Fiddler Crabs

[Sara0229]

I recently got a fiddler crab (not a red clawed crab but Uca something maybe minax or pugnax hard to tell). I have him in with my brackish fish just now (sg 1.10). I also have a floating turtle dock that he can and sometimes does get out on. I am having trouble though finding good care info on him. He is very shy and hides under the water in some wood most of the time. He comes out when I feed the fish. I rarely see him out of the water but I know he goes there sometimes. I'm a little worried about him as I am becomming aware that his conditions are not ideal. I am making plans to move him to his own tank.

Does anyone keep these or know where I can find some good info on them?

Is his shyness a bad sign or just they way he is?

Thanks.

Sorry that sg should read 1.010

 

[nmonks]

Fiddler Crabs are nervous animals. They are amphibious as you know, but in ecological terms, that means they move in two environments (land and sea) but aren't very good at moving about in either. So they tend to be very skittish and prefer to live in large groups, so if one sees a predator, they can all see that one crab running away and do the same thing themselves.

Do also remember that they naturally inhabit sandy beaches and have burrows they hide in. So some sort of cave-like structure at or just above the waterline would be beneficial.

Ideas? Keep a group. Not too many males though; more females than males if you can. Create a slope of sand on one end. Add some rocks and bogwood that help to create shelters he can hide in, preferably some above the water and some below.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Sara0229]

Thanks for the info! I am waiting on the pet store to get in my order for more. So right now I only have one. But he is in his own tank now and seems to be doing well. I have provided him with hiding spots at different water levels. But he preffers the spot under the filter. He is more active now and is getting more used to me walking up to the tank. And plans are already under way for a larger tank (so long as they do well)!

As for food, I've tried a few things for him. He didn't like the algae tablets or the seaweed flakes. I gave him some sinking mini chichlid pellets and he seems to like these. I wonder though if these are adequite for him?

Also, what would be a good sg for them as I've read all different answers? It's 1.010 now.