Raising Hermit Crab Larvae?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zakary2003
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

Zakary2003

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 30, 2023
Messages
602
Reaction score
286
Location
Jacksonville
What state or country do you live in
Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My blue legged and red legged hermit crabs have been spawning pretty consistently, and my mandarin definitely appreciates the extra food!

However, it would be interesting to raise the larvae. Catching the larvae would be as simple as cutting the flow, shining a flashlight, and gently siphoning out the larvae, but I have no idea what to do after that. What would a larvae raising setup look like? How long until they settle, and would collinista snail shells be small enough for them? What do they eat at that size, phyto? Rotifers?

I can't find anything on here about raising hermit crabs specifically, and there is very little about raising crab larvae in general or even other crustaceans. I've seen some stuff on cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp, and sexy shrimp, but that's about it. Can it even be done? Has it been done before?

Vids of the momma and her larvae are attached for anyone curious about what they look like or how I know they're from a hermit crab and not one of my other inverts.


 
I would take some out and put them in a small tank for grow out. They would need a sandbed to settle in and grow. You could feed them something like phyto, rotifers, small copepods, etc.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHICH AREA OF REEFKEEPING MOST NEEDS A GENUINE BREAKTHROUGH?

  • Lighting

    Votes: 1 4.8%
  • Pumps and water flow

    Votes: 1 4.8%
  • Water testing and monitoring

    Votes: 7 33.3%
  • Controllers, apps, and device compatibility

    Votes: 4 19.0%
  • Filtration and nutrient export

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Automatic feeding

    Votes: 3 14.3%
  • Leak prevention and tank safety

    Votes: 2 9.5%
  • Equipment reliability and repairability

    Votes: 2 9.5%
  • Other (leave a comment in the thread)

    Votes: 1 4.8%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new