Woohooo! Two females with eggs! Update P.6! BABIES! (PPs)

[wolfnipplechips]

I think what I'll do is put a drop in each bucket during water changes so that it won't be diffusing from concentrate in the main tank. I'll let you guys know how it goes. I'll also be filming a water change soon for reference if that sounds like a good idea? I just hate (hate hate hate) having my voice recorded, so I only want to do it if future babysitters think it might be useful.

The babies are like...all molting today. Stage 4!! So exciting! It's also their 2nd week birthday! I'm up early to feed them. I would be asleep otherwise.

[Nnnnnnnn]

How many babies do you still have?

[rane4102]

It's crazy that it has only been two weeks. The amount of time you have invested in this, and the excitement I think all of us feel for their futures makes it seem like this must have been going on for much longer. Congratulations on stage 4! Can't wait to see more adorable pictures
Also, I have no idea what the chances are that my hermit crabs will ever have babies, but if they do, I would very much appreciate a water change video

[wodesorel]

If you could post anything that would help for future baby raising endeavors, it would be so much! I'm already changing our plans completely based on your feedback! You don't even need to talk if you don't want to - you can do it all with captions.

I suddenly realized just a few minutes ago that it's been two weeks already. I wanted to hop on and go "Yay! Another birthday!"

[wolfnipplechips]

How many babies do you still have?

A lot. It's hard to be more specific than that. More than 100, less than 400.

That's true I could use captions. I just foresee captions going very quickly when I do stuff in quick succession. I'll have to learn some editing tips from my husband.

Feels like a lot shorter time for me. Probably because I'm always doing stuff time just flies.

[Skymall007]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRABBIES!!!!!!!!!!!! I would love a water change video just in case. Worry not about your voice, I am sure it only sounds bad to you. It is very common for people to dislike their recorded voice. I also hate mine. If you are very worried though, maybe you could do a voice change recording and do like a dracula voice or something.

STAGE 4!!!!! sO EXciting!!!

[Mamakins]

Happy birthday babies! Two weeks! That is some accomplishment. I, like the others check in here frequently for any updates. Your pics are amazing! Congrats on the new lens too!

My two cents in the flea issue. My two dogs have had their first dose of trifexis. We have had struggles with fleas over the last year as well. Two weeks after the first dose my one dog is not scratching at all. The second one still is a bit. He is still young so I will need to have a good look at him and see if it's still fleas or if he might have an allergy.

[Happy Crabber]

YAYYYY!!!! Happy Bday Crabby Babies!!!

Seriously- NO ONE likes the way their voice sounds on a recording. I'd say just do what is easiest. You've got lots going on. No need to worry about the small stuff.

[wolfnipplechips]

I think I'll hold off on the iodide. I added two drops when I did my water change, and I have a lot more than normal dying. Not saying the iodide did it, just that it's a suspect since that's one thing I did different. Still plenty living. The aquarium can play tricks on my eyes sometimes, so it's hard to know how many even relative to yesterday. And when they clump, it looks like a lot more than there really are. I don't know. Maybe just disregard any estimates I give you on numbers. I just know I have a good amount left! More than I expected. I was confident they would live for a few days, and here we are at two weeks, and they are growing so big! So I am happy about that.

Not sure if I will do a video. I imagined trying to hold a camera at the same time as changing the water today, and I couldn't really see a way it would be possible. It's just wet and messy, and I don't want to be responsible for dropping an $800 video camera in salt water. Maybe I could write something in words and have it on hand in case other peeps get babies so they can see what I did.

I'm starting to get freaked out about leaving them on Aug 6th. They're my babies!! I can't just LEAVE THEM! But then I remember my brother waiting for me. He's probably wondering where I am since I am usually there by now.

[Careyenz]

Your dog has so much character in his face. What a sweet guy. I can see why you want to spend some quality time. Hopefully you've trained your husband well in caring for the babies by now!

[kip.rogers357]

Such a handsome dog! Looks like Shadow from Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.

[wolfnipplechips]

He really is a great dog. I wanted to make a collage of all his expressions, but I don't know how. Kip, I used to love watching those movies! Sassy always reminded my of my aunt Laurie. hahaha.

Here are some pics. They are definitely moving into stage 4.

You can see the elongated tail spines, and the larger joint at the base of the second tail lobe.


Molting!

Their exo usually comes off in one piece, but occasionally, it will be 2 or 3.





Some are starting to get red spots.






Here are also some pics to help you guys get an idea of how many are left.


Mind the reflections.

I am going to start cleaning out tiny shells again today. It takes a long time to do since they are so small. I think the challenge will be trying to find where I put them. Too many shells in my apt. The weather sucks and the bugs are bad, so I'm stuck inside all day.

[Happy Crabber]

SO COOL! Stage 4, rock on, babies! They look so lobstery.

[Careyenz]

At what stage do they begin to take shells? Do you know how much longer you have to reach that point? If I'm not mistaken, Sojmad lasted 17 days with her babies, so you are well on your way to blowing away that record. What you are doing is really an inspiration to all of us!

[wolfnipplechips]

They do look lobstery. People on youtube keep accusing them of being shrimp. lol.

They take shells at stage 6. It takes about a month for them to go 1-5, so they should be in stage 6 in another week and a half maybe since they were hatched on the 13th this month. And once they are in stage 6, they will stay in that stage for another month. They may take shells about halfway through stage 6, and carry it around for a while before going into land to molt.

Yep, Sojmad did 17 or 18 days with the cup method. Hoping I can get them to however many days 30 years adds up to.