Hermit Crabs Reproducing

[@ombomb]

Out of blind look I was having a little snoop into my tank with a small torch before going to bed and started looking a red legged hermit on the sand near the front glass. Watched it for about 20 seconds when it seemed to stretch a little untaurally far out of it's shell and literally 100s of little creatures swam out from inside the shell. After a little reading apparently hermit crabs will carry the young around inside their shell through several stages of development before releasing them into the tank, where they live (or are eaten) in a planktonic form for several weeks before developing into adult form. It was after lights out so they have about 12 hours to find somewhere to hide!

I have lots of hermits, so I'm not bothered about having a few more of not, but the timing of this really amazed me, especially as this seems to be a fairly rare occurence. Unfortuantely I had no idea where there camera was, not did I have the presence of mind to turkey baster any into the sump, but I'm sure a few may make it down there, so you never know.

Happy hermits!

 

[SkiFletch]

Neat, never knew they reproduced that way... They'll prolly all get eaten though

 

[ox5477]

One of the things you prob will never see on the Discovery channel cause they figure "who the hell cares how hermit crabs reproduce?" haha.

Thanks for sharing the info

 

[weathermen]

that's great! what an amazin thing to see, fingers crossed they make it, so many places to hide!

 

[Colin_T]

it probably happens a lot more than people think. Many marine creatures spawn after dark so the young have fewer predators around to snap them up. Most people are asleep when it happens and the filters tend to do such a thorough job there is no evidence left in the morning.
Well done on seeing it happen. But next time have the video camera next to the tank

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I feel sorry for your snails if they all survive.

Hopefully one or two will.