fw fiddler crab

[accordztech]

well i been having this little fiddler crab (female) for a few weeks now.

for now i put her in a gass bown with a filter media so she can come up above the water and do her thing.

yet i put her in the tank she is very active but dumb to not find the areas i put so that she can come up for air. i even have these long plants that she can climb...

so i put a air stone in it and she found it, but only sits on it (regulated flow) for a few seconds trying to get air and then gets off...

if she cant learn i may give her to my friend. she has a turtle tank with water and land.

how do some people keep these guys in their tanks?

also i heard that these girls like salty water so i put a bit of salt in her bowl, but i really like to have her in my 18 gallon.

any ideas tips, reasons =)

 

[lordroad]

I just bought a male fiddler for my guppy tank to clean the sand substrate, and here's what I've implemented for him:

The eclipse tank is totally sealed, and the very tip of the driftwood is exposed to air. Also, the crab can climb up the filter and heater cord to get to a little porch under the hood beside the filter. I've seen him there twice now.

It's a 3 gallon tank, and I added 2 teaspoons of aquarium salt... not quite brackish, but the guppies can handle it, and I think it will be acceptable for the crab.

 

[accordztech]

well i should of thought ahead, actually she passed away.

she was in a temp tank with a little filter pad he can clime up above the water, but when i was away for 2 days it must of went up above the water where she couldnt reach it...then passed away.

its soo sad, i hate a pet dying yet alone having it die cause of me.

for now i think ill wait till i can find something where i can have another crab climb up on. i have a 18 gallon tall so its a bit harder to get a HUGE piece of driftwood...ill try and find a stiff plant.

i may not even go for a crab again, he was harassed by my female betta but always came up on top.

i remember her climbing up the side of the tank with the help of the heater but the heater never reached the top...

ill try to find a way to do it so i can ensure her a life...but as for now i think ill hold off...

 

[SpanishGuy111]

You guys have no idea how much salt you actually need. A red claw crab would suit your desire to have a crab in a FW tank much better.

In reality, a fiddler crab needs about 1.010 salinity to be happy- just to give you an idea, they need about 5 parts salt to 100 parts water to truly be "happy"

TWO teaspoons to your three gallons is insignificant, to any animal. Had you gone as high as a two tablespoons- which your guppies would have tolerated, you might have been ok.

Furthermore, something like INSTANT OCEAN is MUCH more suitable than table salt.

 

[accordztech]

it sucks how LFS doesnt tell you that info doesnt it?

 

[accordztech]

it sucks how LFS doesnt tell you that info doesnt it?

 

[SpanishGuy111]

Hey, now that you KNOW, take it back before you kill the poor thing. Get a red claw, or a crawfish. Please dont kill mr crab.

 

[SpanishGuy111]

ALSO, if the LFS doesnt tell you, BOYCOTT IT. The LFS I work at WILL NOT sell u brackish stuff unless you have a hydrometer. And if you cant tell me what your SG is, you're lyin to me about HAVING the hydrometer and you aint gettin the crab

 

[BlueNote]

I've got 3 fiddlers in my 70 gallon, I used to have 5, 2 died the first day, the other 3, one was an older one is a happy little man now, 2 inch claw on him, he has a little male freind and a little female freind, my tank is 100 % fresh water, but I am sure there is some salt content to due to the use of Limestone rock which leachs out salts. Either way I have had zero problems with them and they are a pleasure to watch, I also have a full grown moon crab and a wild caught crayfish ( which had babies in my tank )

 

[SomethingFishy]

Hey SpanishGuy . . .

It is nice to see that there sre still some reputable LFS out there. Every once and a while I will stop by a Petsmart or Petco and here the worst advice (not always but most of the time).

Sounds like you work at a really good LFS. Where are you at in the world?