Help with Micro Crabs

[CRS]

One of my microcrabs is carrying a clutch of yellow eggs in its belly. I would like to know that are the eggs fertilised and does it need special water parameters for the eggs to hatch? And does it has a larvae stage or they are hatched as minature adults? I'm afraid they would get suck in the filter. Have already place the female in a guppy breeder box and intend to get one that has fine netting soon.

Thanks for all your advice in advance.

[mozaqua]

The eggs are present in the female, then they are fertile, same as dwarf shrimp. If you have the same crab I think you might, then the babies are hatched as larvae, which are very small. They are also very difficult to raise to post-larvae (impossible in a community tank).

[stormhawk]

If it is this species called Limnopilos naiyanetri, then the larvae require algae as food. The larvae are free-swimming filter feeders initially I think, before settling down on the substrate as miniature versions of the adults. If you have a power filter running, switch to a sponge filter if you are planning to raise the babies.

[lucasjiang]

hi bro, i tried to hatch my eggs many times but it always failed.

Firstly, they are attracted towards light. so, try to make sure that more light is coming from the top than the sides of the tank, or else the larvae will bang their heads on the sides of the tank and will die. Same goes at night.

Secondly, like what cobalt said, they hatch into larvae (which is about the size of a water flea) and need very very small foods.

[stormhawk]

There is a food for filter feeders, available at LFS called Liquifry Marine. It's by Interpet. I used it some time ago as food for my Daphnia and BBS. Should be a good replacement food for raising micro crab larvae.