Axolotl eggs are small, jelly-covered spheres, often laid on plants, that start clear or white but develop a dark speck (the embryo) inside, gradually forming a bean-like shape with visible eyes and gills as they mature, changing color from white (albino) to brownish-black (wild type) depending on the parent's morph.
The first 2 weeks
Fertile axolotl eggs will "bean," meaning the embryo is developing. Once the eggs bean, they take about 14-21 days before hatching, depending on the temperature.
Your Axolotl will wrap its legs around a plant or surface it is laying on, and commence the laying process. An adult Axolotl can lay between 50 and 1000 eggs at each spawn.
Once you notice that your axolotl is laying eggs, she can take up to 24 hours before she has laid them all. Then you have to remove the eggs from the tank. This can be done by hand as the eggs are really tough and have a slimy coat to prevent you from breaking them.
Though not well studied in the wild, it's thought females can lay hundreds or even more than 1,000 eggs several times a year, under good conditions. Large clutch sizes may aid the recovery of axolotl populations, if Xochimilco's water quality can be improved and invasive predators removed.
Egg-laying takes place between 12 and 72 hours later. Up to 1,500 axolotl eggs may be deposited individually on the aquarium decor. Plants will be used if available. Remove the eggs or the adults as soon as egg-laying has finished, because axolotls are not averse to eating their own eggs.
Keep out of direct sun light with at temperature around 20c. At room temperature your spawn will hatch within about two weeks, so start thinking about getting some food ready for them. Tip: Introduce some daphnia to your tank as soon as (or before) you get your spawn.
When your axolotl is sick, stressed, or injured, room temperature can actually make things worse. The fridge method helps them heal by slowing down their metabolism and reducing bacteria growth — giving their body a chance to recover.
At 1 year of age, axolotls are ready to make some babies. Females can lay between 300 and 1,000 eggs. The mating season is between March and June when water temps are stable.
Their tanks require weekly water changes, and they must be fed directly, as just dropping in food will not work. Their waste also needs to be removed manually, often with a tool like a turkey baster. Well-cared for axolotls will have a lifespan of up to 10-15 years!
On finding eggs, we must decide if they are to be removed, or the parents are to be removed and the eggs left behind. Many first time breeders opt for the latter choice, but axolotl eggs are quite tough, so the eggs can usually be removed from a tank and moved to another without issue.
Newly hatched axolotls should be fed live brine shrimp. Due to their size, it is essential to use live brine shrimp instead of frozen. Feed them two to three times per day for the first few weeks. and be sure to clean any leftovers.
How to cull eggs when breeding happens accidentally? Gather the eggs from the aquarium or tub into a container and place them in the freezer, be sure to not fill your container to the top, it will expand and break. Leave eggs in the freezer for 3 days and then dispose of them. How to breed axolotls?
They do not turn into salamanders, ever. If you have an Axolotl and not a mud puppy, then with proper care they should never morph. Rare occasions they turn into buffalo. But it's really rare.
Adult axolotls over about 7.5 inches only need to eat every two to three days.
You generally shouldn't touch axolotls because their skin is very delicate and sensitive, easily absorbing oils, chemicals, and bacteria from human hands, which can cause infections or irritation. Handling also stresses them out, damages their protective slime coat, and weakens their immune system, making them prone to illness, so it's best to observe them or use a soft net for necessary movements.
Their ideal environment will be in the vicinity of 15–18°C. If the water temperature rises and maintains above 24°C (e.g., during hot spells in summer), axolotls will present with clinical signs ranging from inappetance, ascites and uncontrollable floating.
When it comes to axolotl eggs, there's a secret only the keenest eyes notice. Fertile eggs usually look darker in the middle with a tiny dot, almost like a little bead inside. Infertile eggs, they stay clear or turn cloudy and white over time.
Bare-bottom aquariums are not ideal for axolotls because they do not provide them with anything to grip. This can cause unnecessary stress and even sores on the end of their toes. Gravel is also not ideal because it can be easily swallowed and lead to an impaction that they may not be able to pass.
I've read that they can hatch in less than 14 days if kept at a warmer temperature (up to 25°C), but I'd love to hear about your actual experience.
Filters for your axolotl tank are necessary to keep your pet healthy by removing waste and providing good bacteria that break down harmful waste chemicals. Because axolotls absorb water and oxygen through their skin, they are especially sensitive to poor water quality, making the right filter essential to their health.
As a pet owner, you might as well know that axolotls tend to eat their own. They are, after all, predatory, and they could feast on the smaller or younger population of their kind. Hence, it's generally not recommended to put two or more axolotls together if you are a new pet owner.
Once the axolotls reach 2-3 inches in length, their front and hind legs should be fully developed, and they will have outgrown their cannibalistic phase, allowing them to be reintroduced to the same tank.