Egg! What Now?

This area is dedicated to the pioneers who have captive bred crabs, and for those who wish to learn more or attempt it themselves. Also for inquiring about the gender of your crabs.
User avatar

rml6f4
Posts: 168
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:47 pm

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by rml6f4 » Tue Jul 17, 2018 2:36 pm

Any egg updates yet?

User avatar

Topic author
JoeHermits
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 2019
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:26 pm
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by JoeHermits » Tue Jul 17, 2018 6:22 pm

The eggs were still pink when I checked them Friday. I should check again soon, since I have the feeling that they may hatch any week now.

I’m still rushing to get the filter cycled. The freshwater bacteria boost did nothing (not surprised), so I’m pretty much cycling from scratch. My order of Seachem Stability just came today, so we’ll see if that makes a difference.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

Topic author
JoeHermits
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 2019
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:26 pm
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by JoeHermits » Tue Jul 17, 2018 7:27 pm

Eggs have gotten glossier. I wasn’t able to get pictures (Mama Crab scratched up my hand for my efforts. Man those leg spikes are sharp), but they may be beginning to form black eyes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

soilentgringa
Posts: 4352
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2014 5:18 pm
Location: Dallas, TX

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by soilentgringa » Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:38 pm

JoeHermits wrote:Eggs have gotten glossier. I wasn’t able to get pictures (Mama Crab scratched up my hand for my efforts. Man those leg spikes are sharp), but they may be beginning to form black eyes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Best of luck!

Sent from my LGMS550 using Tapatalk

User avatar

Topic author
JoeHermits
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 2019
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:26 pm
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by JoeHermits » Fri Jul 20, 2018 3:14 pm

GAH! They’re already gray! The eyes are small but they’re there. I don’t have much time before they hatch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

wodesorel
Tech Support
Tech Support
Posts: 10552
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:49 am
Location: Leetonia, Ohio
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by wodesorel » Fri Jul 20, 2018 5:39 pm

Woo! Good luck!

You may have a week left if you're lucky, but yeah, they might drop anytime now.
Want to see all my crazy pets? @waywardwaifs on Instagram

User avatar

GotButterflies
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 7242
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:56 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by GotButterflies » Sat Jul 21, 2018 10:12 am

That is awesome!!
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

User avatar

Topic author
JoeHermits
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 2019
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:26 pm
Contact:

Egg! What Now?

Post by JoeHermits » Sat Jul 21, 2018 3:54 pm

The Kreisel’s up and functional. The filter and heater are in another container right now. I’ll throw those in before the larvae are added, most likely an hour before or so to get the water to the right temperature.Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

Topic author
JoeHermits
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 2019
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:26 pm
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by JoeHermits » Thu Jul 26, 2018 9:01 pm

Just checked Mama Crab. Her eggs are gone.

I turned the tank inside out looking for them. I don’t know if all of them could possibly be eaten that quickly, but they’re gone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

wodesorel
Tech Support
Tech Support
Posts: 10552
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:49 am
Location: Leetonia, Ohio
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by wodesorel » Thu Jul 26, 2018 9:17 pm

Nooo!!!! I am so sorry. :cry:
Want to see all my crazy pets? @waywardwaifs on Instagram

User avatar

GotButterflies
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 7242
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:56 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by GotButterflies » Fri Jul 27, 2018 8:46 am

I am so sorry to read this! :worry::
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

User avatar

Topic author
JoeHermits
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 2019
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:26 pm
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by JoeHermits » Fri Jul 27, 2018 11:37 pm

Makes me wonder if I should try isolating berried females. Not ideal, but it would make it easier for me to catch them if they drop the eggs where they shouldn’t.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

Topic author
JoeHermits
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 2019
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:26 pm
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by JoeHermits » Sat Jul 28, 2018 12:06 am

Just found the eggs. I dropped a few into the saltwater dish. Only a few hatched to give me chubby, dead shrimp. Does that mean they’re immature? I thought they’d be slim.
ImageImageImage


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

Topic author
JoeHermits
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 2019
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:26 pm
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by JoeHermits » Sat Jul 28, 2018 12:53 am

Leaving them sit resulted in the shells dissolving away. They are now less fat and look more like zoea. They look like fetuses with their round heads. Are the heads supposed to be round and translucent when they hatch? I’m having trouble making out any features beyond the head, body, tail, and eyes. I don’t know enough about hermit crab zoea to tell if they’re too early or too late.ImageImageImage

Sorry for the poor quality photos. I’m taking pictures through a microscope with an iPhone camera.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

wodesorel
Tech Support
Tech Support
Posts: 10552
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:49 am
Location: Leetonia, Ohio
Contact:

Re: Egg! What Now?

Post by wodesorel » Sat Jul 28, 2018 1:25 am

This is exactly how mine came out, even when I got the female to release in water. They were balled up, and while alive and twitching, they were not able to float on the current. I'm assuming it's a gestational issue with PPs and havr wondered about them being premature/overcooked as well. Healthy zoea are much more shrimp-like - my Es dumped zoea once, though I didn't get to them in time, and even dead they looked the same as other people's live zoea.
Want to see all my crazy pets? @waywardwaifs on Instagram

Post Reply