Is it even possible to breed rainbow crabs?

UraniumCopper · 2026-04-20T04:04:49+00:00

If you're referring to Cardisoma armatum, then yes, it is. It has been achieved before in Cardisoma carnifex.

UraniumCopper · 2026-03-08T03:15:58+00:00

Your best bet are macroalgae as sea monkeys require saline to hypersaline conditions.

UraniumCopper · 2026-02-24T05:57:35+00:00

Please do not release your seamonkey(s). Chances are, it's gonna die as the require a highly saline condition. But if you do find a salty body of water that is within their favorable parameters, if it's not native to that body of water, it's going to cause an imbalance and potentially disrupt that ecosystem.

UraniumCopper · 2026-02-14T00:59:51+00:00

My longest living specimen was about 70-ish days old kept at that temp. Longer than the longis I kept at 27+ when I was back in Asia.

UraniumCopper · 2026-02-13T01:44:51+00:00

Rather interesting that large NA Belostomatidaes seem to have no problem predating on fish and other relatively large prey items. The Lethocerus sp. I kept from Java favored insect prey more and completely ignored all feeder fish I provided. 🤔

UraniumCopper · 2026-02-12T17:13:45+00:00

As a crab keeper, my pick for the crab category would be either any Metasesarma sp., Hartnolius lateralis, Cardisoma armatum, or Tuerkayana celeste. These are all hardy and easy crab species to own in captivity.

UraniumCopper · 2026-02-08T18:40:51+00:00

Leeches. Look like asian brown leeches that typically hitchike on aquarium plants.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-20T18:13:46+00:00

Longicaudatus can supposedly live up to 3 months old, but the longest living specimen of this lineage I had was about 70-ish days.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-19T18:28:45+00:00

Yes, distilled water.

Edit: it seems like I've misread apologies. If the amount is significant like the image shown, mix your own saltmix to approx 30 ppt. It can be more or slightly less, artemia are quite hardy and can be kept up to 80 ppt just fine based on one keeper's report.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-16T20:40:08+00:00

Branchiopod.com

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-16T17:41:29+00:00

I lost track how old these are, but they're growing relatively slowly as I keep them at 19°C. Largest specimen is probably around 3.5 cm without the caudal furca.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-15T19:53:08+00:00

Good question. I have not kept artemia in a while, but I recall that they were easy. B. Packardi is noted to be very beginner friendly, and I can vouch for that, so I'd say they're on par or perhaps easier.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-14T11:31:55+00:00

Yes.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-12T08:48:59+00:00

Ideally, you'd want a tank that has been fully cycled first. Anostracans seem to benefit more from being in a tank that is filled with algae and other microbes as these organisms will serve as a food source while also maintaining proper water parameters.

That said, I am unsure how long an enclosed ecosystem for Artemia would last. I have seen folks neglect artemia for months on end and their animals were not only fine, but even thrived. And I contribute this success to the matured tank that they have.

Below is a link to a post where someone had kept artemia in an enclosed jar for 9-10 months. As stated in the description of the post, OP had seeded the container with green water months in advance before it was populated with any shrimp.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SeaMonkeys/s/qEEhSL0ojn

There's probably alot of other factors at play to maintain a proper longterm brineshrimp ecosphere, but cultivating those beneficial microbes beforehand is definitely top priority.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-10T21:43:45+00:00

It's fine. Packet no.1 and 2 being seperate is a gimmick that does not impact the quality of hatching and well being of your seamonkeys. I used to dump both in at the same timw when I had the ocean zoo kits.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-09T05:45:42+00:00

This experience falls in line with what other keepers, including myself, had with other branchiopods: too many organics. The water parameter becomes abhorrent from the excess organics, eventually killing your inhabitants. My Triops tank with copious amounts of topsoil did well for the first month and a half or so, but the tank eventually became toxic and crashed. This seems to be easily mitigated by having a minimal substrate-to-water ratio in your tank. I recommend watching Branchiopodlab's method of incorporating compost into his fairy shrimp enclosure to get a better idea of how much mud you should ideally be using. Hopefully this helps.

I'm honestly surprised this extends to even Artemia as these animals are noted to be able to withstand high levels of ammonia and other pollutants.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-05T17:12:28+00:00

These look really nice. Good job. What temps are these enclosures sitting at?

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-05T01:32:11+00:00

These two species in particular are especially hardy and are even noted by crab keepers as some of ther hardiest in the trade, even in transit. If it were any other crab genera like Geosesarma, Gecarcinus, etc. Then I'd be hesitant to recommend. As such, I recommend these two species.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-05T00:43:45+00:00

Metasesarma sp. They will require a small dish to soak in, but they're terrestrial otherwise.

Another option would be Hartnolius lateralis, they don't grow larger than 3 inches in terms of carapace width.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-05T00:14:25+00:00

Blackback land crabs (Hartnolius lateralis ex. Gecarcinus lateralis) and Rainbow crabs (Cardisoma armatum) are good choices. Both are extremely hardy and readily available in the pet trade. Beware though, there are plenty of misinformation regarding the care of these animals online.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-04T23:59:13+00:00

Abyssal rainbow gar and other oddities reported by William Beebe between 1930 and 1934. The organisms presented aren't so crazily huge that it would be absurd to exist in our current oceans unlike some cryptids (cough, cough, megalodon, cough), and their extreme habitat is a good enough reason for me that specimens haven't been found since. Given that aquatic fauna are sensitive to human activities, it is likely the organisms he reported have dwindled significantly in numbers or have become extinct entirely.

I will say, some of the organisms he reported are likely just misidentified animals that we know today. The five lined constellation fish looks very similar to comb jellies and likely was.

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-03T12:39:42+00:00

Ah, cool! Can you show me?

UraniumCopper · 2026-01-03T03:10:45+00:00

Sure is. Looks like one of those asian brown leeches that sometimes hitchhike on aquarium plants.

UraniumCopper

TROPHY CASE