just curious...

[kat and james]

cool.. well now i know.
we've just bought our new 6ft tank, so once it is all set up (it is currently in the my b/fs parents garage.. we need a concrete floor to house this bad boy!) i will be off to the lfs to buy a little boy crab!

just to let everyone replying to my questions now, that she appears to be doing brilliantly, really vibrant colours, and she is all over the tank, seh seems perfectly happy. my guess is that she hid away for a few days after her moalt, and now her shell has hardened and she is happy to explore again! oh and i never managed to give her any iodine, jus the usual crab cuisine made by hikari!

thanks everyone..

 

[SRC]

Just a little something I read

Trace Elements

The trace elements in sea salt are beneficial to these creatures. Consequently, natural or synthetic sea salt should be used in their habitat as opposed to plain salt. Interestingly, Frank G. also writes that in his experience iodine supplements help reduce mortality during molts. Try a reef aquarium iodine/iodide supplement if you are having problems with molting, but be careful not to overdose.
http/wrongcrowd.com/staticpages/index.php?page=crab

Iodine Supplement

Trace amounts of iodine are necessary for soft corals to grow and crabs and shrimp to successfully molt. Since skimmers remove iodine from the water, it must be replenished regularly.
http/www.aquatictech.com/chemicals.html

Glad to hear your crab is doing well though.

 

[kat and james]

well i'll keep an eye on her, she is in frehswater at the mo, with tetras and stuff, so don't really want to be adding any salt. as for the iodine, i will read up again. she does seem really happy though, so i'm guessing she is feeling safe enough in her new shell to venture out, as she remained fairly hidden after she molted!

how often do they molt?

 

[SRC]

http/www.crabstreetjournal.com/articles/...n_moulting.html

http/www.afsc.noaa.gov/kodiak/shellfish/...on/crabGrow.htm

http/wrongcrowd.com/staticpages/index.php?page=crab

http/www.centralpets.com/animals/fish/fr...ts/fwi4673.html

 

[MasterP]

.They molt every 2 to 6 months. Do you have any pictures of your tank and crabs? Sounds like your crab is very happy and in good health. Good Luck!!

 

[kat and james]

thanks for those links, very interesting.. i will have to put some sterilised egg shell in the tnak, on top of her powerhead, as we removed the molted skin from the tank, when we didn't know what it was!! oops!

hi masterp, i will put some pics in the photo forum bit.. dunno how to put it in here!