Thursday, 2 August 2012

Egg Intervention

The four babies are alive and well, and apparently enjoying their life of luxury, being individually hand fed small pieces of blood worm off the end of a cocktail stick. They have gradually gained names over the last few days: Wiggles, Heidi, Precious and Peekaboo. I am much less worried about them, now that I'm observing them suck up their tiny pieces of blood worms like spaghetti! Unfortunately two of the larvae still in eggs were definitely declared dead today (RIP). Out of concern for the welfare of the remaining three that I can see in their eggs, I decided to take the risk of trying an egg intervention. I gently pierced an egg and freed the baby axolotl within. This late comer appears to be ok, and is swimming around, but has only been 'born' for about two hours. I will watch to see how this one, (promptly named 'Poppy' by my daughter/assistant midwife) fares. Is it appropriate to perform an egg intervention? If Poppy survives, I may try to free the other two, rather than risk them much longer.
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6 comments:

  1. Anonymous2 August 2012 at 14:31

    How big are the babies?

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    1. Unknown3 August 2012 at 05:22

      Hi, the babies are approximately 14mm long today,at six days old.

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  2. Vicki blackberry2 August 2012 at 14:34

    How did you know to pop the egg?

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    1. Unknown3 August 2012 at 05:45

      Hi Vicki, I have never raised baby Axolotol from eggs before, although Nessie is the second adult I have had. I have done a lot of reading about Axolotls, from both the library and online. By far the most valuable source of Online information I have found is at Caudata.org My other reason for popping the egg, was just that I've seen puppies (dogs) being born, and once I saw an owner break open the sac to free one, when the mother wouldn't. So I thought I'd just give it a go! I wish I had broken all three eggs, because today I got another baby out, who appears well, but sadly the last baby/larva in an egg had died. From this experience I wouldn't wait so long again.

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  3. Anonymous2 August 2012 at 16:22

    I have never heard of these fish before, can I get one in Tasmania?

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    1. Unknown3 August 2012 at 05:58

      I'm sorry I don't know about Tasmania. I am in Western Australia, and I know they are definitely in Queensland also. I must point out that Axolotl (although often called Mexican walking fish) are not fish, but amphibians!

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