Hi,
I am currently culturing a batch of shrimp larvae that I thought were L. amboinensis because I collected the larvae from a tank that had 2 L. amboinensis adults. One had fertile eggs for ~ 2 wks. (and had hatched larvae in the past) and when I figured they would hatch, instead of larvae I saw its molt and figured either it molted with the eggs still attached or all of the larvae were eaten before I could collect them. I doubted the latter though because I only had an airstone in the tank with 3 shrimp and some hermits/snails... and also because I have had some survivors from previous batches in the same amount of time (mid-morning).
Then, 2 nights later I was examining the tank and saw shrimp larvae swimming around!! 8O I just figured they were L. amboinensis, collected them and have been rearing them ever since (29 days now).
Okay, here's where it gets strange -- After I collected the larvae out of the "broodstock" tank, I noticed the other smaller L. amboin. had eggs which were fertile. Then about a week later, my larger adult died. All other tank inhabitants fine. Smaller shrimp released eggs/larvae which I collected. But as I collected them I noted that they did not look the same as the larvae I had collected previously!
I was examining both sets of larvae today (the younger batch is 11 days old) and they are most definitely different. The older batch are half the length of the L. amboin larvae, they are not as "spidery" looking and they look like a dark brown color when looking at them in the tank. When I remove one and look at it in a glass beaker, it is yellowish in color. The eyes are not nearly as "stalked-looking" as the L. amboin.
So... my question is: What type of larvae could these be??? I really wish I could post a pic. They are ~0.5 cm or so. The only animals in the tank are (now one) L. amboinensis, one R. uritai, hermit crabs and snails. Does anyone know what R. uritai larvae look like? And if the larvae are R. uritai, how did I get eggs/larvae from a single individual? I've had all of these critters in the same tank for about 2 months now.
Sorry for the long post, but I am baffled!
Thanks in advance for any info. anyone can give me.
K
I am currently culturing a batch of shrimp larvae that I thought were L. amboinensis because I collected the larvae from a tank that had 2 L. amboinensis adults. One had fertile eggs for ~ 2 wks. (and had hatched larvae in the past) and when I figured they would hatch, instead of larvae I saw its molt and figured either it molted with the eggs still attached or all of the larvae were eaten before I could collect them. I doubted the latter though because I only had an airstone in the tank with 3 shrimp and some hermits/snails... and also because I have had some survivors from previous batches in the same amount of time (mid-morning).
Then, 2 nights later I was examining the tank and saw shrimp larvae swimming around!! 8O I just figured they were L. amboinensis, collected them and have been rearing them ever since (29 days now).
Okay, here's where it gets strange -- After I collected the larvae out of the "broodstock" tank, I noticed the other smaller L. amboin. had eggs which were fertile. Then about a week later, my larger adult died. All other tank inhabitants fine. Smaller shrimp released eggs/larvae which I collected. But as I collected them I noted that they did not look the same as the larvae I had collected previously!
I was examining both sets of larvae today (the younger batch is 11 days old) and they are most definitely different. The older batch are half the length of the L. amboin larvae, they are not as "spidery" looking and they look like a dark brown color when looking at them in the tank. When I remove one and look at it in a glass beaker, it is yellowish in color. The eyes are not nearly as "stalked-looking" as the L. amboin.
So... my question is: What type of larvae could these be??? I really wish I could post a pic. They are ~0.5 cm or so. The only animals in the tank are (now one) L. amboinensis, one R. uritai, hermit crabs and snails. Does anyone know what R. uritai larvae look like? And if the larvae are R. uritai, how did I get eggs/larvae from a single individual? I've had all of these critters in the same tank for about 2 months now.
Sorry for the long post, but I am baffled!
Thanks in advance for any info. anyone can give me.
K
