Adding Crustaceans To My Tank

[a.spaceman]

I've been thinking for quite a while about adding some crustaceans in my (planted) tank, as I like the look and would love them scavenging/cleaning, and I'm struggling to decide what kind of them.

I have 4 young silver dollars (none is past 2.5/3 inches in lenght) and a young bn plec (about 2.5 inches). Obviously the dollars will reach a larger size and I've been told by one shopkeeper shrimps will be too small (=too eatable). Any opinions on this?

I've also looked into small crabs (love the looks!) and, while one shop keeper told me they'd be fine (and not eatable unlike the shrimp), another (another fish shop) told me they can be quite dodgy and pinchy, as well as being prone to escape.

Long story short, I'd like some nice, good looking crustaceans to scavenge and wonder around my tank and I want them to be friends with my fishies... Any advice?

Thanks a lot!

 

[me499]

I've been thinking for quite a while about adding some crustaceans in my (planted) tank, as I like the look and would love them scavenging/cleaning, and I'm struggling to decide what kind of them.

I have 4 young silver dollars (none is past 2.5/3 inches in lenght) and a young bn plec (about 2.5 inches). Obviously the dollars will reach a larger size and I've been told by one shopkeeper shrimps will be too small (=too eatable). Any opinions on this?

I've also looked into small crabs (love the looks!) and, while one shop keeper told me they'd be fine (and not eatable unlike the shrimp), another (another fish shop) told me they can be quite dodgy and pinchy, as well as being prone to escape.

Long story short, I'd like some nice, good looking crustaceans to scavenge and wonder around my tank and I want them to be friends with my fishies... Any advice?

Thanks a lot!

i have looked into crabs quite a lot as i to would love a crab, i did buy 1 a few months ago and within 3 days it was dead but i think it was just a sick crab, or so i was told. i havent tried again yet but i will be getting another one verry soon.

there is a lot of debate over wether or not they full/partly aquatic but i found a website that sell "atlantis underwater islands" (just google it) and they are really cool, pretty cheap and i think the best solution to this problem.

as for the crabs being fish food, they do get eaten but from what i gather its only really stuff like puffer fish that will cause any harm, but then again im not an expert. what i have found though with keeping aquariums is its allways 6 of 1 and half a dozen of another, some say yes deffinately and some say no way what are you mad, so maybe just get one give it a try and hope for the best.

as for the crab harming the fish, they are far to slow to get near them but if you do find the crab managed to get one the chances are it was dying any way and was really slow and drousy, so that really shouldnt be a problem.

also you must block up any holes around any leads and pipes going into your tank cus they WILL deffinately try to get out. mine did twice in the first day b4 i put a wire mesh grate across the top (ive kept it for when i get another 1)

but good luck, they really are cool little critters and fun to watch

 

[Jonty]

How big is your tank?

 

[Samilktray]

I really want a small crab in my tank, but I've always wondered how to provide them with the space to get out of the water for air. My local shop tells me they would be fine staying underwater all the time but I wasnt convinced despite 1 of there show tanks containing a crab and having space for it to come out of the water.

 

[me499]

I really want a small crab in my tank, but I've always wondered how to provide them with the space to get out of the water for air. My local shop tells me they would be fine staying underwater all the time but I wasnt convinced despite 1 of there show tanks containing a crab and having space for it to come out of the water.

atlantis underwater islands (just google it), as i said i think this is deffinately the best solution to this problem.

 

[ZoddyZod]

atlantis underwater islands (just google it), as i said i think this is deffinately the best solution to this problem.

that's a very cool little gadget.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Oh no, this has just made me think of red claw crabs again, very neat idea!

 

[me499]

i do love the aquatic crabs, and will deffinately be getting one soon, the guy at my lfs has told me about a DWARF RAINBOW CRAB on his stocking list which he is in the process of ordering in?? that was a couple of weeks ago and i havent heard anything yet and i cant find any info on them what so ever, so im not really sure if any one has any info it would be much appreciated.

but if that fails then its a red clawed crab and an atlantis island

 

[Jonty]

I think those crabs are brackish, just so you know

 

[hamfist]

Going back to the original post, I would recommend giving a Bamboo shrimp a go. They are obviously much bigger than the smaller species of shrimp. I have one with a large angel and bristlenoses (amongst others) and he is very happy, and no-one bothers him.

 

[me499]

I think those crabs are brackish, just so you know

no they arent, some people suggest adding slight salt but among the many stores that sell fish where i live about 4-5 keep red clawed crabs among other species and none have them in brackish water.

 

[Jonty]

I think those crabs are brackish, just so you know

no they arent, some people suggest adding slight salt but among the many stores that sell fish where i live about 4-5 keep red clawed crabs among other species and none have them in brackish water.

yes, but the stores are wrong. Red Claw Crabs need brackish water - they die within months in freshwater.