Hongkongensis morphs still not eating

[kerry]

My hongkongensis larvae started to morph about three or four weeks ago and don't seem to have eaten anything since. I'm aware that they don't usually eat during metamorphosis, but surely they should be hungry by now? They are all out of the water and crawling around on the sand. I've been trying to feed them on frozen bloodworm, both by leaving it out for them and offering it to them with tweezers, but they've shown no interest at all. Any ideas?

 

[Jennewt]

Paramesotriton morphs have a reputation for being very difficult for exactly the reasons you have discovered: they are too shy to hand-feed, and they don't adapt easily to non-live food. Do you have any small live bugs available? Any healthy woodland areas near you? Any source of live food cultures, such as whiteworms or springtails?

 

[Ed]

If there is a local tropical fish club you can also check with them to see is any of the members are culturing white worms (Enchytraeus), Grindle worms, springtails or fruit flies.

Ed

 

[kerry]

Thanks both of you - very helpful! Where I live there is absolutely no live food available, but I've ordered some fruit flies over the internet. Hopefully they'll arrive alive in a couple of days. The fruit flies are described as 'flightless' but I'm still a bit paranoid they'll escape and infest my house! Do you have any advice about how to avoid that?

 

[ben_tajer]

If they are flightless, putting a little dish with water in it should effectively immobilise them. A lot of Zoos use water to keep their ants from escaping.

 

[fishkeeper]

No need to worry about the FF's. If they escape(which to be honest is going to be almost impossible to prevent when feeding)...they will die in a day or less. You can put out a small dish of vinegar for them to go into and drown.

 

[rigsby]

Hi Kerry..if you contact pollywog and order some pheonix worms they live for around a month and will be just right for your little uns..