<i>H. lichenatus</i> egg sac

[TJ]

This egg sac I received today from a friend who breeds this species:

<font size="-2">(ignore the egg sac partially seen in the bottom left corner as it's of another species)</font>

Unsure yet as to whether the eggs have been fertilized.

Here are some previous threads about H. lichenatis:

http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/37652.html?1129997855

http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/36404.html?1116671486

http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/35507.html?1115406847

http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/13445.html?1090601773

http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/17090.html?1087960088

http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/2541.html?1078774379

(Message edited by tj on March 15, 2007)

 

[TJ]

Most eggs were duds but a few are developing. I'll perform some some egg-extraction surgery this evening

<font size="-2">(there are only 3 embyros in the above photo)</font>

(Message edited by TJ on March 17, 2007)

 

[TJ]

The sacs were cut into smaller and smaller parts, with the dead eggs removed from around the viable embryos:

<font size="-2">the rough-textured surface is that of the egg sac, the smooth one is that of the eggs)</font>

Result: 5 out of 6 viable embryos were saved but carelessness resulted in 1 embryo being released from its egg.

(Message edited by TJ on March 17, 2007)

 

[ryan]

Good luck.

 

[cameron]

Good luck raising 'em!

 

[jennifer]

Wow, that's difficult work Tim. Good luck to the 5 lucky ones.

 

[TJ]

Thanks!

I found it more difficult to expel eggs from sacs laid by this species than with those of say H. tokyoensis or H. kimurae. Then again, it could be due to the condition of the egg sac. The contents of the sac did not roll out once the sac was cut. It was all very adhesive (for lack of a better word) inside. Perhaps next time I'll use a needle and syringe to extract the duds.

 

[TJ]

This hatchling appeared yesterday:

Unfortunately, it's the only one of the 5 that made it this far.

 

[TJ]

 

[ryan]

Oh no, I hope the rest make it.

 

[TJ]

Actually what I meant was that the other embryos didn't make it, they died, so there's only just the one

(Message edited by TJ on March 27, 2007)

 

[cameron]

Only one. How many eggs did you have?

 

[TJ]

 

[cameron]

Awesome luck. It's still alive.

 

[TJ]

Here is the same larva (there's only the one) as of April 25, 2007: