oo, got a question about Indo coloring!!

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sugarselections
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Post by sugarselections » Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:01 am

curious_kitty wrote::-Sugarselections: did you lose your strawberry during molt? or was it something like strawberry streaking and dying? :( :( I am searching crazy for some sort of in-depth-information on their care(still searching right now as I type)... but then, maybe they are not meant to be kept in captivity.
I've been watching several listings of hermit crabs on ELHC, and I know they let their hermits have 1st molt prior to purchase.
It was also interesting to note that none of the strawberries are yet for sale as they are down to molt. Wonder if anyone bought strawberries from ELHC before?
[smilie=fingerscrossed.jpg] [smilie=fingerscrossed.jpg]
Both of my recent straw deaths were crabs who were underground. One was definitely in the process of molting and died before he hardened up. I'm not sure if the other was underground to molt or just doing some extracurricular digging.

I haven't bought any straws from ELHC.

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curious_kitty
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Post by curious_kitty » Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:57 pm

hi sugarselections!~ I found an interesting study that was done on C.perlatus (http://www.jstor.org/pss/30155413). I bought a copy t Id love to share with you if you are interested in reading them(via email)just for fun :)

For their study, they fed them fruits, and dog food! :hlol: :hlol: They dont discuss why strawberries cannot survive in captivity too long(i am still searching for answers though) but nevertheless, an interesting behavioral study on precious strawberries.
Godmother to two tuxedo cats, PPs and Es, violas, indos, strawberries and ruggies, Wifey to one VERY patient hubby
200g crabitank under construction started on 4/10/2010

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littleraindrop87
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Post by littleraindrop87 » Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:44 am

one year markk for straws? really? i didnt know that! i had my straws for close to 2 years and they're doing so well. They will always be one of the first few crabs dashing to the food bowl whenever new food is put in. XD too cute!! and they're just as gentle as well :)
Rugs: Ribbs, Raiko, Racer, Ramica,
Indos: Rum, Reizin, Reffalump
Violas: Ritsuke, Risako, Rekka
Straws: Rumbo, Rhivas, Rice, BFG

Call me Fallow

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curious_kitty
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Post by curious_kitty » Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:58 am

:shock: littleraindrop87, what is your secret?! Is it about getting smallest strawberries? is it the food? the substrate?! more warm/more humidity?! getting lots of strawberries?! large strawberries? I ... Must.... know, please!
Godmother to two tuxedo cats, PPs and Es, violas, indos, strawberries and ruggies, Wifey to one VERY patient hubby
200g crabitank under construction started on 4/10/2010

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littleraindrop87
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Post by littleraindrop87 » Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:56 am

Lol! no secret really. what my crabs have are probably the same as all others here. There are quite a few crabbers here who has straws who have stayed with them for a much longer time i'm sure!

i have 2 medium strawberrys and 1 small straw. XD the small one is the latest addition of about 2 months ago but i got my 2 medium straws almost 1 and a half years ago (2 yrs in june). my substrate is mainly sand and recently i just chnaged into a EE mix and they all molt fine. in fact, my violas seem to molt faster in this mix. LOL!! but since its too expensive to get those bricks in Singapore, i'll probably be switching back to sand half a year later.

food wise: well carrots, lettuce, shrimps, dried fish, popcorn and if there are any goodies, i'll just add that in. really depends on what i have for dinner. XD their food changes every day or i'm really lazy, every 2 days. :S

as for humidity and warmth, i stay near the equator, so its tropical weather everyday with humidity around 80% everyday here so that's not a problem. but i do on the AC at night but i will cover the tank with a warm blanket XD and there are 2 pools (salt & fresh) so it keeps it nice and humid in there.

really there is no secret. XD i just let them do what they want in the tank. and they seem quite outgoing to me! i love watching them move around.
Rugs: Ribbs, Raiko, Racer, Ramica,
Indos: Rum, Reizin, Reffalump
Violas: Ritsuke, Risako, Rekka
Straws: Rumbo, Rhivas, Rice, BFG

Call me Fallow

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curious_kitty
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Post by curious_kitty » Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:53 am

You live near the equator? *looks out the window* :( What i see outside my window is.... -2'F and ......few inches of snow :cry:

as crazy as it sounds, I would def want to move to some place tropical when I retire- just so that I can have nice weather, and happy strawberries near beach somewhere


I tried *really hard* to find someone on this thread who has kept strawberries for awhile awhile in US- it seems to be sugarselections and kili(I think he got his last july, and still doing well so far), and you(but you live in a perfect place for hermit crabbys near the equator!!) and SebbyCrab(from liverhermitcrabs.com, maybe a month ago? right?)
I am getting violas and indos and was hoping to get strawberries.. if it takes living in tropical reagion near equator to keep them healthy for long.... ARGH


-.....

ARGH!!
Godmother to two tuxedo cats, PPs and Es, violas, indos, strawberries and ruggies, Wifey to one VERY patient hubby
200g crabitank under construction started on 4/10/2010

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sugarselections
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Post by sugarselections » Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:05 am

Have you tried starting a new thread asking for people to post who have successfully kept straws for 1+ years? I'm sure there are people out there who have had straws for a longer period of time who just may not be reading this thread.

Also, I haven't lost all my straws. I only lost the largest two.

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curious_kitty
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Post by curious_kitty » Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:44 am

Sugarselections, thats a great idea! I didnt want to pester people(like I havent already) with too many questions- i was afraid they will just say, "just dont get them!"
yesterday, I installed small fan, and UVB light inside my 40g tank and its reading 82F and 85% so far - little warmer with lamp, and bit higher humidity than what I had before....but I saw so much activity with the fan on(or maybe the UVB light?), it was crazy! so I will have to monitor to see if humidity becomes stable as before.
Ok, I'll start a new thread..(I didnt find the care information thread too helpful) :claps:
Godmother to two tuxedo cats, PPs and Es, violas, indos, strawberries and ruggies, Wifey to one VERY patient hubby
200g crabitank under construction started on 4/10/2010

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suebee
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Post by suebee » Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:02 pm

After talking with Bob from ElHC I decided not to get both indos and violas, Seems violas love to dig up molters that do not molt deep and indos molt very shallow, they like to molt under a dish or not to deep at all from what he tells me. I already have violas so i crossed indos off my list. I do have straws, i have one who just came up from a molt and he looks lovely, still very red not much different from when he want down, he wasnt down that long i would not of thought he molted but he has new tiny pins on the ends of his feet so he did molt. I got my straws in November so ive only had them for a short while, they seem to eat like pigs.. I love to watch them eat. They also will eat from my hand. Mine are big mediums to large straws. (pictures in my photo thread) I love them i have one that hangs out with my littlest E, They bath together and seems the E is always taking a ride on the straws back.
I would say E's are my fav in my tank, they are the ones out most of the time.
The straws do drag the food around the tank. Its funny to see them carry a baby carrot. They have no fear of people picking them up.
I do keep the water a bit more salty then I did for just E's and PP's.

I usually want to have a new type for a year before i try another kind but when i got the Straws i got violas at the same time, it was a opportunity i couldn't miss out on. I think after im sure they are doing well and i get a successful molt of a viola, (two are down now) then i might try blueberries. I love the indos but i dont know if i want to pull my violas any time i think one is about to molt.
My best suggestion is give Bob at ELHC a call and talk to him about what you would like, he is great to talk to and will give great advise.
I buy from ELHC or HCP, I CANNOT RECEIVE PM MESSAGES SO EMAIL ME,anytime! suebeebuzz@me.com visit my Hermit Crab Dollar Store. Crabbing from aprox 1974- I own 12 Species,On Face Book-Susan Staff's Coenobita Research of New Jersey

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curious_kitty
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Post by curious_kitty » Wed Feb 17, 2010 6:50 pm

Oh wow, I didnt know Violas are hyper type that likes to dig around! I thought Es were notorious for that- What I realized from my 13Es is that they do dig around the crabitat- like all of them, but they dont really dig deep.. but I can see how this can be an issue if you have indo who doesnt dig deep to molt.

I did something I feel pretty guilty of, But I will def report back to this forum about what i did in few days! :anon:
Godmother to two tuxedo cats, PPs and Es, violas, indos, strawberries and ruggies, Wifey to one VERY patient hubby
200g crabitank under construction started on 4/10/2010

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sugarselections
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Post by sugarselections » Wed Feb 17, 2010 6:59 pm

In my own personal experience, violas don't dig up molters and Indos do bury deep when they molt. I've had violas in my crabitat for a while now and none of them has ever exhibited that type of behavior. Also, I know that two of my Indos dug to the very bottom of the tank to molt.

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curious_kitty
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Post by curious_kitty » Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:47 pm

oO thats good to know, so I guess it might be varying from one crabby to the other crabby- not as a whole species behavior(minus Es.. I think they just like to dig around everywhere). I am not going to cross out the indo yet :anon:
Godmother to two tuxedo cats, PPs and Es, violas, indos, strawberries and ruggies, Wifey to one VERY patient hubby
200g crabitank under construction started on 4/10/2010

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tlivs
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Post by tlivs » Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:00 pm

hmmm well not to be a downer... but don't you already have 25 crabs in a 40b?
if you aren't planning on getting a new tank you are going to be way overstocked
arthur, charlie, ralph, hunter and oliver
rip. benjamin

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tlivs
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Post by tlivs » Wed Feb 17, 2010 9:48 pm

are you serious how lucky!
well nevermind then
arthur, charlie, ralph, hunter and oliver
rip. benjamin

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curious_kitty
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Post by curious_kitty » Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:23 pm

:D yeap! I have 55g newly set up with 6-7" deep EE and sand with live spider plants, and grass growing in there rightnow :) Everything set up including 4" deep pools for salt/fresh, and temp/humidity gauge reading 82-85% humidity and 81-82F for the past week or so...... this one will be for my new crabs(which I haven't gotten yet). I also had set up my 10 gallon in case i need to ISO any newcomers(one can never know!). I am just busy trying to gather as much info as possible to take best care of the hermits that I have AND for the future ones... (straws/violas/indo) so that I can minimize the need for posting anything in 'New Crab Emergency thread' because I missed something..

here is 40g- i know i know, i am in process of collecting decorations/branches.. my deep clean/redo is in couple weeks bc I have few molters down.

Image

here is 1st half of 55g- no decorations. i am waiting for my plants to grow
Image
and the sand side with pools
Image
Godmother to two tuxedo cats, PPs and Es, violas, indos, strawberries and ruggies, Wifey to one VERY patient hubby
200g crabitank under construction started on 4/10/2010

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