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Halloween moon vivarium, opinions?
Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 4:36 pm
by platypuskid2

My Halloween moon crab, Lunar, recently got his terrarium renovated into a half terrarium half aquarium vivarium. Considering putting fish in the aquarium half and I am seeking opinions
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Re: Halloween moon vivarium, opinions?
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 12:18 am
by aussieJJDude
You do know that the water has to be properly cycled before the introduction of fish. And that fish require a large enough space, and if my calculations are correct, this is around 10g of space. Your rainbow crab will make easy work of the fish, since there are no real hiding spots, either that or they will potentially die of ammonia poisoning. If you still have your heart set on fish, please research deeply beforehand, they more work than what people think.
Insteady, have you though of adding more decor to both the land and water section to keep Luna interested in her environment? Plastic plants, logs, hidey holes, rocks are some ideas that you could include. Even a "level' over the water section by using suction cup dishes and a ramp to access the dish... That way, she has more space to roam.
Re: Halloween moon vivarium, opinions?
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 9:17 pm
by LadyJinglyJones
If the aquarium half is under 10 gal, there isn't much you could humanely keep in there. The crab might like having some aquarium snails to pick off when he's bored... and if you went to your LFS or even put up an add online asking for 'nuisance snails' you certainly wouldn't have to pay for them.
Is that kind of crab at all aquatic? From the setup I'm guessing it's maybe an inter-tidal species and moults on the land?
Re: Halloween moon vivarium, opinions?
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 10:34 pm
by platypuskid2
LadyJinglyJones wrote:If the aquarium half is under 10 gal, there isn't much you could humanely keep in there. The crab might like having some aquarium snails to pick off when he's bored... and if you went to your LFS or even put up an add online asking for 'nuisance snails' you certainly wouldn't have to pay for them.
Is that kind of crab at all aquatic? From the setup I'm guessing it's maybe an inter-tidal species and moults on the land?
Halloween moon crabs are land crabs but he seems to love hanging out in the water and I'll take what you said into consideration as I only put 2.5 gallons of water in the aquarium side
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Re: Halloween moon vivarium, opinions?
Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 11:23 am
by PinchersAndShells
It's been awhile since I last researched these little guys, but if I remember correctly they can drown so I'd make sure that he has a way in and out of the water.
Re: Halloween moon vivarium, opinions?
Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 11:49 am
by platypuskid2
PinchersAndShells wrote:It's been awhile since I last researched these little guys, but if I remember correctly they can drown so I'd make sure that he has a way in and out of the water.
I made sure of this and made him a rock staircase and I believe he nightly takes a swim and I wake up every morning to see him on land
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Re: Halloween moon vivarium, opinions?
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 6:45 pm
by Orin
I would worry about drowning even with the rock staircase.
I would be surprised if a moon crab could catch any type of fish.
Re: Halloween moon vivarium, opinions?
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:41 pm
by aussieJJDude
In saying that, having multiple entry and exit points is a good idea.

Using sticks, or possibly making a ramp out of eggcrate/canvas mesh would be a good idea.
Re: Halloween moon vivarium, opinions?
Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:54 pm
by wodesorel
Orin knows what he's talking about!
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Re: Halloween moon vivarium, opinions?
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 8:59 am
by schoolprofile
Yeah, I love it, but Halloween Moon Crabs need much shallower water. I know I myself am late to see this post, but Halloween Moon Crabs are not like hermit crabs where they can go underwater for periods of time. Hermit Crabs are more semi-aquatic, whereas Halloween Moon Crabs are terrestrial. I wouldn't go deeper than a few inches. Heck, I'd only go as far as about half the crab's height. They drown somewhat easily.