Help Identifying and Questions

Questions about identifying the differences between species.
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phynyx525
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Help Identifying and Questions

Post by phynyx525 »

Okay this is my first post so I hope it's in the right place. I have to crabs that I want help identifying. One is one that my daughter brought home from a carnival in a painted shell and the second one is one that we bought so the first crab would have some company, it has a natural shell. I am attaching some photo links so that I can get some idea as to what type of crabs these are. Also I know it is important to get Mr. Crabs out of the painted shell, so I have supplied multiple natural shells that are the same size, shape, and some that are a little bigger. So far Mr. Crabs has no interest at all in any of the other shells. I washed and rinsed them with distilled water and aquarium salt. The new crab, Monster Crabs, loved the shells and even tried on a couple even though they were a little small. I saw my first shell change and it was awesome. I just thought it would be the smaller crab getting out of the painted shell. The reason I am posting is that the paint on the shell looks like it is starting to chip and I do not want either crab getting sick. So any ideas would be very helpful and help with the identification would be great.

Image

http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t50 ... 87b383.jpg
http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t50 ... 1b2114.jpg
http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t50 ... 08d71f.jpg
http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t50 ... d8c4d8.jpg
http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t50 ... cc8464.jpg
Mike
PP Crabs: Helios and Caesar
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Wai
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Re: Help Identifying and Questions

Post by Wai »

Both are Coenobita clypeatus, commonly known as the Caribbean or purple pincher land hermit crab.
Wai
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ladybug15057
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Re: Help Identifying and Questions

Post by ladybug15057 »

You mention "Aquarium salt". Is it that which is sold specifically for salt water fish tanks? The extra shells, are they lightweight turbo style shells like these:

http://naplesseashellcompany.com/tapest ... crabs.html

http://www.hermitcrabpatch.com/Natural- ... 1-r013.htm

It seems majority of PP hermies prefer the rounded opening to their shells like the turbo's that fit their rounded torsos better. The painted shell is more of a D shape....
And some hermies are so traumatized due to how they are made to take the painted shells that it can take awhile before they will swap out their painted shell. Most we can do is offer proper shells, boil them every couple days, let them cool and re-offer them. Sometimes misting within the helps a bit more too, as well as being in iso for a little more security while trying on shells. In the wild many times once one changes shells it sets off a chain reaction.
Thank you for sharing the pictures of your little ones. They are adorable!
Marie (aka ladybug15057)

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phynyx525
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Posts: 11
Joined: 16 Jun 2012, 13:42
Gender: Male
Hermit crabs: 2
Total gallons: 15
Total tanks: 2
Location: San Antonio, TX

Re: Help Identifying and Questions

Post by phynyx525 »

Thanks Wai and Ladybug for the information. I am using API aquarium salt that I bought at Petsmart to mix for the saltwater. The shells I bought are all turbo shells except for one that I bought to match the painted shell. I thought this might make the transition out of the painted shell easier. So far no luck. I also have access to a 50 gallon aquarium that I am thinking about turning it to a hermie habitat. It has been used for fresh water fish, and needs to be cleaned. Do I just use soap and water, or vinegar to get it cleaned out? I don't want to use any chemicals that will cause any problems. Thanks again for all the info and for a great website.
Mike
PP Crabs: Helios and Caesar
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ladybug15057
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Location: Southwestern Pa., U.S.

Re: Help Identifying and Questions

Post by ladybug15057 »

I would suggest to use the distilled white vinegar and water solution to clean the tank. Pay special attention to the silicone on the inside of the walls and the floor and rinse until all the vinegar odor is gone. (no soap or chemicals, even if they are sold for hermies and suppose to be safe)
The API is a salt mix for freshwater fish tanks, not for salt water fish. One needs to use an ocean/sea mix sold specifically for salt water fish tanks. There is a difference. Please scroll about 1/2 way down this link:
http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... storyid=20
Marie (aka ladybug15057)

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phynyx525
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Joined: 16 Jun 2012, 13:42
Gender: Male
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Total gallons: 15
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Location: San Antonio, TX

Re: Help Identifying and Questions

Post by phynyx525 »

Thanks Marie. I just ordered some instant ocean aquarium salt from Amazon. I am also working on getting the aquarium cleaned up. I'm glad these were suppose to be my daughter's pets. Looks like I am hooked :) .
Mike
PP Crabs: Helios and Caesar
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ladybug15057
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Location: Southwestern Pa., U.S.

Re: Help Identifying and Questions

Post by ladybug15057 »

Oh how well I relate to them being your daughters hermies!! That is how it started here... 12 YEARS ago yesterday. (our 12th year hermie anniversary was June 17th for pets that were suppose to only live 2-3 months! And yes majority of them are still alive today...)
PetSmart and Petco both sell Instant Ocean. (and Pet Supplies plus to if you have one in your area) Not sure what the s/h charges are on it but what I buy here lasts for MONTHS and we a few main tanks and very large ponds.
Marie (aka ladybug15057)

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phynyx525
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Posts: 11
Joined: 16 Jun 2012, 13:42
Gender: Male
Hermit crabs: 2
Total gallons: 15
Total tanks: 2
Location: San Antonio, TX

Re: Help Identifying and Questions

Post by phynyx525 »

Same here. I was upset because I thought this was going to be a disposable pet and was not looking forward to explaining to my daughter that her new pet wasn't going to be around long. Luckily my niece told us that hermit crabs will live a long time if taken care of. So now we are addicted and I'm trying to explain to my wife that we need more because hermit crabs are social creatures. I don't think she believes me. She thinks I am just looking for reasons to get more. I figure that since we are getting a bigger tank we should adopt more. Thanks again for all the information that you've given and for taking time to answer my questions.
Mike
PP Crabs: Helios and Caesar
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ladybug15057
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Joined: 03 Mar 2008, 04:12
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Total gallons: 305
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Location: Southwestern Pa., U.S.

Re: Help Identifying and Questions

Post by ladybug15057 »

About 12 years ago we did the same thing....and next thing buying a couple here, there and... well we know how that goes I ended up with an 82 hermie household. One thing I didn't figure on was when 12 year old daughter got her first job, went to college... etc. CrabWorks tried to warn me, "You're getting all these hermies, what are you going to do if they live as long as Jon & Kate?" At the time I sort of giggled it off, yeah right.... a little over 11 years ago. Carol and I still write and every so often I do mention to her "Carol your statement about what if they live as long....well I am not giggling any more" ;) I really didn't think they would live this long... but happy they have. So CrabWorks had Jon & Kate for 35 years (sadly Kate passed last October) and only the 2 for so long. A little one she got years ago sort of went MIA and she never got another. So please do stop and think prior to getting more. Some children do lose interest in a year or so.
http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... s%27+Ormes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcwXBs7A ... ature=plcp

And when Yahoo closed the Geocities sites, to save her photos I created her a free photobucket account:
http://s657.photobucket.com/albums/uu295/CrabWorks/

This was a photo she did of the numerous shells they were in throughout the years:
http://s657.photobucket.com/albums/uu29 ... grup85.jpg
Marie (aka ladybug15057)

If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.
User avatar
phynyx525
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Posts: 11
Joined: 16 Jun 2012, 13:42
Gender: Male
Hermit crabs: 2
Total gallons: 15
Total tanks: 2
Location: San Antonio, TX

Re: Help Identifying and Questions

Post by phynyx525 »

Wow, that is great. That was an awesome article and story. 35 yrs is unbelievable. I think we will stick to 2 or 3 crabs. I don't know if I could handle 82 crabs. Thank you for sharing Carol's story with me. The more I learn about hermit crabs the more I discover how amazing they are. I enjoyed looking over both of your photo albums. You have a great habitat set up. I wanted to ask what are your thoughts on sand substrate over coconut fiber? I've been using coconut fiber, but was wondering once we get the larger tank set up would sand be better? Also how do you tell what sex a hermit crab is? We are trying to rename our crabs and don't want to give them any gender confusing names. Like Mr. Crabs to a female :) .

Update - I searched the website again and found out how to tell gender of my crabs. It seems that I have two male crabs, I used a magnifying glass to look for the gonopores, or actually the lack of gonopores on the third set of limbs. So as far as I can tell there were no gonopores. So now we just need to come up with something better than Mr. Crabs and Monster Crab for names.
Mike
PP Crabs: Helios and Caesar
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