Hermit Reproduction

[Uzidaisies]

A couple weeks ago I noticed one of my hermits was carrying around eggs in its shell. I’m guessing that if the eggs get fertilized, and released as larvae, they have a very low survival rate in the typical aquarium. Is it possible for any to survive? If they do, do you need very tiny shells? Or when do they shell up? I don’t expect to be able to breed them in my tank, I’m just curious.

 

[SlugSnorter]

A couple weeks ago I noticed one of my hermits was carrying around eggs in its shell. I’m guessing that if the eggs get fertilized, and released as larvae, they have a very low survival rate in the typical aquarium. Is it possible for any to survive? If they do, do you need very tiny shells? Or when do they shell up? I don’t expect to be able to breed them in my tank, I’m just curious.

you'd need some smaller shells, but they'll be bigger once they need them. they'll get killed by stuff in your tank, filter, etc. you'd need a setup that had food for them, and filters made for or safe for tanks with larvae in them

according to what I read you could use: (For the first two weeks feed the baby Hermit crabs a solution of marine infusoria, powdered spirulina, newly hatched brine shrimp (Artemia) once a day. Then they can eat larger 1 – 2 day-old Artemia. You should also supplement their diets with thawed zoo-plankton food at least once every other day.)

I feel like a bucket with a larvae safe sponge filter that has been established, and a way of forming a bit of a gentle current in the water (you could use something air powered i think) would work (maybe a jellyfish tank?). and you could sell them to your lfs or local keepers once they are big enough to get into their first shell.