is a natural reflex - I'm going to be shocked if this is specific to my babies.

 

[Bellabelloo]

When I raised a batch I noticed the same behaviour.

 

[esoteric]

When I raised a batch I noticed the same behaviour.

I like you very much ... ty :happy:

 

[melfly]

Do you think its when they are sleeping?
Sometimes i've panicked and gently nudged...still nothing...another nudge, they shoot off like i've made them jump.
Mine sometimes float whilst doing the play dead/sleep thing.

Mel

 

[esoteric]

Definitely not asleep when it happens Mel.

It's most likely to happen when I'm scooping them up to place them in a clean container or when I'm thinning them out or putting them into a container of equal sized axie babies.

Imagine, I dip my spoon into the tub and slowly come behind an individual. The spoon is deep so the baby axie is gently pulled into it as water pours over the sides.

£1 well spent @ Home & Bargain​

I then tip the baby into a clean tub (water is of equal temperature and dechlorinated).​

This is when they play dead the most.​

However, when they are really small some play dead when I try to catch them. I've also seen some play dead if their tubs are knocked or at feeding time when the first drops of brine shrimp hit the water - there's a kind of domino effect where one baby knocks into another who knocks another etc. Before they are thinned down into plastic tubs this domino effect can go on for a good few minutes and invariably leaves a few individuals lying on their side or even their back, as still as death itself.​

 

[Bellabelloo]

Mine tended to do it at the same sort of time. They where kept in large shallow trays, which I would gently pour out the water and then top up. The first time I noticed I was mortified that I had killed them...I then did the same with the others ( that sounds pretty daft now I have typed this!!). By nthe time I got back to the first batch the majority seemed to feel happy enough to move.
I think your idea that it may be a self preservation action, may be the most likely reason.

 

[daniellog]

I'm raising some little ones at the moment and I have noticed this. If I try to scoop one up with a net sometimes they will play dead, that's until they go in the net and then they wriggle

I suppose in their natural habitat there will be a lot of predators out there wanting to eat them.

 

[Shizeric]

Try not to use a net, as it can damage their fragile limbs and gills. Your hand or a scooper like esoteric uses would be suitable.

 

[BethanyKate]

I recently got an axolotl that is nearly fully grown and he played dead today. So i think its more then just babies doing it. I accidentally scared him and then he wouldnt move for a while even after gently touching his side but he came good after a few minutes