Artemis, Day 14 carrying eggs

[GotButterflies]

You've got this mlakers!! We are all cheering you on!!!

[KayedeeLove<3]

Mlakers
As was already stated, you are brilliant! With all that you have learned this trial, im sure you will make more next time or even have a few cute lil crab babies this time! You've gained at LEAST one fan from this! Thank you for all that you've done!

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[mlakers]

I used Hikari Tropical Fancy Guppy food. no ethoxyquin but it does have garlic. Aussie mega seemed to like it though.

Super helpful! Thank you. I won't worry so much about the ones with garlic.

[aprilmay]

Update: there are SIX hardy crab souls still alive and flopping. 300% better.

w00t!!!!

[mlakers]

Day Twenty-three.

This is the setup they've been in since Friday. I see the occasional swimmer but can't get a good count. So I could have one, or six, or I suppose even twelve, but I just have to let them do their thing now. I'll be sure and announce if/when I see a megalopa swimming around, but I'm not feeling particularly optimistic. Already thinking about what I'll do different next time I get the chance.

[Sillysheep]

This is incredible and exciting. wow

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[GotButterflies]

That looks AMAZING!!

[Happyhermiehome]

Tank looks really nice!

[ROSIEonFIRE]

Wow that looks great! Next time u r totally gonna pwn this whole thing.

[mlakers]

Day Twenty-four.

Saw a megalopa today! I'm almost certain it was dead, unfortunately, but it was SO different from the others! It had all these dangly legs and I couldn't believe how much bigger it was. It was floating and moved quickly away on the current in the tank. I caught a glimpse of it twice before it went behind the bubbler and I didn't see it any more.

The first time I saw it, I convinced myself that it must have been the carcass of a big brine shrimp, but the second time I saw it I realized what it was. I'm sad that it was dead, but delighted to know that at least one of the survivors was able to make it to the final zoeal stage. And there's at least one still at stage five in there.

I got so excited after I saw that I went to the pet store and bought a real lid and light for the five gallon, a good hydrometer, a fish fry isolator, a new filter I think I can modify to keep working and not suck up tiny babies, a gallon tank to try to engineer a better saltwater pool for the big crabitat, a long airstone, and some biological conditioner. No zoea can beat me!! (Just kidding. They all kicked my butt. But next time...!)

[mlakers]

Forgot to add: I may have more females carrying eggs. The two crabs that didn't have eggs before, but exhibited mating behavior around the last full moon, are now hanging together, staying in the warmest spots in the tank, and walking in the wheel a lot. These are all things the other females did when they were brooding, so we shall see. I don't have visual confirmation of eggs, so it's all just behavior-based conjecture. But it could happen. If I get a visual, I'll let you know, but both these females are in dark shells which makes it a lot harder for me to confirm eggs.

[NLindsey921]

I'm hoping for eggs. This is such an amazing thread.

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[wolfnipplechips]

MEGALOPA!!!! Yeeessss!!! And More eggs! You are going to get it. GET IT!!! I remember from my attempt, the biggest thing I got out of it was knowledge. Do's and don'ts. Things that worked and didn't. And sound like you have a good idea of those Oh man!! Can't wait til your next go at it.

[GotButterflies]

This is just AWESOME news!! So exciting!!!

[mlakers]

Thank you, everyone. Knowledge. Yes! That's the goal and what I keep telling myself is important. Xoxox