Fiddler Or Red? And Other Questions

[Bomberman]

okay im thinking about setting up a crab tank for my mom since she just got out of the hospital from surgery. She thinks "they are just so cute". i know they are brackish water 1.005-1.008,need land space, need a heater 76-80 degrees, are good climbers need a tight hood, and eat some live plants. But i have a few other questions i cant seem to get answers for yet.
1. what type of lighting would be the best?
2. filter? maybe thinking of a fluval 2 or another small filter?
3. is a 10 gallon big enough?
4. what type of food? i was thinking pellets and bloodworms?
5. should i use a plexy glass piece to sepperate sides of tank from land to water? because i tired to do it without one in my newt tank and i have to fix the gravel every time i clean it each week.
6. why are reds cheaper then fiddlers? smaller clows not as flashy?
7. anything else i would need to know?
thanks
B-man

 

[dizzied]

1. Doesn't matter.
2. If it's half-land, half-water, you should try either an internal power filter or a canister filter. You also won't need as strong a filter, since you won't be using the entire tank.
3. Yep, some fiddler crab keepers use 10g. Should be fine for a red claw too.
4. They'll eat just about anything. Sinking pellets should be the staple.
5. I used rocks, driftwood and dead coral to hold up the land. Sand would be better than gravel.
6. It's actually the other way around at my LFS. Who knows?
7. They don't eat live plants from my experience. Fiddlers will burrow when given an area of dry sand. Male fiddlers often waves the big claw, even when no other crabs are around.

 

[Bomberman]

cool what type of lighting do you have on your tank just curiuos?

 

[dizzied]

I used fluorescent lighting.

 

[Bomberman]

did you use a full hood?

 

[dizzied]

Yep. I used the little notches in the back to fit internal filters in, crabs are too big to climb out of those if they get onto the filter and wiring.