Very cool happenings w/ my pom poms

[efroggies]

So I have had a pair of pom pom crabs for over two years that have survived two tank moves. They currently reside in a 12 AP with corals and a purple firefish.
Here is a pic of the two of them:

A couple of weeks ago my hubby brought me the camera with some pics that he had shot of the crabs because they were acting werid. I can't find the picks but basically they were sandwiched together belly to belly in a rock crevice. If I can find the pic I will post it.

Then four nights ago hubby looks into the 12 and calls for me to come look. And this is what we got to see. She even put on a little show to either tell us look what I have or back away.

You might not be able to see it clearly at this resolution, but that red patch is at least a hundred little eggs.

This just shows how little we know about the critters that we keep since many people have stated since I started the hobby that these animals were difficult to keep and usually didn't survive more than six months. I have had them for over two years and I would have to say if they are breeding that them must be doing quite well in my system. If you are going to get some of these marvelous critters, I would suggest putting them in a nano tank otherwise you will never see them.

 

[R.L.Young]

Thats cool , do you think you need to to do any thing special to raise them?

 

[FOSELONE]

cool...

 

[efroggies]

This is the first time that I have heard of it happening in an aquarium so I don't think anyone knows what to do. From what I know of other crab life cycles the larvae are planktonic and float around before settling down to juvenile benthic individuals. I guess we will just have to see what happens.

 

[Tennyson]

Wow, that seems more exciting than my peppermints holding eggs. Is the pom-pom clumsy when walking because of that big chunk of eggs under it? That looks so cool, good luck with them.

 

[efroggies]

No she is quite graceful as always and faster than the dickens when you spook either of them.

 

[ACBlinky]

Now that is something else! Good on you, for keeping them happy so long, to the point where they're breeding! Are they ever cute, such funny little guys.