HCA: Hermit Crab Association

GotButterflies wrote:I’m sorry- I laughed so hard at your heart attack comment! you have to do what you feel comfortable with!

Haha these darn things give me daily heart attacks!

So I’m at day 12 and I’m seeing “wings” on some of them. Any idea what stage this might be? I didn’t see anything comparable in the other threads on here.

I had to go to work, but I counted at least three Megalopa this morning! Finally!

Woo hoo!!! Awesome!!! Sounds like you are doing great!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh, wow!! That's fantastic!!

Ahhhh I'm really hoping everything goes well. They're so cute!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Any updates? Would love to see pictures!!!

GotButterflies wrote:Any updates? Would love to see pictures!!!

Once the first ones started changing to megalopa it was like a chain reaction. I only have two zoeae that aren’t megalopa now. But these things love attacking each other, so I’m down to just a few overall.

Good news is at least one megalopa has become very aware of its butt and started trying on some shells tonight (well, it put its head down in the shell with its rear sticking straight up out of it, but I guess that’s progress). Probably a sign that I need to stop slacking on the transition tank, just in case...

Oh my gosh!!! That is awesome!!! You are doing great!!! Looks like a little lobster!! Congratulations!!!!!

Mama crab has been acting rather suspicious the past few days and sure enough she has a new batch of eggs and they look about ready for the drop. I told them no more breeding this year! Lol

Unfortunately, I’m going to be out of town more than I’m home the next month so a second attempt isn’t really feasible right now.

Sounds to me like you need to cancel your plans!!!

Edit: I mean...come on...where are your priorities? LOL!!! You have a crabbing community to support here!!!

GotButterflies wrote:Sounds to me like you need to cancel your plans!!!

Edit: I mean...come on...where are your priorities? LOL!!! You have a crabbing community to support here!!!

Haha somehow I feel like my boss wouldn’t understand “My crab is pregnant and I need be the surrogate for the next month.”

Well bad news. I had to leave for a 2.5 day trip for work. Before I left I moved the final surviving megalopa to a transition tank. He seemed active in there and was trying on shells when I left. When I came back he was out of the pool without a shell and dead. It really looked like a crab though! The body was orange and the abdomen was a dark pink color. He almost looks alive but there’s zero movement. RIP little Spartan crab.

It was a good run. Maybe I’ll try again someday.

Pic of last crab before transition tank


Attempt at transition tank

I am so so sorry! You got so stinking close.

Aww, no!

Bummer! I’m so sorry for your loss! You did so awesome at this attempt! Really!!! <3 Be proud of what you accomplished and please also tell us what you did to make it this far!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk