Zoea *successful captive breeding & rearing of C. variabilis

[Nat_addicted to HC's]

When I first added shells there was no interest at all, they just wanted to eat. I bought a bag of shell grit from the avairy place (birds) & spent hours picking through that :-/
Yesterday or was it earlier?? I spied one megalopa doing the whole oooh whats that? Whats in there? How do i get my behind in there? Thing! So exciting. No one has taken up permanent residence yet. The shells shane brought home are much better, lighter & better size/shape opening

[Nat_addicted to HC's]

shells shmells we want to eat! preferably each other........... ugh

Aha thats when I bought the shell grit & first put shells in.

[sandra03]

so exciting ^____^

[Nat_addicted to HC's]

The cannibalism thing is a big problem But hey, think of it this way, if you get say 2-3 a jar, and you have 15 jars, and one baby eats it's siblings in each jar, you will end up with 15 stronger healthier babies who are better fed, right? Just a thought..
I think cover and live food is in order at this point, although I have no idea what live food we could get them But even a tiny plastic floating aquarium plant could help babies hide from their siblings, and it can just be taken out for water changes easy peasy.
Love the idea with the compartments!

Ok so they are either on the bottom or around the edge on the surface. I went to the cheap shop and got a few Siamese fighter bowl ornaments for peanuts

they don't float, figure better than nothing....

[aussieJJDude]

Cute, you have to share pics with the plants inside the jars
LOL, you managed to get plants for peanuts, were the shop owners elephants??

[Nat_addicted to HC's]

aha now I remember, when I got the shell grit the website was down for a bit, I posted shells shmells.... lol
I was picking these;

out of this


running very low on salt right now, hoping the lot I ordered arrives real soon!
If I do 1 a jar the water changes are a breeze, I have everyone saving jars and have organised 2 more tanks to borrow for next time, I will do a trip to town and buy a whole bunch of air stones, t pieces valves and air line after the new year so I am ready. Thank goodness I saved all my heaters and air pumps from when I bred fish (pre kids lol), I have a few lights still too (mainly 4 ft), I did however sell all of my tanks kicking myself now!
I have made a sketch of my megalopae growing facility and look forward to building it, it will be more economical with water,heating lighting, air & space
AussieJJDude - Elephants

[aussieJJDude]

Wow, I knew they were small, I didn't know that they were that small!
Imagine putting them is a 3ft (or larger) tank, it would be by by baby crab
(Well if you did get peanut for plants they must be elephants, unless they are monkeys....)

[HermieLuv<3]

if you need floating plants I used to use stuff they make for turtles it was like floating moss (but plastic). I used it when I bred fish because you can make it thick and it floated at the top for the fish to hang in.... I can't remember the name of it but I'll post it if I remember... It would probably work great! Those plants are cute though... I hope they use them! =)

[Nat_addicted to HC's]

if you need floating plants I used to use stuff they make for turtles it was like floating moss (but plastic). I used it when I bred fish because you can make it thick and it floated at the top for the fish to hang in.... I can't remember the name of it but I'll post it if I remember... It would probably work great! Those plants are cute though... I hope they use them! =)

Ok so they are not interested in taking cover in anything, I will keep the plants in anyway for now and monitor them. Thanks anyway Hermieluv<3

[Nat_addicted to HC's]

AussieJJDude - pic for you


I've been trying so had to get pics, It's nearly impossible through 2 layers of glass and water

Spot the megalopa??


Today they are trying on shells more regularly, between feeding. 12 left

[Happy Crabber]

Thanks for the pics! That is amazing. I'm totally rooting for your little guys!

[Careyenz]

Really neat! Your set up doesn't look too difficult. I can't wait to see how they mature! I love the pics of the teeny tiny shells. I can't imagine how little they must be!


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[aussieJJDude]

Thanks for the pics
I gotta say, the plants make it look nice in there
Congrats on them trying more shells!
How does it feel that you are so close to the "finish line"?

[Nat_addicted to HC's]

Terrifying actually! I'm hovering about them constantly. It could still all go wrong, very nervous at the moment! Im trying to get more pics but just so hard :-/ very difficult subjects I must add.

[aussieJJDude]

Harder then land hermit crabs - that is hard to imagine!
I can understand what you are coming from, I breed tetras, they not as challenging and SW fish, but I still feel like I am biting my nails (and my whole families)