New Aussie breeding colony.

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.
Post Reply
User avatar

Topic author
Renroc
Posts: 516
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 6:42 pm
Location: NSW Australia

New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by Renroc » Sun Sep 06, 2020 7:58 am

A crabber not too far from me posted that she needed to rehome her 6 crabs on Saturday. When asked what sex they were she said 5 girls and one boy. I jumped at the chance to get some females. When I got there all the crabs were hairy and had recently moulted. However, the male and 2 females are smaller than my babies were at a year old so it will be a while before they are ready. They are in the juvenile tank along with Monster (until he surfaces from moult camp) and have been exploring and very active as well. It is like having babies again as they are so small. I will have to check the access to the pools again as these little guys have way smaller leg span and reach than Monster and Choco.

That still left me with 3 reasonable size females. I collected them and came home and took some ID photos and then added the larger 3 to my 4ft tank which now holds Caramel my largest male and Choco the small captive bred male.

These new crabs have been so active and out exploring. I have seen 2 of them take extended swims in the 7.5L cycled salt pool and one spent time hanging her shell in the 6L fresh pool by holding onto the edge just like people do when they are too lazy to swim.
There is a number of brown frowns in the salt pool today as well which means crabs were in there last night.

There was a bit of argey bargey between Choco and one of the new females last night but I tapped on the glass and they stopped. Choco has never encountered a female as he and Monster have been in a batchelor pad for the last 3 years.
Either Choco (I think) or Caramel have also changed shells into one of the new ones I collected with the crabs. That means I now have 3 in very similar shells. Lucky I got ID shots before I put them in.

It was great to see that the crabs can get into the new large pools as I wasn't sure they were readily accessible.

Maybe some babies this year but perhaps not until next season. We will see.
Crazy crab lady with 1 male raised in captivity who is now 7 yrs old (Dec 23) and a 2 females I've added from rehoming or adoptions to add to my breeding colony.

User avatar

Topic author
Renroc
Posts: 516
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 6:42 pm
Location: NSW Australia

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by Renroc » Sun Sep 06, 2020 8:05 am

I’ll have a white wine please waiter. This pool has a good spa and is a great temp. I think I’ll just chill here for a while.

Image

Walking around in the salt pool for 15minutes. Got out a different way than she got in so that’s good!
Image

“The facilities at this resort are pretty good. I’ll tell my friends” The salt pool has got some nice reef sand that squishes in your claws when you walk.
Image

Well they have made themselves at home overnight. Poop in the salt pool already.

Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Crazy crab lady with 1 male raised in captivity who is now 7 yrs old (Dec 23) and a 2 females I've added from rehoming or adoptions to add to my breeding colony.

User avatar

Topic author
Renroc
Posts: 516
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 6:42 pm
Location: NSW Australia

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by Renroc » Sun Sep 06, 2020 8:13 am

This is the new set up for the 4ft tank. 6L fresh pool on left with live plants a bubbler and a foam biofilter. Plants are in a bed of fine river gravel.

A 7.5L salt pool with a HOBfilter and rocks. It has reef sand on the bottom.

Both pools are supported on stands made from 25mm pvc pipe.

A new beaut light that can be programmed to gradually brighten and darken to simulate a normal daily rhythm.


Image


The fresh pool with plants. You can see the reflection of the LED light.

Image




The salt pool.

Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Crazy crab lady with 1 male raised in captivity who is now 7 yrs old (Dec 23) and a 2 females I've added from rehoming or adoptions to add to my breeding colony.

User avatar

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

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by GotButterflies » Sun Sep 06, 2020 5:06 pm

Hi Sue! Congratulations on your new crabs!! :)
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

aussieJJDude
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4998
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:12 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by aussieJJDude » Sun Sep 06, 2020 11:00 pm

This setup has been such a fun process to tsg along and see it getting set up. I'm amazed how it all turned out at the end, and those pools look amazing.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

|| Avid Aquarist Addict (2007) || Crazy Crabbing Connoisseur (2012) || Amateur Aroid Admirer (2014) ||

"She’s there, she’s upright, and she’s wigged" ~ Trixie
Infrequently on due to studies

User avatar

Topic author
Renroc
Posts: 516
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 6:42 pm
Location: NSW Australia

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by Renroc » Mon Sep 07, 2020 2:14 am

The crabs have been in and out of the pools so much in the last 2 days it has really surprised me
Crazy crab lady with 1 male raised in captivity who is now 7 yrs old (Dec 23) and a 2 females I've added from rehoming or adoptions to add to my breeding colony.

User avatar

RiNiKy506
Posts: 1257
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2018 5:08 pm

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by RiNiKy506 » Mon Sep 07, 2020 3:37 pm

So amazing! I hope you get lucky and get some breeding action this year, if your ready for it of course. ;) Your tank is amazing and I’m so glad they are settling in so well. Such little precious cuties! Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

Topic author
Renroc
Posts: 516
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 6:42 pm
Location: NSW Australia

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by Renroc » Mon Sep 07, 2020 5:05 pm

Yep I'm ready for it. Done it before and have 2 crabs who are captive bred. They are 3y 9mth old males plus I have another male so needed some girls.
Crazy crab lady with 1 male raised in captivity who is now 7 yrs old (Dec 23) and a 2 females I've added from rehoming or adoptions to add to my breeding colony.

User avatar

RiNiKy506
Posts: 1257
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2018 5:08 pm

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by RiNiKy506 » Mon Sep 07, 2020 6:44 pm

We’ll be rooting for you! :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

aussieJJDude
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4998
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:12 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by aussieJJDude » Mon Sep 07, 2020 7:32 pm

Renroc wrote:The crabs have been in and out of the pools so much in the last 2 days it has really surprised me
Shows whatever you've done, it was something right! Image

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

|| Avid Aquarist Addict (2007) || Crazy Crabbing Connoisseur (2012) || Amateur Aroid Admirer (2014) ||

"She’s there, she’s upright, and she’s wigged" ~ Trixie
Infrequently on due to studies

User avatar

mlakers
Posts: 494
Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2015 11:12 am
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Contact:

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by mlakers » Fri Oct 09, 2020 12:59 pm

So exciting! The tank looks great. I’m betting they’ll be making babies soon! 😁

User avatar

Topic author
Renroc
Posts: 516
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 6:42 pm
Location: NSW Australia

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by Renroc » Thu Apr 01, 2021 8:53 am

In the evening of day 18 I had one make a break for air. At 0030 on 2/4/21 I noticed it on the sand. Soooo close. Just one morph on land and it will be a baby hermit crab. I had all but given up as these last 2 survivors are way behind schedule. But it just goes to show nature runs to her own timeline. Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
In


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Crazy crab lady with 1 male raised in captivity who is now 7 yrs old (Dec 23) and a 2 females I've added from rehoming or adoptions to add to my breeding colony.

User avatar

crabbycasey
Posts: 768
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:23 am
Location: NC

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by crabbycasey » Thu Apr 01, 2021 11:43 pm

So tiny and precious...this is awesome!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

Topic author
Renroc
Posts: 516
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2015 6:42 pm
Location: NSW Australia

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by Renroc » Sat May 01, 2021 8:03 pm

Now have about 30 on Image
land and 23 in the water - from a lot that are a month after NutmegImage
Image
Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Crazy crab lady with 1 male raised in captivity who is now 7 yrs old (Dec 23) and a 2 females I've added from rehoming or adoptions to add to my breeding colony.

User avatar

CrabbyLover77
Posts: 3145
Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2019 11:30 pm
Location: PA
Contact:

Re: New Aussie breeding colony.

Post by CrabbyLover77 » Sun May 02, 2021 6:30 pm

Ahhh cute overload! Thanks for all of the updates. Baby crabs are exciting!

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

My Pets: 2 Pomeranians, 1 Russian tortoise, fishes/snails(40 gal freshwater aquarium), and 13 hermit crabs.
"Hunting is not a sport. In a sport, both sides should know they're in the game." -Paul Rodriguez-
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigBeausBouti ... form-mcnav

Post Reply