avenuegirl wrote:Hi!
Just want to say hi, and first off what a plethora of information on this forum!
I've not yet picked up crabs as I've been in research mode for the past 2 weeks and want to get the tank right first.
I live in Florida, and there is actually a shop down the block I'll be visiting tomorrow to have a look at their crab situation.
I went yesterday to a place here called "amazing pets" and I was sad when looking at how their hermit crabs were on what looked like a fish gravel, no where deep to dig, and in the painted shells (which I'd just seen a video about some cruelty to crabs and I was suspect as to how they were given those shells
) Also noticed there was not 2 water dishes.
Anyway, I will be starting from scratch here.
Many moons ago when I was in college I'd been given some hermit crabs - and don't ask me how but they lived for about a year in a tiny little tank in my dorm in the North East. I used to put them in my pocket and take them around with me on occasion. We didn't have all this much internet back then (think before 1990) and now that I've been back to researching the topic I am amazed they lasted as long as they did.
HM: My sister had them twice as a kid - both times they died after a year or two.
I wish I'd known then what I know now!!!
I'm all growed up now (ha) and can appreciate the wealth of knowledge at my finger tips.
I'm excited to do things on a better informed basis this time - and committed to seeing if I can be one of the lucky ones to have decade old (and older) crabs.
Starting from scratch, I actually want to make my own acrylic tank. I have a specific space where my new friends will be going, and have been sketching out how I want the tank to look and the dimensions. I'm a bit of a crafty and creative person. There are already plans in mind for a 'fire pole' and a 'luge slide' which will go up to a second level of the tank.
For the substrate, well, I live right on the beach. Thinking to go down, dig up some sand, sift it a bit, bake it up, and pour it in. I have coconut trees that grow around me, and this fiber comes off the trees sometimes - so wondering...
First question: Should I just cut some of this up and toss it in?
E: I'm sure you can, but I will let a more experienced crabber chime in. Most crabbers on here live in FL, But I live in Syracuse NY so, no beaches around here!
HM: Depends what it is. Most folks will recommend baking tree bark/branches first to kill any bugs/mold and maybe dipping or boiling in saltwater and drying it. You have to make sure you live in an area where they don't spray for mosquitoes, or that gets into the trees bark/leaves and can kill your crabs if you use stuff from a tree that is sprayed for mosquitoes. Crabs can be injured/killed by insecticides - those tend to mess up the crab's ability to make/renew his exoskeleton, which leads to dead crabs. Another thing to consider when adding plant/tree matter is that your crabitat will need to maintain 80F / 80%RH or higher as minimum values for all crabs, and higher for some exotic species - the care guides on this forum are great for the details on that. Higher humidity than 80% is great for crabs but has a tendency to grow mold (hence the caution about baking/boiling/drying stuff off trees and dipping in saltwater). Most folks here recommend using marine saltwater (Instant Ocean) to mix up your substrate in a 5:1 ratio of sand/cocofiber, moistened to sandcastle consistency with the marine saltwater. The marine saltwater helps prevent mold growth and maintain humidity of your substrate. You can vary the amounts of sand and cocofiber, but I only have experience with the 5:1 ratio, so I can't comment on other setups.
Also, here is a part b to that question that I've not seen the answer to yet. It is possible to buy/use cheap coconut fiber at the garden store (cheaper than pet store). Is this safe to use too?
E: Yes, they work the same
What I do know is that I should have a good 6 inches of substrate at the bottom of the tank.
E: Actually, that is the minimum, you should have three times the height of your biggest crab, but more is always better!
HM: So, if you have small, tiny, or medium crabs, 6" minimum or three times the height of your biggest crab, whichever is higher. There is a crab sizing chart here on the forum to look at when planning this. If you get Ecuadorian(E) crabs, a minimum of 10-12" substrate is recommended, even for the small E crabs, to try and prevent the Es from digging up molters.
HM: A related note: Make sure when you size/build your crabitat that you calculate based on how many crabs you plan to have and what size you plan them to be starting out. Also be aware, they can get bigger quicker than you think. Minimum recommendation is 5 gallons space per crab for small or medium crabs, 7 gal for large crabs, and 15 gallons OR MORE for jumbo crabs - more details in the Crabitat sizing guidelines post. Minimum tank size recommended for jumbo crabs is 75 gallons. The need more width in their crabitat, as well as floor space for molting, so they can move around well.
I've learned that I can make my own salt water with the right proportions of water and sea salt crystals. I do a lot of cooking with sea salt anyway, so this will be convenient and economical.
E: I wouldn't use that sea salt. Just in case but anyways, most crabbers use Instant Ocean for salt.
HM: I agree with HeyItsEggs. Reason why is crabs need the special minerals in marine saltwater to be healthy and thrive. Check out the Food&Water section of the Forum.
I use a water filter pitcher which uses carbon, and wondering if this filtered water will be purified enough or if I should let the water sit out for a few days as well to de-gas the chlorine?
E: You need a declhorinator. Just so you know, "solutions" that you might think are easier, might not work.
HM: I agree with HeyItsEggs, and the reason why you need a dechlorinator is because you don't know what might be in the water, or how well your filter is working at the moment. A carbon filter only removes certain things of a certain size range, and decreases in it's ability to do so over time. A product such as "Prime" removes chlorine, chloramine, ammonia produced from removing the chloramine, nitrates, nitrites, and heavy metals. All these things can over time cause your crabs to be sick and die. So most of us operate on the "better safe than sorry" when we don't know exactly what's in the water. Also be aware your municipality can change what's in the water with no notification to you. Crabs tend to be more sensitive than humans about what's in the water. More details in the Food&Water Forum.
My other main concerns at the moment are temperature and humidity. For the humidity I'm exploring a small battery operated fountain or a small solar fountain that could kick up most days and humidify. The panel for the solar has a 6ft cable so it can go directly in the window while the crabs are back a few feet.
E: You should have the gauges IN the tank not outside. I don't see what you're saying. But you should have them running constantly and inside the tank. I really don't get what you mean though.
HM: You could try that I guess. I think ExoTerra makes some type of waterfall if you want to go that route. Experienced crabbers may have more info. Folks just starting out usually use bubblers in their pools. There's a great post on here about how to do that. Once you get everything set up, you'll get a better idea of what you need. Whatever you choose, make sure you have a calibrated hygrometer and temperature gage in the tank at the level the crabs hang out at. Acu-rite makes a great one sold at Walmart - a dual temp and humidity gage that shows current values and hi/low values for 24 hr periods. Calibration instructions and more details are given in the Food & Water section of the Forum. Also check out the guidelines for pool dimensions and crab entry/exit requirements. Nested tupperware is generally recommended, and craft mesh is often used to provide a safe method of entry/exit.
HM: For temperature, a lot of folks use UTH, under tank heaters, mounted on the SIDE of the tank above the substrate to heat the air of the tank, which in turn heats the sand. Check out the post on heating/lights/UVB, etc.
HM: Also be aware, once you get it set up, it could take a few days for everything to level out and stabilize after all is running. I'd get it stable before adding crabs.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on what I've got going on so far.
