My Straw (Perlatus) baby thread

[CrabbyMom33]

Sorry to hear none of the megalopa made it. You have learned a lot and shared it with everyone else. Good luck on the next batch!

[lefty]

i am sorry you gave it your all and then some. was inspired by this thread thanks for all . we are rooting for you in pennsylvania!

[naalide]

So sorry about you megalopa.

But my fingers are still crossed for the new larvae!

[KittyKatt]

I was talking to my husband about this and I think one thing we need to see is someone with an established saltwater reef tank try to raise some babies... it will have all the algea and bacteria good and going. I think it would be worth a try for those who are getting eggs to set one up.

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[Curlz]

a breeding experiment in a running salt water (reef) aquarium is not successfull. Too many natural enemies. Algae, sand, stones cannot be cleaned daily. They need soo many food, that the reef tank will get bad.
Stream equipment will suck the larvae so that they will get damaged.

In my own experiments (8) and with the experiments of sea water animal breeders (shrimps, crabs, seehorse etc) a 'clean' (steril) tank is the best option.

Kuza has done it all perfectly!
But it is not easy.
I do not know what I did right in my successfull project... all other tries were not successfull, even they were nearly done the same way.


@ Kuza: keep on trying!
Keep the jars clean. Keep constanly salt water density and temperature
feed freshly hatched artemia (nothing else) at larvae stages
When they are in the megalopa stage: feed (fresh and pure) frozen krill or mysis or brine shimps, eventually some algae pellets specially for crabs and nothing else.

all other things ... are "God only knows"

*fingers crossed for the new larvae*

[wodesorel]

I was talking to my husband about this and I think one thing we need to see is someone with an established saltwater reef tank try to raise some babies... it will have all the algea and bacteria good and going. I think it would be worth a try for those who are getting eggs to set one up.

Keepers have successfully raised marine hermit crabs this way, but it's mainly pure luck on if a few survive. The filtration systems needed to keep a reef healthy will destroy anything free-floating.

[kuza]

ya the food in the megalopa stage can be very tricky, I would miss 1 little piece of mysis or krill somewhere in the jar and come back a few hours later and there is bacteria all over he megalopa. So you have to be methodical about how long the food is in there and to make sure not to miss any when you come back to clean up. And sometimes the megalopa will still be holding the food so you can't clean it all up, yo have to come back later and see if they have let go. It's a lot more difficult then you'd think.

[Careyenz]

Kuza, you're doing great! I can't wait to see how the next group goes. Curlz is right. This is all experimentation at this stage. Every step is a lesson at this point! I just know eventually it will all come together!


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[Nat_addicted to HC's]

Sorry to hear none of the megalopa made it. You have learned a lot and shared it with everyone else. Good luck on the next batch!

My thoughts exactly! well said CrabbyMom33!!

[kuza]

So there's a huge storm here and our power has gone off and back on twice already but it hasn't stayed off. What will I be able to do if the power goes out? The heat isn't a huge issue because our AC will go out with it ad it's summer here, but how am I going to make bubbles to keep the water flowing? I'd have to sit there with a turkey baster blasting air into each jar non stop

Maybe I could blow into the air lines, has anyone ever tried this before? I know the air pump preasure must be fairly low so I doubt it would be difficult, but I wonder if I'll pass out, lol.

[Nat_addicted to HC's]

I hava a generator for back up

[kuza]

We live in the city, there's never been a need for it before now. I'd look into getting one but this may be my last try so it would become useless again in a month.

I may try again next year but it's too much work with my kids to young to be doing this for more than a few months at a time. And I'd need a real k-tank to make things easier.

[kuza]

ok storm is gone and we didn't lose power. I do have faith in our power grid, phew!

And I got some pictures tonight of the fat little babies, they are nice and orange again just like last time. I have much less than last time but this is the 3rd time in a row she dropped eggs so I think she's had enough for the season. they are all starting to pre-molt dig so I think a mass molt is on it's way.

[Careyenz]

Keep up the faith, Kuza! I know its terribly hard work, but it will be so rewarding if they make it to land. You're doing a great job!!

[kuza]

My wife thinks after this try if I'm not successful, to just wait a few months then try again. So at least she's on board with it happening again. One of the main reasons I can't keep it up for long is she gets stuck with a lot of the house/kids work while I'm busy with the crabs.