burning bush

Jedi_Sena · Post by **Jedi_Sena** » 12 Oct 2006, 04:45

I wish I had taken a before and after shot of this branch of burning bush that I left in the tank overnight. It is badly mangled! The dark green "bark" on the branch is gnawed off for a stretch of 2 full inches and about half of the leaves have been torn off and many of them are half-eaten. One of the fruits are half-eaten as well. They've never done this kind of damage to anything before! When they eat Russian olive tree leaves, 4 crabs might have done this much damage in a week. I am down to 2 crabs and they ate that much in one night! Crazy! At least in a couple of weeks we'll be really sure whether it is safe or not since they definitely sampled it well!

Jedi_Sena · Post by **Jedi_Sena** » 17 Oct 2006, 05:16

Everyone is still alive and no change in normal activity. Tank is digging and picking at his coconut hut (eating bits of the hairy threads). Zamboni is burried, but he often is underground during the day.

hermiesrokmysox · Post by **hermiesrokmysox** » 17 Oct 2006, 08:56

that's good. so i guess burning buch leaves is okay to feed.

Jedi_Sena · Post by **Jedi_Sena** » 18 Oct 2006, 06:19

Well, things look good, but I think a food trial needs to run for at least 2 whole weeks before deciding either way, and we're not quite there yet. Plus, I want everyone to go through a good molt before we declare it to be 100% safe.

Interesting note: I have also been feeding Cottonwood tree leaves and my crabs have eaten it twice w/ no harmful effects. It is not as exciting a food as the burning bush or Russian olive leaves that I've been feeding (meaning it didn't get as big a reaction), but it is still potentially a new food source!

hermiesrokmysox · Post by **hermiesrokmysox** » 19 Oct 2006, 07:42

hmmm, very interesting! keep up with the food "experiementing"

Jaci · Post by **Jaci** » 27 Oct 2006, 04:34

I agree. Experimenting is fun, I don't have the money nor the resources to experiment, but it's fun to learn what everyone else is doing and how it's working for them.

Jedi_Sena · Post by **Jedi_Sena** » 04 Nov 2006, 08:48

It is now safe to say that burning bush is safe for crabs. My crabs are doing great and a friend of mine has tried it out on her crabs and found that hers liked it very much as well.

Also, my food trial on Cottonwood tree leaves is over and is safe and well-liked by crabs.

If anyone molts soon, I will report any problems or color changes that I notice.

Jedi_Sena · Post by **Jedi_Sena** » 14 Nov 2006, 09:08

Well, a fellow crabber also tried the burning bush and it was a big hit w/ her crabs too! It is definitely a safe food source. Soon I will have molters up and will report any noticable color change.

Also, I have tested out cottonwood tree leaves and have concluded that they too are safe. (Fellow crabber thought this was the favorite trial food in her crab tank).

I am testing Mulberry leaves now. I'm pretty hopeful about Mulberry leaves too because they ate quite a bit of it, but the verdict is still out on that . . .

Jedi_Sena · Post by **Jedi_Sena** » 07 Dec 2006, 03:15

Well, one of my molters surfaced yesterday and he is perfect! So, it is safe to say that Burning Bush, Cottonwood, and Mulberry leaves are all safe! He looks a bit brighter to me than before his molt, but it is hard to say for what reason.

Jedi_Sena · Post by **Jedi_Sena** » 26 Jun 2008, 00:41

Wanted to share this related update: I cut down a young mulberry tree and chopped of the long branches and put it in the crabitat for a climber. The crabs immediately took to it climbing it like crazy. A couple days later I noticed that they'd been digging into the bark, pinching and eating it. If everyone is still alive in 2 weeks, then I'll know it is safe.

Also a reminder that it is mulberry season so find a tree and harvest. They freeze well for use all year round!

burning bush

burning bush update

burning bush update

Re: burning bush update

food trials

Re: food trials

safe

burning bush, cottonwood

Mulberry leaves safe

Re: burning bush