HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So my crabs have been doing this:

For a couple weeks now. There were about 6 males pursuing 2 females. Two medium females and one large, two medium and three small males. All PP's.

This female is the one who gave me some babies last year. Her name is Big Mamma.


And check this out. I think the arrow is pointing to the uh...fertilizer. I think I interrupted her. She was hanging onto it with her gill grooming claw.


And this female was being guarded last year, but went down to molt right at the wrong time. But she was up this year! Her name is Catatonic (Cat for short).



I know Gangsta is the father of Cat's, but I am unsure as to the father of Big Mamma's. Both Moose and a recent rescue crab were squabbling over her, and then Gangsta joined in after Cat, so I dunno. I got some awesome crab fight on video. Just shoving, no pinching or anything.

Anyways! Crossing my fingers for babies! Hope they are fertilized! I'll keep this thread updated.

I added a large salt water pool (had to downsize my pools recently) since I expect both may drop their eggs very close to the same time as each other and I want to try to keep the babies alive for as long as I am in town. A bigger SW pool would keep them alive longer in case I don't notice them for a few hours.

Very happy right now.

Dude that is so awesomeeeeee. It's crazy to think that when I started crabbing I thought hermies couldn't breed but lo and behold, here's the photographic evidence to prove otherwise! Hopefully you get some actual hermit crabs outta this.

TWO???????????????????????????????

All Hail Wolf - High Queen and Illustrious Ruler of the Crabbers!
Seriously, this chick is pure magic.

So cool, congrats on the eggs!

CONGRATS That is absolutely amazing & talk about a lot of eggs
I love how you referred to what the arrow is pointing at as the "fertilizer" My daughter said "oh my gosh, did you see all those eggs?! What's she gonna do w/all those babies?"
I have a few questions, if you don't mind...
Is there something in particular, special or different that you do in order to get them to breed?
Any idea why the eggs are different colors...more orange on one & pink on the other?
If they're fertilized & hatch, what do you have to do to keep them alive/grow big enough to survive other than providing a SW pool?
How often are the females "available"?
Do you check for eggs regularly or only once you've spotted the "right" behavior?
Thanks for indulging my curiosity
Good luck and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say I can't wait to see babies!

Wow, Wolf, you are certainly doing things right if you have two with eggs!

That's pretty cool!

That's is pretty exciting that they have bred in captivity for you.

I know I've been out of the loop for a couple years but last I was aware, no one had successfully mimicked the ocean conditions to raise the babies successfully. There was a lady in Florida trying. Can't remember who or where but if I can find her site I'll send you the link.


Lizardlady
Formerly crablady4 (have more lizards than crabs now)
from my iPhone using Tapatalk

wow, congrats on the eggs! It is sooo exciting

So amazing. I can't wait to see what happens

You're the one who has had eggs hatch before, right?

That would be really cool to see!! Please, send a ton of pictures if you can!!

I'd love to add it to my online hermie scrapbook. =) I'll, obviously, put your name on them as well so that they know it was yours and not mine. XD

So, if they BOTH lay their eggs, you'll have...erm... enough to start a mini crab buisness. Hahaha.

So. Many. Eggs. O.O Hermit Crab tsunami.

Wow! I've had one female with eggs (back in the old days 2005/2006?) but she laid them in the freshwater, and at that time there was a sponge in it :-/ never again had one since then...but you have two!!! Glad they feel comfortable enough to get intimate in your tat! I'm jealous wolf! I want to be just like you when I grow up! haha!
Are you going to try to raise them?

So - what is the expectation for babies? If they make it, what will you do about finding itty bitty teeny weeny shells?

i've seen bags of tiny shells at Hooby Lobby and Michaels, i'm assuming they would work just great!