color

[Jadexox]

most of my hermies were a tan color when i got them and later on i heared it means there color has faded so i decided to give them heaps of calcium and fruit and veg that were red orange or yellow cause i heared it can help but they wont eat it so how will there color ever get better

[emmac350]

Crab color doesn't change instantly, but instead very gradually over time with each molt. Since you live in Australia, I presume that you have Aussie crabs, which can range in color from tan to even a whitish color naturally. If you want the crabs' color to darken, feeding them bright and dark (dark green or purples should help too) fruits, veggies, and seafood (prawns are good for coloring) will help, along with offering such natural things like cork bark, cholla wood, etc. These all play a part in coloring. Keep in mind, though, that feeding your crab a bunch of red foods won't turn the crab red, nor will giving it blue foods or green ones turn it blue or green. These items will only serve to deepen the color the crab already has.

As for the crabs not eating, crabs can sometimes eat very small amounts of what's offered, so look closely for claw marks on the food. Sometimes they can go without eating for days, only to chow down and eat everything a few days later.

[Jadexox]

thanks but you know how you said i had aussie crabs witch i do have, well i have one that is a dark red what could he be a straw.

thanks for the info

[ladybug15057]

Chances are it is one of the Aussie varieties. They come in many colors. Are you able to get a picture of this hermie?

[Suebee]

I know straws are more available in Austrailia then here in the US so you could have a straw. This is one of my favorite places for people to help with identification check it out it might help you to know what you have. It also has some great photos showing lots of colors in different species-
http://coenobitaspecies.com/perlatus.htm

[kgbenson]

most of my hermies were a tan color when i got them and later on i heared it means there color has faded so i decided to give them heaps of calcium and fruit and veg that were red orange or yellow cause i heared it can help but they wont eat it so how will there color ever get better

Try looking for foods that contain Astaxanthin, as this is the caratenoid that is most prevalent in decapod crustaceans as far as the reds go. There are some other compounds that give other colored but this is the primary carotenoid and is most efficiently used by decapoda.

http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/Food-f ... t-c85.html

Krill, Shrimp, cyclop-eeze etc. contain large quantities of Astaxanthin.

Keith

[CrabbyJo]

Very good point there, kgbenson.

Micro-algae is also a very strong source of caretenoids, and spirulina is a very easy to obtain micro-algae. It is also extremely rich in nutrients.

Salmon is also another good source of astaxanthin.

Sources: Astaxanthin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astaxanthin
Micro-Algae: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microalgae

I don't know but would assume that the algae/seaweed sheets available at your local pet stores are also micro-algae.

[kgbenson]

Salmon is also another good source of astaxanthin.

Kind of, sort of. It is good for many reasons, but if you are looking for astaxanthin, there are some far better choices than salmon.

Sources: Astaxanthin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astaxanthin

Look at the chart half way down the page. Of the listed sources, Salmon ranks lowest. Most of the others are at least an order of magnitude higher.

I don't know but would assume that the algae/seaweed sheets available at your local pet stores are also micro-algae.

They are actually macroalgae. IF you are looking for microalgea usually you will be purchasing a powder, pellet or a paste. Check out the brine shrimp direct website - they sell several algal pastes. Spirulina is probably the best know microalgae.

Keith

[CrabbyJo]

Yep I made some assumptions there. The cost of posting on forums on a work break with limited time.

Salmon is still something I would choose to add to their diet - they need a variety of foods, and there are oils and other nutrients in the salmon that are extremely healthy, so it would be one to add to the list of meats you give your crabs every week or so. And one to put on the list of astaxanthin containing foods, regardless of the quantity.

[Jadexox]

can i just grab a bit from th beach