Hermit Crab life cycle?

[matth2181]

Hey does any one know the hermit crab life cycle? I found a little tunnel in my sand next to the glass, and at the bottom was... something, it was very small and clearly moving some sort of hair like things very rapidly, and i have no idea what it is. i thought maybe my hermit crabs mated and the larval stage buried itself in the sand... i know land hermit crabs do this after they go through their planktonic stage they burry themselves until they grow into the final adult form, then they find a shell... any one know, or have any other ideas?

 

[nycbob]

what u r seeing could be copepods.

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/3164658
what u r seeing could be copepods.
+1

copepods/amphipods, etc

 

[matth2181]

hmm... yea maybe, this a bad thing? i have hermits a cleaner shrimp, clown, royal gramma, sand sifting star fish... any of those eat them?

 

[nycbob]

pretty much anything will eat them. pods r good.

 

[tonysi]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/3164675
pretty much anything will eat them. pods r good.
Unless they look like this

 

[dbestnindy]

Originally Posted by TonySi
http:///forum/post/3164808
Unless they look like this

Yikes!

 

[btldreef]

pods are a good thing.

 

[ironchef205]

what is that

 

[lnknprkpl]

What the heck is that in that picture?????

 

[racingtiger03]

IIRC that's some kind of isopod, and they bite lol.

 

[wargalley20011]

Originally Posted by TonySi
http:///forum/post/3164808
Unless they look like this

Cute, Looks like a baby.