worried new owner

[ladybug15057]

Happy to hear things are going well!! Congratulations, and remember we are here if you need somebody to listen, share with, and for support.

[Papatoad]

Well here is a little update. Both crabs are out and moving about. The little one (no names yet) appears to have been damaged a little more than I first thought. His farthest left leg is kinda of deformed, pointing the wrong way. The last joint near the tip appears to have a ring of old exo around it and prevented it from going the correct direction. I fear this was my fault. He must have been in mid molt when I picked him up to exam him. He gets around well enough and even climbed the coconut fiber wall. What I hope for now is great care that will lead him to moult again and restore himself. The larger crab has eaten most of his exo and is now working on the remenants of the smaller one. On a lighter note. My son's friend noticed I have hermits and said he is on his last of five. My son went over to ask if he would sell it to me. It would be kinda of an adoption, rescue. I am by no means an expert on them,but I feel it would have a better chance with me. Wish me luck.

[Papatoad]

Here is another little update. WOW are they active. They are crawling fiends. I have a piece of brain coral in with them and they play king of the mountain. The remenants of the exo was down to the harder parts of the legs and claws. I understand them a little better having experienced a moult. I crushed the remenants up and put them in half shell. I also bought some cuttle bone and put some in with it. They seem to be eating that also. I did a no brainer. I bought some instant ocean and forgot to buy a hydrometer. I am pretty sure they are the purple pinchers. Is there a chance of finding another species in a petshop? I am thinking of getting two more crabs. A ten gallon aquarium fills up fast. The three bowls, coconut hut and brain coral, extra shells, driftwood.I am building a second story, but I would love to get a bigger setup. Thanks for all who care to listen.

[emmac350]

I don't have a hydrometer. What I do is mix up the water to the specifications on the back of the bag, then add about a tablespoon of salt extra. I'd rather the water be too strong as they can always dilute it with fresh water, but they can't make it more salty.

How many crabs do you have in your 10g, and how big are they? 10g tanks fill up really easily, and even with upper levels you run out of space for crabs without much effort. I'd say get a bigger tank before you get more crabs. That way you can use the 10g tank as an isolation tank for the newbies to make sure that they aren't sick and get used to their new conditions before introducing them to their future tankmates.

As for other species, I got a few Es from a pet store (it was a Petsmart about 2 hours away from my apartment; I was waiting for my husband's plane to get in and bought 4 tiny Es while I was waiting), but it took a long time to find a store that had them. I have seen a few pet stores that have tanks that are labeled with "Strawberry Crab" but they're always empty.

[ladybug15057]

I do have a hydrometer and use Instant ocean mixed in distilled bottled water. When mixing 1/2 cup to a U.S. gallon, or even 1/4 cup to 1/2 gallon of water on the occasions I test it it comes out to 1/022-1.024. I do not put extra in and my Strawberry's do well with mixture as well. Majority of ocean mixes call for the same, 1/2 cup to a gallon of water.

[Papatoad]

Right now I have two Pp. I have a medium and small, the 10 gal seems small for just the two. I have a smaller 5 gal that I received them in. I figured to keep that as an isolation tank. But it seems that the more creative I get in designing the faster I run out of room. I took an old plastic cutting board and put aquarium sealant on it and made a gravel edge that they will be able to cling. I am currently working on building support for it. Some old ceramic fish ornaments. A lot of it is trial and error. Drilling holes in the cutting board and putting some plastic plants draping them over the edge. It goes on and on. I am impressed with the stuff others have done. I used to have an old waterfall. Might be in the garage. One idea leads to the next. Anyway. I think I will upgrade to a larger aquarium before I purchase more crabs. Thanx for listening.

[CrabbyJo]

It sounds like you're having a great time, keep it coming, I love to hear how much creativity you're putting into it! What a great idea, drilling holes and draping the plastic plants, I love it!
I'm so glad there's at least one safe adhesive out there for us to use for these little guys (the aquarium adhesive, for those who are reading this and aren't sure what I mean).

You are just going to HAVE to take some pictures and post them so we can see them!

Oh, and for upgrading, I suggest checking freecycle in your area (yahoo mail group) - when I put out feelers looking for a 40 gallon breeder aquarium, I got at least two or three offers of aquariums that were at least 20 gallons, so try that first! If you tell them it doesn't have to hold water, they're all over it.

Good luck!

[Papatoad]

I located a couple probrable aquariums on craigslist. Haven't had time to chase after one yet. But on a lighter note. Of my two crabs, one has switched (finally) out of his painted spiderman shell. The other is in a batman shell. The painted shell has been removed from circulation. Batman was the one with the rough moult. I have been gently removing paint off of it but it still bothers me. The new shell looks to be a little large on him but He seems to enjoy it. It hasn't slowed him down at all. There are still other shells for him to choose from. I think I will start a journal. It's kinda fun reporting the crab news and updates and reading others. Thanx for listening.

[hermie_lover3542]

Hey if your looking for aquaiums on craigslist, thats great! I just bought one off of there recently and it's my main tank, and the crabs love it! Also if you are buying off of there If you just search aquaium you will get a list of course, and if you click on pets and then type it you will get another list!

[CrabbyJo]

Another way to search for aquariums on Craigslist is to search these terms:

Fish tank
terrarium
lizard tank
lizard cage

You could find a steal!