HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hey guys!

I have a mystery This morning when i went to freshen up my viola crabitat, I found (dead) zoea in the salt water. LOTS of zoea. The thing is, I have three violas in that crabitat, one is a medium male (from what I can see, I've checked him twice) and 2 are small (haven't checked if they're male or female). From what I've understood only large crabs lay eggs? Are they even hermit zoea?? I'm so confused right now lol





Luna, the biggest crab and also probably a male. The other two are more than half his size!

Can't see pics

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Let more of an expert on here about zoea say for sure. Mine have never had any, although I'm pretty sure one had eggs once. But they sure look like it. Makes sense since it left them in saltwater. From what I'v read its insanely hard to breed hermit crabs and keep the young alive.

Can't help. Just wanna say he's gorgeous!

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KTM200xc wrote:Let more of an expert on here about zoea say for sure. Mine have never had any, although I'm pretty sure one had eggs once. But they sure look like it. Makes sense since it left them in saltwater. From what I'v read its insanely hard to breed hermit crabs and keep the young alive.

I thought they looked like zoea too, can't really think of anything else it could be... But the crabs are so small! I hadn't even cosidered it to be a possibility right now.
Yeah, It seems to be really hard to breed them, I'm truly impressed by those who've succeeded! If these are zoea I may try to prepare myself for next time, even if it's hard it would be interesting to try it

daws409 wrote:Can't help. Just wanna say he's gorgeous!

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Awh thank you! He's my most colorful crab, such a beautiful purple

In salt dish? Pretty good chance they're zoea.

If your serious about breeding, check out curlz's blog...

And if you pm me, I might have a viola paper about larval rearing, I dunno. If you want me to look, I can see what I got.

Of course there's Renroc's fab thread too.

They look like zoea to me

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Sure looks like it! I'm tagging @Renroc - she's great at replying! Are all of them deceased?


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Yes, they were in the salt dish. I discovered them too late, there wasn't any movement that I could see. Even if they'd been alive I wouldn't have been able to care for them right now, as I don't have the equipment and knowledge that would be needed...

Anyways, I guess my setup is to their liking then! I'll definitely read everything I can find about breeding these guys, and try to prepare myself for the next time!


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LadyJinglyJones wrote:In salt dish? Pretty good chance they're zoea.

If your serious about breeding, check out curlz's blog...

And if you pm me, I might have a viola paper about larval rearing, I dunno. If you want me to look, I can see what I got.

Of course there's Renroc's fab thread too.

Thanks! You'll get a pm, and I'll definitely read the blog and thread suggested

I have to check the gender of the two small ones, but my guess is that Splinter here is the one that had the eggs.. Look how small she is!

Well, regardless, it's very exciting! Hopefully you can get setup so the next time it happens you can rear them! Congrats on the breeding!

GotButterflies wrote:Well, regardless, it's very exciting! Hopefully you can get setup so the next time it happens you can rear them! Congrats on the breeding!

Thank you It was very exciting indeed! I don't know when it will happen again, but I'll make sure to be properly prepared by then

Just realized I forgot to actually link curlz's page...


http://curlz-crabs.blogspot.ca/?m=1