Axolotl

Feeding

Artemia (Brine shrimp eggs)

Brine shrimp eggs are metabolically inactive and can remain in total stasis for two years while in dry oxygen-free conditions, even at temperatures below freezing. This characteristic is called cryptobiosis meaning "hidden life" (also called diapause). While in cryptobiosis, brine shrimp eggs can survive temperatures of liquid air (−190 °C or −310.0 °F) and a small percentage can survive above boiling temperature (105 °C or 221 °F) for up to two hours.

Once placed in brine (salt) water, the cyst-like eggs hatch within a few hours. The nauplii, or larvae, are less than 0.5 mm in length when they first hatch. Brine shrimp have a biological life cycle of one year, during which they grow to a mature length of around one centimeter on average. This short life span, along with other characteristics such as their ability to remain dormant for long periods, has made them invaluable in scientific research, including space experiments. This ability has also enabled the use of a hybrid of brine shrimp, bred to grow larger and live longer, as Sea-Monkeys.

Artemia Hatching Preparation: Protocol for 15 Ltr.

Switch on the bubbler.
Take the warm water from the tap and fill it into the container, meanwhile add 325 ml volume of salt (Red Sea Coral pro Salt), when the 15 Ltr. container is filled up the salt should be dissolved already.
Switch on the heating. And make sure that the light on the top is on ☺ Add 50-60 ml full of dried artemia (Stored at 40C) to this.

Hatching preparation

• The following protocol is considered for 15 l solution.
• Switch on the bubbler.
• Take the warm water from the tap and fill it into the container, meanwhile add 325 ml volume of salt (Red Sea Coral pro Salt), when the 15 Ltr. container is filled up the salt should be dissolved already.
• Switch on the heating. And make sure that the light on the top is on.
• Add 50-60 ml full of dried artemia (Stored at 40C) to this.

Keep it like this for 2 days with aeration. And >200 Lux of light.
Usually they hatch within few hours but It is good to keep for 2 days to achieve a good hatching.
During these two days temperature can be 18°-20°C.
Make sure hatching container is not getting clogged during these two days.

Interesting observations

Below you can find the list of observations along with the name of the person who did the observation.

Person	Description	Date
Prayag Murawala, Dunja Knapp	Axolotl epidermis moves continuously from the shoulder to the finger tips.	19.02.2013