Pseudobranchus a. axanthus eggs

[edward]

Well I got a partially good surprise from my dwarf sirens tonight when I started to clean thier cage. I found a couple of clutches of infertile eggs, it would have been better to get fertile eggs but it is a start in the right direction.
Here is a picture of some of the eggs, note the white tint to the eggs.


Ed

 

[mark]

Interesting to see, Ed, I don't know that I've ever seen a picture of siren eggs before. Are these your personal Pseudobranchus or are they property of the zoo?

 

[edward]

Hi Mark,
these are from mine at home. Work sent thiers to another Zoo early last year.

Ed

 

[mark]

Good luck breeding them, it'd be nice to see an individual hobbyist have success with these guys. Have you observed any courtship behaviour thus far?

 

[jennifer]

That's awesome, Ed! I hope they're fertile next time.

 

[edward]

Hi Mark,
I had observation at work (published in the first CC journal) but not at home so far. Maybe I'm not watching them enough.....

But they seem to respond to the same conditions as when I was breeding them at work, 72 F and a 12/12 photoperiod and an abundence of food. There was always a fair number of infertile eggs at work in each clutch so I have some hope the male will figure out that he has to follow around and fertilize the eggs.

Hi Jen,
I'm happy to see it happening. If its anything like at work, then once they settle down I should get a couple of clutches a year (my basement is not quite as stable as the cold area at work).

Ed

 

[edward]

Well I got back from IAD on Sunday and started doing water changes etc on Monday night and found another clutch of eggs from the P. axanthus axanthus. This one does appear to have some good eggs in it as I can see signs of early division in a couple. They are pretty algae encrusted so the pics won't come out too well.
I may get some more eggs as one of the other females is looking pretty heavy bodied.

Hopefully I'll get some to raise this year.

Ed

 

[nate]

That's fantastic, Ed. Sure hope a bunch are fertile.