Egg! What Now?

[JoeHermits]

That’s disheartening. I still have a few more eggs, so I guess I’ll keep hatching them for the next few days. Probably won’t change anything.


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[JoeHermits]

Also, I was under the impression that the eggs hatched immediately upon contact with saltwater. These things are taking ten to thirty minutes to hatch. Is that a normal hatching time?


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[JoeHermits]

Just checked the ones from last night. Some of them are twitching, so they’re definitely alive, but they can’t really move around.


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[wodesorel]

This is a video one of our admins took years ago of her PP releasing zoea: https://youtu.be/C49NexWTIFM

Mom is supposed to launch them, and then the current takes them and keeps them moving at all times. The eggs should pop as soon as they hit water, but they might need the water movement to help with that. They are not able to free-swim - they stay in the water column by riding the current.

If they are settled at the bottom there may not be enough water movement to keep them elevated.

[mjjluver]

Good luck! The photos give us a real good look at them

[JoeHermits]

Hatched more eggs today. These hatched much more readily and look more developed. But they’re dead.

I may have hatched them too late. The eggs look like they’ve lost moisture, and the larvae have green around their eyes.


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[JoeHermits]

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[GotButterflies]

Awe man - great pictures!!! I'm sorry that they didn't make it!! Where did you find them? Are anymore of your females carrying?

[JoeHermits]

I found the eggs in the cholla next to the exercise wheel. None of my females are carrying right now, so I may have to wait until next year for a new batch.

Interestingly, the green has disappeared. Note sure if it was algae or mold or what. The deceased zoea look more normal colored now.

You can’t really tell from the photos, but this new batch has developed appendages on the heads and bodies and more prominent fins on their tails. The last batch lacked them. They are also less curled.

That’s why I’m wondering if I’m just hatching them prematurely. I have more eggs, so I guess I’ll hatch those in a few days and see if I can collect more data.


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[rml6f4]

Sorry about the bad luck with the eggs. Can I ask you where you got your Kreisel tube from? I was interested in building one but wasn’t sure where to find the tube.

[JoeHermits]

Sorry about the bad luck with the eggs. Can I ask you where you got your Kreisel tube from? I was interested in building one but wasn’t sure where to find the tube.

I made it from a five gallon water cooler jug. I cut off the top and bottom, sliced an opening along the side, and cut out a square that I epoxied micron mesh over.

My design is based off of another aquarist’s design. Here’s where he explains it:

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/s ... ank-Design

I’ve heard that one can also use an acrylic tube (carried by some hardware stores). That might give a better aesthetic and performance, but the jug is a lot cheaper.


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[rml6f4]

That is genius. And I’m all about cheaper options. Thank you!

[wodesorel]

I'm not sure if there is a way to properly incubate them once mom decides to drop them. She's going to be fluffing them and keeping them at proper humidity levels and temps.

[JoeHermits]

I’m not sure, either. The fact that they’re drying out only proves I don’t know what I’m doing.


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[wodesorel]

No, that's on momma crab for not delivering them to water like she is supposed to. Smearing them around the tank is not normal - either it's the effects of being in captivity, or she ditched eggs she knew were no good.