Baby Dwarf Blue Legs! *Cuteness Warning!*

[Alexraptor]

So I kinda had a little... "event" one night in July.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v-EPXLXEskY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

One of my then fairly new Dwarf Blue Leg Hermits seemed to have been carrying a bit of an extra load with "her" into my tank it seems.
Pretty exciting to experience, and it's moments like these that make this hobby totally worth it! :dance:

 

[heathlindner25]

What makes you think they are baby hermits?

 

[hogfanreefer]

Those look like mysid shrimp to me. I've seen them mistaken for clownfish hatchlings before as well.

 

[heathlindner25]

Those look like mysid shrimp to me. I've seen them mistaken for clownfish hatchlings before as well.

That what I was seeing

 

[Alexraptor]

What makes you think they are baby hermits?

I don't, I "know" they are.
If the trademark "blue eyes" weren't obvious enough the telson is a dead giveaway. Not to mention that Mysids and Hermit Larvae only have a passing resemblance of each other and look very different when you actually start to compare them.

But don't take my word for it, I mean what would I know? It's not like one actually bothers to study and read up on the organisms that inhabits the reef. :reading:

http://www.mbisite.org/forums/tm.aspx?m=74632&mpage=1

 

[heathlindner25]

Ok,ok, they looked like mysid.... you definitely know you're talking about, I'm sorry.

 

[kuzko]

Following.. Hope you keep it updated seems cool.

 

[vikinglord13]

Also following. If they are hermits, when do their tails start to curl? Or is that a result of lifelong use of a shell as a home?

 

[2smokes]

They look like mysis shrimp a litle but after seeing the zoea of the hermit shrimp on that site theyr clearely hermit shrimps.You need a kreisel tank to rear them if you want to have success.A kreisel without a powerhead,just with an air pump.Like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhQvz_63AK8 .

 

[Alexraptor]

Well at this point they are long dead, it just took me an eternity to get around to putting together the footage, which I felt some people might enjoy the opportunity to see, and judging from some of the replies, "needed" to see, lol.

As for their tails, in their early life stages they actually have a hard shell on their tails, just like their Lobster and Crayfish decapod cousins. But at some point in their development they loose that covering and need to rely on gastropod shells for protection.

 

[jayball]

Thanks for sharing. Cool seeing them prior to them setteling down.