HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Sorry to bore everyone with my Aqausaur stories, but one of them has molted!...i was just checking them out and on the bottom of the tank was a exact replica of one of the aquasaurs...except it had no color...it was see through like glass!....i had read that they molted, but i didnt expect it now...i know they only have a very short life span...and if i'm calculating it correct, they have been living for about a month or so...i read they only live for up to 90 days... Anyway, i thought i'd share my big news!..lol

I was hoping to find you a longer life span for the cute little critters and I ran across this site: http://www.billabongbugs.com/about.htm. I was so excited until I realized that 12 weeks was about 90 days. It does seem sad that they don't have much time. I always feel badly for the animals that don't understand their time is so limited. They seem so happy and oblivious.Well anyway, the molt sounds cute. I guess they have to molt pretty quickly considering that time is of the essence.

Nicole, what a great site!!...i think i have a male and female because one of them has egg sacs like in the picture on the site...thats pretty exciting!!..thanks again!

I'm glad you liked the site. I liked the sound effects, too. I thought this part was neat, too: "Here is the easiest way to produce a second generation of Billabong Bugs: When the last Bug has completed its life cycle it will have left behind some eggs in the sand. Instead of drying the sand out, which takes time, the best thing to do is to place the container in a dark, cool spot for at least two weeks. And then place the container in a warm area next to lamp, following the instructions for when you first set your bugs up. We have had many customers who have told us this has worked for them and some are now on their fourth generation."I think that would be really neat if it worked; it wouldn't seem so tragic if you could keep the tank going.

I had something like this happen! I was a little slow to pour out the water after my favorite Triops Atilla died, and thank goodness I gave it a good look before finally dumping it, because lo and behold B-Tilla and C-Tilla were swimming in there ...