Should I add two small crabs to the main tank?

[jonathon1989]

I currently have two small crabs the size of dimes in a seperate tank but I wanted to know if it would be safe to add them to the main tank with my large crabs.

Jonathon

[curlysister]

Is your worry that they will be over crowded? Or is your worry the size difference?
Or something else?

[jonathon1989]

Is your worry that they will be over crowded? Or is your worry the size difference?
Or something else?

The size difference.


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[Spocktopus]

In my experience, crabs of any size can co-exist together peacefully as long as they have enough tank space/substrate depth. I've only dealt with PPs though, so if you have a different species that may not apply.

[Xenocrab]

I have large crabs in a tank with ccb's and they all get along well. Make sure there's enough shells of all sizes for all the crabs. I've observed that the smaller crabs learn a lot from the bigger larger crabs

[jonathon1989]

My water dishes are really deep and big. Would that be a problem? I cant add small dishes becuase there is no room. The main tank is 20 gallons.


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[curlysister]

Also be sure to give everyone (old and new) a quick dip in the fresh water so they all smell the same.

How many crabs of what size will then be in the 20?

[jonathon1989]

Also be sure to give everyone (old and new) a quick dip in the fresh water so they all smell the same.

How many crabs of what size will then be in the 20?

There are currently five crabs in the 20 gallon tank. Four large PPS, one small E, and the two small ones will be seven all together.


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[curlysister]

Hmmm...that might be getting crowded. Looking at the chart, a large crab should have at least 5.5 gallons per crab, and smalls should have 2.5 gallons per crab.
4 x 5.5 = 22
3 x 2.4 = 7.5
Total 29.5

Given that E's like deeper sub (like 10-12 inches from what I have read), and that the crabs will of course grow, I would think it would be getting pretty crowded pretty quickly.