Artemis, Day 14 carrying eggs

[GotButterflies]

Hmm...do you think the water is getting to warm for them from the light? I wonder if only one light would be better. Maybe they like the bright because during this stage they would be going closer to shore? So many questions!!! Best of luck!!! Thanks for keeping us updated!!! Hang in there - you are doing awesome!!!

[Renroc]

Hmm...do you think the water is getting to warm for them from the light? I wonder if only one light would be better. Maybe they like the bright because during this stage they would be going closer to shore? So many questions!!! Best of luck!!! Thanks for keeping us updated!!! Hang in there - you are doing awesome!!!

Nat and I found that warmer temps sped up the development process. I tried to keep to a 16/8 day night cycle.


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[mlakers]

Day Twenty-three, Attempt #2

I'm posting early today because I have an author event this evening and I know myself well enough to know that I'll be too exhausted after that to make a coherent post.

There are still three survivors. One looks a bit sluggish. I actually thought it was dead this morning at 6am and almost didn't put it back into the water after it got siphoned up, but I did, because I am eternally hopeful, and now I see that it is still moving, so that was a good decision. What concerns me about this little guy is that each time the water pushes him to the bottom, he gets covered with the specks of food that are down there and they don't come off easily. But when he hits the bubbles, that sort of cleans it off for him.

Although I have (very cautiously) turned down the bubbles a notch because they seem to be interested in the bottom of the jar. I may turn the air back up before I leave (better to have them hungry and unable to reach food until I get home than to be caught in a dead zone and suffocating at the bottom). I also may put some shells in before I leave. Hard decision as shells do create all sorts of additional issues for me, and the last time they didn't get any interest.

I swear, I spend so much time doubting myself during this whole enterprise, it's really wacky. Everything is all so new, and it's so hard to know what to do, and they're tiny and moving quickly through the water, and WAIT! did that one just grab something out of the water???

That's what I thought happened about ten minutes ago when I was looking for signs of megalopa with my high-powered light and a magnifying glass. (Did I mention they are SOOOO tiny!?!) I was looking at one that I thought had arms and--for a microsecond--I was certain I had seen him grab a piece of food out of the water. I was so surprised I actually cried out, "Oh!" and then immediately tried to explain away what I thought I had seen. But you know what? To heck with that. I'm going to trust that unscripted, emotional, gut response that I had and believe that I saw what I saw. I can doubt my methods till the cows come home (it's uncharted territory after all) but when I start doubting what I'm seeing with my own two eyes?? Well, that's just stupid in a whole, new way. I'm still not confident enough to declare to the whole world that I saw one grab a piece of food with brand new claws, but I'm going to hold on to that tiny, spontaneous moment of surprise and delight in my own mind.

Keep thinking good thoughts, please. These little guys can use all the crabby mojo you've got.

[mlakers]

Day Twenty-four, Attempt #2:

Still have three survivors. Two are now at successful (so far) stage six. I've turned the bubblers down and added shells. I am watching them as I can, but it's a super busy week for me. Still doing 30% water changes as close to every three hours apart as I can manage in between everything else.

Pretty sure the one that isn't yet at stage six was the surprise straight-tailed survivor I found in the hexagonal tank which was kept at 78 degrees with less water movement.

Fingers crossed!

[Renroc]

You are doing great. Again I say think of it all as learning for the time you do succeed and get some all the way.
The one from the cooler tank may well be a little behind the others. Hope that they show interest in the shells and food on the bottom.


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[Happyhermiehome]

I just want to say Thank you for taking the time to share all this with us! Your Awesome!

[mlakers]

You are doing great. Again I say think of it all as learning for the time you do succeed and get some all the way.
The one from the cooler tank may well be a little behind the others. Hope that they show interest in the shells and food on the bottom.

Thank you, Sue! I am trying to think that way...but as I'm sure you know, it's also hard not to get attached to those ones that get sooo far.

[mlakers]

I just want to say Thank you for taking the time to share all this with us! Your Awesome!

You're welcome. Thanks for following!

[Sillysheep]

I just want to say Thank you for taking the time to share all this with us! Your Awesome!

You're welcome. Thanks for following!

I'd say I speak for many when I share with you, believe it or not, I feel the emotions also. You are such a good writer, when you have moments of deep emotion, like the excitement of the one just grabbing at the food, I feel it also. I feel the sadness and joy and fear and regret......

Your commitment to this is phenomenal. Very meaningful and unforgettable to me and I'm sure many others as well.

Really, prayers and blessings your way dear.

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[mlakers]

Day Twenty-five, Attempt #2

https://youtu.be/TN7lQINL3jc

This is the best image of the megalopa that I’m able to get. Wish it was better. But if you have a big screen and can pause the video and enlarge it, you can see the claws.

Just for reference, the first zoea to move down the left side of the jar is the one zoea still at stage five. It has a shape that is somewhat like a dolphin. The second one to come down the left side is a megalopa, and his silhouette is more like a hammerhead shark.

They're still doing fine. I'm doing 30% water changes every three hours and that's working well. The megalopa is either a little sluggish, or is favoring the bottom now that he has legs and claws. I'm assuming the latter, but a teensy bit concerned that it's actually the former. Time will tell.

[aprilmay]

I just want to say Thank you for taking the time to share all this with us! Your Awesome!

You're welcome. Thanks for following!

I'd say I speak for many when I share with you, believe it or not, I feel the emotions also. You are such a good writer, when you have moments of deep emotion, like the excitement of the one just grabbing at the food, I feel it also. I feel the sadness and joy and fear and regret......

Your commitment to this is phenomenal. Very meaningful and unforgettable to me and I'm sure many others as well.

Really, prayers and blessings your way dear.

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+100!!! so well said sillysheep! that's exactly how i feel! Great job mlakers! i love all your reports!

[mlakers]

Aww, you guys are the best!

[GotButterflies]

Wow...how did I miss your last couple of posts? AWESOME news!!! LOVE the video!!!! Keep up the great work!!!

[Happyhermiehome]

Ohhh neat...is that what I see that sorta of looks like a teeny tiny lobster in your video?

[mlakers]

Ohhh neat...is that what I see that sorta of looks like a teeny tiny lobster in your video?

Yup! That's it.