Help!, Paddletail laid eggs!

[keechoo]

My paddletail laid eggs in a bunch of plants she is fond of. She is staying very close to them and fans her tail whenever I approach. I'm thinking this is her way of telling me to back off. Do I leave the eggs in there with her or do I take them out and try to raise them?

[Shadow]

I don't have paddletails, but she probably is telling you to back off. If you want to keep eggs in with your paddle tail, it's up to you. Just make sure you do not have a filter or pump that might suck the larvae.

[keechoo]

I was away for a couple of weeks due to an unexpected death in the family and when I returned the eggs were gone. Oh well.

[Shadow]

Sorry for your loss. It is always sad to lose someone.

On the other hand, your paddletails eggs probably hatched or were eaten. That is all I can think of. Try looking very closely in the water.

[keechoo]

I'm sure they were eaten.

[Shadow]

That sucks.

It is never good to have the eggs eaten!

[keechoo]

Okay, someone has laid eggs again but I'm not sure who or whether they are even viable. They are clear sacks with white centers. Two clutches were laid on two different plants. I took them out and put them in a separate holding tank to see what happens. I'm not holding my breath but am keeping a close eye on them to see what happens.

[Shadow]

Make sure they are not getting sucked up by a filter (a sponge filter on a slow intake is good). It is good to keep an eye on them, they die easily when they are young.

Congrats!

[keechoo]

I have them in a tank without a filter. i decided to try it the same way I hatched green tree frogs last year. I've always believed in trial and error and since this is the second time laid within a month I'm thinking I'll be getting plenty of chances. I'm not even sure if they are fertile.

[Shadow]

Thats a pretty good tactic. Best way to learn is trial and error!

[keechoo]

Today I have noticed some of those really tiny eggs have developed little brown dots instead of the white I had mentioned before. So, now my hopes are being raised that I might have some fertilized embryos to deal with.

[Shadow]

Congrats! Be sure to read up on the needs of embryo/tadpoles!

http://allaboutfrogs.org/info/tadpoles/
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/pond-dip/tadpoles.htm
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/frogsandtoads/a/tadpoles.htm
http://frogs.org.au/vfg/features/tadpoles.html
http://www.yptenc.org.uk/docs/factsheets/e...n_tadpoles.html

Hope I've helped you out!

[keechoo]

Thanks for the links. I have been reading, believe me. During feeding time today I was studying the tank closely and found more eggs laid on a rock under water. Whoever is doing it is doing a little at a time.

One entire clump is now fertilized. I think it took awhile to notice fertilization because I discovered them so early and I have them in a cool tank. From what I've read it is better to have them in a cool tank. Have you read anything to contradict this?

[keechoo]

And now there are babies! They are extremely tiny and are hanging on the tank and plants so I am positive they are FBTs. Now, I just have to wait to see whether they are Russian or Oriental.

[Shadow]

Sweet!! Keep us posted on their growth. Any pictures yet, or are they too small for a good shot?

[keechoo]

Much too small for a good shot. I would descibe them as really tiny, tiny dragonflies. No more than a milimeter in length.

[Shadow]

That is quite small! What do you expect to do with them? Do you have enough housing?

[keechoo]

I have a 56 gallon tank so right now I have enough room. If they do survive and I have too many, I'll see if the local pet store by me wants them. I'm on very good terms with them since I'm there twice a week for crickets.

[Shadow]

Thats excellent to know! As long as your froglets (I like that name) have a place to live, then everything is great!

What are you feeding them at the moment as well as what do you plan to feed them when they are starting to emerge (land based yet quite small) assuming you don't have crickets small enough?

[keechoo]

Right now they are living off all the algae in the tank. there is plenty...the snails don't do that great a job. If I can't get pinhead crickets then I will also try wingless fruitflies and aphids.