Breeding Journal DataSheet
This first post should be updated regularly to include new information as events take place or changes are made to your system
General Species: Mithraculus forceps
Social Structure: Multiple individuals in the tank
Size of Individuals: Two smaller (about 3/4 inch carapace length) and two larger (1+ inch carapace length)
Age of Individuals: Unknown, wild caught
Date added to Tank: Early August, 2013
Broodstock Tank Details Size of Tank: 30 gallon
Substrate Details: Sand
Filtration Details: Live rock, canister filter
Water Changes: 5 gallons once a week or once every two weeks
Water Temperature: ~78-80
Lighting: LED fixture
Lighting Cycle: 6AM to 8PM
Other Tank Inhabitants: Clibanarius tricolor (multiple), one scarlet hermit, Spotted mandarin, A. ocellaris pair, Columbellid snails
Broodstock Feeding Details Food Types: Flake, blackworms, frozen mash, and plenty of algae growing in the tank
Feeding Schedule: At least twice a day, can graze constantly
Spawning Details Date of First Spawn: Unknown
Spawn Time of Day: Unknown
Dates of Consecutive Spawns: 8/29/2013 (this is an ESTIMATED spawn date. Spawns are hidden in the egg pouch area and are rarely seen unless you catch the crab aerating the eggs or the spawn is huge. I estimated the spawn date to be ~2 weeks prior to the hatch date, but I have no real information to base this on.)
Courtship Details: None noted
Egg Size: Unknown
Egg Color: Unknown
Egg Count: Unknown
Hatch Details Hatch Date: 8-30-2013, 9-11-2013, 9-12-2013, 9-23-2013 (small)
Hatch Time of Day: After lights out
# Days after Spawn: Unknown
Larvae Description: Look like small balls to the naked eye that are ~0.5mm round, when they stretch out they look like a ball (the head) with a skinny tail sticking out. Under the microscope they look like creepy aliens ready to take over the planet.
Larval Tank Details Temperature: Room temperature, ~75-80F
Size of Larval Tank: 3L inverted plastic water bottle, then moved to a circular one gallon tupperware container that had a flat base
Substrate Details: None
Other Tank Decor: Rigid airline
Filtration Details: None other than live phyto
Lighting: Fluorescent strip light
Lighting Cycle: 6AM to 9PM
Water Changes: As needed to flush out prey that has become too large
Larval Feeding Details Food Types: nhbbs and live phyto
Feeding Schedule: Constant
Metamorphosis/Settlement Date of Settlement Start: 9-21-2013 (estimated based on when I stopped seeing megalopae in the water column)
Days after Hatch: Started around Day 9, by Day 11 all but one had molted to crab. There was one transitional megalopa on 9-23-2013 (I call it that because it has stopped cruising around in the water column, but instead associates with the bottom even though it is still a megalopa)
Date of Settlement End: 9-24-2013
Description of Fry: Tiny crabs that measure just over 1mm carapace lenght/width. Lots of debris seem to stick to them
Grow-Out Tank Details Temperature: ~75-78F
Size of Grow-Out Tank: 10 gallon
Substrate Details: None
Other Tank Decor: Sponge filters, yarn mops, macroalgae, zip-tie hitching posts
Filtration Details: Sponge filters (two)
Lighting: Fluorescent strip light
Lighting Cycle: 6AM to 9PM
Water Changes: As needed
Size at Transfer: ~1.5mm carapace width, some smaller, some larger
Age at Transfer: ~1.5 months; they were kept in a dishpan "growout" prior to being moved.
Grow-Out Feeding Details Food Types: Algae in the tank, frozen spirulina enriched brine, ova, and live enriched bbs are fed to the other fish in the tank. The crabs get what is left over.
Feeding Schedule: At least twice a day
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<message edited by shannpeach on Monday, December 30, 2013 9:45 AM>