Pom Pom Crab Spawning and Larvae: Pics

[Woogiekids]

Hi all!

I've had a pair of Poms for about a month in my 28G carpet/maxi-mini biotope. The female has been carrying eggs, and the larvae were released into the water tonight. I pipetted some into a holding container, and put in some zooplankton/photoplankton, but I don't have high hopes for this batch. Anyone had any luck with raising any babies? I don't see any online anywhere.

Here are some pics:

Gravid

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy220/alissa190/_MG_8413.jpg

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy220/alissa190/_MG_8414.jpg

Larvae

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy220/alissa190/_MG_8459.jpg

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy220/alissa190/_MG_8457.jpg

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy220/alissa190/_MG_8426.jpg

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy220/alissa190/_MG_8425.jpg

http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy220/alissa190/_MG_8453.jpg

[Moort82]

That's so cool. It always amazes me how different things look as larva. Hopefully you'll be able to get some through. Goodluck

[ChicagoReefer88]

what is your plan now???

[Giglamesh]

:sad1:but the will be pom pom less

[NatalieD]

Whoa that's awesome!

I don't know what their natural diet is, but maybe if someone near you raises clownfish they would have some live rotifers you could try. Just a thought.

[[G]h0S'][']

Great pics too!

[mallorieGgator]

Great pictures! Are you going to try and raise them?

[aleonn]

Wow very cool. Hope you end up with a few!

[Sugar Magnolia]

Very cool!

[Woogiekids]

Thanks! I wasn't quite prepared for this batch, so I don't know that any will survive. The only fish in the tank are a pair of clowns, however, so you never know. The next batch I'll get a little tank set up for, and some rotifers going.

[frankpayne32]

Truly awesome. Thanks for sharing and congrats!

[dsun]

Is anyone rearing larvae consistently? Are rotifers the right food for them?

[Lynnmw1208]

that is so cool! Giglamesh is right though, how will you give them pom poms if they survive? very neat tho!

[NatalieD]

A quick google search showed at least oneperson who has tried to rear them and she said hey will not eat rotifers but will eat bbs. She hasn't been successful in raising though.

[Woogiekids]

I haven't been able to find anyone who has successfully bred them either. I'll try a combo of phyto/zoo/rots next time around.

As for the anemone, I have no idea how they get those. I have read that once they grow too large, the crab will split one, and drop the other one in the tank.

[gweston]

Great pics! Love it! Thanks for getting such clear shots of the larvae

[kjreiner72]

That is so neat. I have a pair of pom pom crabs but they sat to long on my elephant ear mushroom and they were lunch. It was a bummer.

[Sapooloo]

very cool