Question on number of crabs
Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 4:25 pm
New to the forum and appreciate the "helpful" versus "critical" orientation you seem to have. I too had crabs in high school and decided to do so again many years later.
So much conflicting info out there. Some places will tell me I have way too many crabs but to me it seems pretty much "just right".
Here is the situation until I have a chance to do pics. I have a 40 gallon that has 9" sub (EE/ play sand) in front and then some acrylic barrier (sort of like a step-up level or terraced) so that it goes up to about 13" deep in the back. The reason the sub is lower in the front is because it is an ExoTerra tank which I guess is sort of controversial; but I LOVE it because it is so easy to clean and maintain. I personally think the crabs can figure out what the sand level is if they want to go deeper but would appreciate feedback. I have 2 coconut hides, one cork round hide, and a tree root with holes in it for hiding inside and behind. Large grapevine limb that goes to the top for climbing, net on entire rear of tank. Very large fresh and saltwater pools with bubblers; a 5 x 7 second story shell shop that is packed. Humidity at 85-88 (concern this might be a tad high?) and temp at 82-85. Massive variety of food; proteins, calcium, worm castings, cuttlebone, etc. (multiple dishes for sharing) The tank has been up and stable for 6 months.
I have 8 E's small-medium to small, and 3 medium PP's. Recent additions were 2 large strawberries. So that's 13 crabs in a 40. HOWEVER>>at least half of the E's are always under; one of the strawberries is now.
I have never seen any aggression; many E's and at least one PP have successfully molted. The e's climb, run around and dig, the PP's only come out when they think no one is looking and the strawberry who is up now lets me rearrange things around him and is totally confident.
Also I was told that the light should be on all the time; that just seems wrong to me but I am doing it. I would assume the crabs need a dark period, but on the other hand it is nice to be able to go and see what is up at any time. If I go back to doing a dark period will the crabs stop coming out during the hours when I can see them?
Sorry so much info, appreciate comments.
So much conflicting info out there. Some places will tell me I have way too many crabs but to me it seems pretty much "just right".
Here is the situation until I have a chance to do pics. I have a 40 gallon that has 9" sub (EE/ play sand) in front and then some acrylic barrier (sort of like a step-up level or terraced) so that it goes up to about 13" deep in the back. The reason the sub is lower in the front is because it is an ExoTerra tank which I guess is sort of controversial; but I LOVE it because it is so easy to clean and maintain. I personally think the crabs can figure out what the sand level is if they want to go deeper but would appreciate feedback. I have 2 coconut hides, one cork round hide, and a tree root with holes in it for hiding inside and behind. Large grapevine limb that goes to the top for climbing, net on entire rear of tank. Very large fresh and saltwater pools with bubblers; a 5 x 7 second story shell shop that is packed. Humidity at 85-88 (concern this might be a tad high?) and temp at 82-85. Massive variety of food; proteins, calcium, worm castings, cuttlebone, etc. (multiple dishes for sharing) The tank has been up and stable for 6 months.
I have 8 E's small-medium to small, and 3 medium PP's. Recent additions were 2 large strawberries. So that's 13 crabs in a 40. HOWEVER>>at least half of the E's are always under; one of the strawberries is now.
I have never seen any aggression; many E's and at least one PP have successfully molted. The e's climb, run around and dig, the PP's only come out when they think no one is looking and the strawberry who is up now lets me rearrange things around him and is totally confident.
Also I was told that the light should be on all the time; that just seems wrong to me but I am doing it. I would assume the crabs need a dark period, but on the other hand it is nice to be able to go and see what is up at any time. If I go back to doing a dark period will the crabs stop coming out during the hours when I can see them?
Sorry so much info, appreciate comments.