HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Ok so I just got home from work and as usual I peek in on my clan as I normally do and I see my biggest crab titan who I've had over 2 years hanging more then halfway out of his shell, I found this odd as he has been very shy all this time so I get in for a closer look to discover that he is a she and has tons of eggs! That said as excited as I am to see that my conditions are good that they are mating im saddened by the fact that those eggs wont make it ... is there anything special I should do for her? Does a egg nursing crab need any special nutrition?

Congrats on a romantic tat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you is there anything different I should do for a nursing mother?

I would say just the usual stuff. Keep conditions right and offer a good variety of foods, especially protein and calcium. A very bittersweet thing when you find eggs/babies and know you can't raise them. :grouphug:

Thanks cala it does bother me tho if I could raise those eggs id probably need like 30 tats lol... trust me I always give my clan the best of everything and the fact they are mating shows me im doing a good job!

Congrats! It is a huge deal and compliment to you that this has occurred. You should be very proud of yourself.

Yeah.in all my years crabbing this is a 1st.

Congrats! It's a huge accomplishment, even if there isn't anything that can be done.

What will she do with the eggs since theres no ocean for her to go to?

She should drop them in the saltwater dish but don't be surprised if she drops them in the freshwater or on the substrate.

Ok ill have to keep a eye on the dishes then.... probably wont notice them on the sub and the isopods will probably eat them.

Well dont know where she dropped them but the eggs are gone.

I'm curious, what conditions do there need to be for the eggs to hatch? Is it possible to do in captivity?

Hermit-Yote wrote:I'm curious, what conditions do there need to be for the eggs to hatch? Is it possible to do in captivity?

This thread will interest you: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 67&t=92518.

As of right now it hasn't been done.