THE AMAZING HAWAIIAN MICRO-LOBSTERS!™

CARRIE'S PAGE 2!

          Opae-ula has been available in Hawaii for several years and many hobbyists have been growing them for longer than us.  We're sharing what we know with everyone and learning from the old-timers.

PART II:   COMBINING FOUR SMALLER UNITS INTO ONE LARGER TANK

              I was excited about Carrie's second experiment. In all other opae-ula units that I've ever seen,  there's very little activity.  I believe that the primary difference is that ours are fed. But I know there is less activity in small units. We tried and rejected 8 ounce (1 cup),  16 ounce (1 pint or 2 cups), 24 ounce (3 cups) and 32 ounce (1 quart or 4 cups). Our trials showed that there was a very large difference in activity between a 1-quart unit and a 1/2-gallon unit.

              There seems to be a "critical mass factor" that I cannot fully explain.  It would be a lot easier for our primary Hawaii visitor customer to handcarry a quart-size unit home as a souvenir compared to a 1/2-gallon unit which would most likely have to be shipped. We are fully committed to producing a premium, high-value,  high satisfaction product and the difference in Micro-Lobster personality and activity more than justified going to the larger 1/2-gallon unit.  I was delighted that Carrie decided to go to the 1/2-gallon size.

               I wanted to learn how long it would take for her opae-ula that had never been fed to become used to being fed.  I theorized that creatures will develop greater confidence and a "comfort zone" after being lovingly fed consistently. Even skittish animals become tame if treated well.  When Carrie first emailed me, I sensed that she was also searching for a way to give her opae-ula an improved environment and I was happy to try to assist.

               I don't think it's only food.  We utilize a cylinder tank because Micro-Lobsters are the most active in such a tank.  In rectangular aquariums, they swim in a straight line and stop when they bump into a wall.  A cylinder is a "continuous track" and in our Mini-Breeder Tanks, they really love to swim laps!  So I wanted to see if Carrie's original creatures would begin swimming laps if the containers were similar and after her's were fed. Carrie is a fine writer who loves her creatures.  She sent a lot of photos to select from.  I appreciate her sharing her story of the differences between Fuku-Bonsai's Mini-Breeder Tanks and her experimental effort to create a happy healthy life for her opae-ula.  

               MAHALO CARRIE!!!     ~~~David

December 3 (Wednesday)

BEFORE THE TRANSFER 

         I ended up with 4 jars with 3 opae-ula in each and plan to put them into one big jar so they have more room. Each jar is about the size of a large coffee mug. My opae-ula are much smaller.  They are usually a nice red but occasionally one or two of them turn very, very clear. 

         They roam around the bottom and climb on the coral but I rarely see them swimming laps.  I'm sure it has to do with the size of their jar and that's why I want to give them more space.

         When I arrived this morning and went to check my four jars, the lobsters where pretty calm. I have them in a room by a window in which they can get sunlight.  Not much wall climbing or coral searching.  They pretty much stick to the bottom of the tank, walking around slightly.  Colors were light to deep red. 

 

             I have one lobster in a tank of three who's color changes drastically from day to day. Most days he is really CLEAR and some days he gets a light red.  But he does move around and chat with the others, not any more lethargic than any of the others but he gets so clear at times, I miss him in the jar. 

 

            I plan on transferring the four jars into a plastic jar, as you suggested, later today or tomorrow. Once I combine the four tanks into one, I will keep them side by side to write about and have pictures.

 

            Carrie~

December 4 (Thursday)

BEFORE THE TRANSFER

 

<<<<< Here is a picture of one of the jars next to the Micro-Lobster Mini-Breeder Tank. I found out that the lobsters I was given are in a water mix of:

          3 quarters salt water

          1 quarter distilled water

<<<<<Pictures taken  5-10 minutes after the transfer.

December 4, 2003

AFTER THE TRANSFER

 

           I transferred the 4 jars into a larger container as recommended.    They are pretty shaken and are VERY clear. But all seem to be intact or at least they are still moving...

 

            Carrie~

 

<<<<<  Picture taken several hours later showing the water starting to clear.

            (NOTE:   Whenever transferring,  retain and use your "old water,"  sand, and decorations which contains the needed bacteria and other elements.  The cloudiness will clear up and the "pre-innoculated materials" are the basis for success.)

  

           December 5: 

 

           Pictures from day two after transferring the 4 jars into one. They are all very very clear still and very skittish, but I also notice that they are moving around more . . . more active with more space.

 

           Carrie~

         (NOTE:    Opae-ula are very adaptable and can live in pure fresh or distilled water, in water saltier than ocean water, and all stages in between!  But they must be given time to acclimate and adjust.  Add the new water slowly!  Distilled water is preferable to tap water which contains chlorine.

         Opae-ula have extremely sensitive nervous systems. If their containers are dropped several feet or if they are subjected to very loud noises, they are known to die over a two week span.  They have color spores throughout their shells and are known to become clear when frightened or in poor health.   They become a dark red when happy, healthy, and exposed to light.)

           December 8:  

 

           I added a second batch of water to the transferred lobsters.  My mix has been one part salt water and one part distilled water. I have added water two times now.

 

          Their color has still been kind of pale but already they are so much more active.  Its so nice to see that they have room to swim around and move.  But they are still so different then the ones in the tank.  The jar lobsters movements are very jerky compared to the graceful movements of the tank lobsters. 

 

          The jar lobsters don't do the laps around the tank that the other ones do for hours and hours. They still tend to stay on the bottom . . .  swim/jerk around the coral and check out the sides of the tank.

 

           Carrie~

<<<<< Here's a picture of the two tanks side by side.

December 10, 2003:

FIRST FEEDING!

         I put a scoop of the spirulina on top and also set the light on their jar so they would have good light.  None of them seemed to notice or pay any attention to it.   After a few minutes, I stirred up the spirulina a little bit so some could float down.   It seemed like they kind of knew something was up there as a few of them would head to the top and then jerk away. 

         About 10 minutes later one little one made it to the top, skimmed around for about 10 seconds and then went back down.  After that no activity for another 10 minutes, then a big one charged at it, hit the surface and swam away.

         Another 5 minutes and another big one went to the surface and skimmed around for maybe 5 seconds.  No real activity for maybe an hour but an hour later all of them were up there skimming the surface. 

         I would say it took several hours but they ate it all within the day.  Maybe I'm imagining things but the tank lobsters seemed to know that their neighbors had food and they didn't? They kept swimming up and down on the side of the tank that was closest to the jar... 

        It was kind of silly, but they got fed an hour later! 

        Carrie~