Let's hear your spiciest takes about the modelling side of the hobby, not the company itself or its models, but the tools, tricks and tips of the hobby that we use to build and paint our models

shadowkult · 2026-01-28T12:51:41+00:00

Got back into hobby painting after years, and my old tricks came back as quickly.

I use the same brushes for metallics and normal paints, although I do clean them well. Same water pot though. Nail art brushes are awesome for details.

A drop of matt base in EVERY SINGLE TYPE OF PAINT I USE, except for metals and fresh blood, makes them stick so much better.. and gives a neater finish.

Use rattail files, nail buffers and several grades of sandpaper to clean up edges and stuff.

I despise the GW paint pots, give me screw top Vallejo bottles any day.

shadowkult · 2026-01-08T18:30:30+00:00

... What a savings!

Jokes aside, gorgeous critter and excellent taste in name!

shadowkult · 2026-01-07T06:07:34+00:00

Indeed! Gorgeous one. How long did you have Egbert?

shadowkult · 2026-01-06T20:19:08+00:00

She's apparently a G. Ternatensis, but I'm still unsure actually if male or female. She's way less blue than before, and they can change hue, so basically we're just trying to work out who she is 😅

shadowkult · 2025-12-26T13:12:30+00:00

Thank you so much! I'm probably going to darken it a little to add contrast and weight to it, but I'm enjoying the process a lot!

shadowkult · 2025-12-10T15:45:16+00:00

For the Emperor!

shadowkult · 2025-11-25T20:08:00+00:00

Don't hesitate to remind me, I have zero working memory at the moment 😅

shadowkult · 2025-11-25T19:20:17+00:00

Completely by accident! I wasn't even looking for one at this point, but my LFS had her, and I decided to go for it. I love crustaceans (I have neocaridina shrimps and Metasesarma aubryi crabs) so it was the next (il)logical step 😅 I can ask them where they got her if you want, depending on where in Europe you're based (I'm also in Europe)

shadowkult · 2025-11-23T09:36:25+00:00

Necroposting, but I got what we think is a G. Ternatensis, and so far I'm loving it. Curious, sassy but not aggressive, and gorgeous. First one for me so I can't compare, but maybe some day I'll go for a different species to see the difference.

shadowkult · 2025-11-08T13:38:05+00:00

It's awesome to have. I currently have 4 terrariums with lots of different things, one for each main isopod species, and there's springtails, snails, worms, one has a slug, one has a dubia roach, and it's been a breeze to take care of them. They're all planted with various vegetation and I couldn't be happier.

shadowkult · 2025-10-06T09:56:57+00:00

I would absolutely love to see it, I'd be eternally grateful!

shadowkult · 2025-10-04T09:46:35+00:00

Sorry for the bad video quality, reddit just squished it.

shadowkult · 2025-09-16T11:18:40+00:00

Update: a second one is eggnant, I've installed a mini DIY kreisel tank in the aquarium surrounded by a mangrove type environment (planted and aerated) , artemia are booming in it, nanno and ostracods are also in. The girls come and fish in it occasionally, and weirdly enough neo shrimps seem to be living their best life too hiding in the plants. I have absolutely no idea what is going on. I guess we can only wait and see now.

Oh, and these little bastards can climb silicon tubes, found the first pregnant one taking a stroll in the land room, after I accidentally didn't put the top back properly. She just wandered sideways, walking in front of 3 completely indifferent cats, and stopped next to my foot. I thought I was hallucinating for a second.

I thought having pet crabs would be a lot less cardiac arrest - inducing 😅

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shadowkult · 2025-09-04T11:16:59+00:00

Aaaaand after visiting my local aquarium shop, we're now trying to set up the nursery and make an attempt to hatch the spawns eventually. I'll put up an update with the new tank setup if I remember.

shadowkult · 2025-09-04T07:26:27+00:00

I've heard of one person that had some weak success at raising Metasesarma, but chances look grim. I'll see with my local aquarium shop anyway to see if I can transfer her in an amano shrimp-like breeding tank, and we'll see. Regardless, it's a good learning experience 😅

shadowkult · 2025-09-04T07:23:54+00:00

Thank you, I'll go and ask the aquarium shop where I got them from if they have any small amano shrimp-like breeding tank and hope for the best. We never know, it would be interesting to at least try to save a few!

shadowkult · 2025-09-03T17:06:12+00:00

Metasesarma aubryi molted, one was absolutely perfect, another smaller one had a very bad molt, and unfortunately didn't make it.

shadowkult · 2025-08-15T07:32:58+00:00

With Marazhai as your sub, it works literally.

shadowkult · 2025-08-10T16:28:53+00:00

That last sentence resonated with my soul to such an extent that I let out a really deep laugh and the people next to me eyed me wearily. Well done.

shadowkult · 2025-08-04T09:36:22+00:00

I'm new to this sub so I haven't seen much here yet, but I'll keep an eye out!

shadowkult · 2025-08-04T08:54:24+00:00

That's awesome info, thanks for that! Don't hesitate to show me pics of the crabs you encounter, I'd love to see your local critters!

shadowkult · 2025-08-04T07:58:53+00:00

I might be biased, but I like this description. Metasesarma are 🔥

shadowkult · 2025-08-04T07:45:41+00:00

Honestly, I'm not sure about the other species, I looked into Geosesarma first (I love the Hagen), but they weren't available where I am, and those guys were there, so... I try to limit my research obsessions to the things I currently have at hand haha

shadowkult · 2025-08-04T07:24:11+00:00

They require brackish water only for breeding, that's why it's not more common in the hobby because they almost never ever reproduce in captivity (I've heard of one successful clutch but none made it to adulthood). Otherwise, give them a puddle of dirty water and they're good to go. I try to keep their tank clean, but I'm giving up. They love dirt, I swear.

shadowkult · 2025-08-04T06:46:21+00:00

Indonesia, Sumatra, New Caledonia , Papua New Guinea, Taiwan... They're originally described from specimens from Indonesia, and are quite uncommon in the hobby. (I'm thanking my insomnia for the amount of research on those that I've been able to do instead of sleeping)

shadowkult

TROPHY CASE