Some more red claw crab Q's

[Paul_MTS]

Would like to set up a tank for a few.

I'ved been looking at smallish tanks around 2/3gallons, how many would this be suitable for?

What kind of filtration do they need? would an airblock be enough? Just changing the water often.

 

[Opcn]

Pre cycle and keep nitrates down. You need a filter to pull out the floating particles thought otherwise you wont be able to see your critter. You canput an open celled sponge on the bottom of a plastic tube and drop an airblock down that and that will provide enought filtration but keep in mind that crabs are excelet at escapeing but not very good at liveing.

HTH

Opcn

 

[ger87410]

They recommend 1 for every 10 cuz they're territorial and rip off each others limbs. Comes back after the molt though. So in your case only get 1. They're also susceptible and sometimes die to ammonia/nitrite spikes so you should put them in a fully cycled tank. I've had more people tell me they like brackish water then tell me they like freshwater. I keep mine in a brackish tank with an sg of 1.0037 right now slowly being raised to 1.005. They are escape artist. Seal up every opening so that there's no gap bigger then 1/4 inch. They like to go out on land even though they don't have to, so you may want to do a 10 gal partially filled atleast. I've already asked a bunch of questions on these guys in this forum, so try doing a search of this forum for my stuff with red claw crabs and you will see some really good replies. They're very cute critters, I gots 2. "Crabby" is the larger one, and "Houdini" cuz he always disappears for hours. Tore up the tank once in a frantic looking for him. Turned out he was by the water filter right behind it.

 

[Paul_MTS]

As there'll be the only things in there I could do brackish water but I take it i need more equipment to measure my SG...

I think I;ll drop by my LHS to do a quick fire round with him!!

cheers.

 

[djsupreme]

Red claw crabs are great.

I hand feed mine with algea wafers, he'll come right up to my hand and take the wafer from my fingers, its the coolest thing!

 

[Paul_MTS]

Oh thats really evil!! I;ved got to wait til after my holiday to get my lil critters.

Do you have any other fish with them, my LHF dude suggested guppies as they tend to hang meduim to high depths!!.

 

[nightlife20]

haha sorry but whils ti was lookin at this i started to giggle... at the bottom of the page theres an advert for a sexual heath clinic.. could be because its crab related

 

[Paul_MTS]

lol, atleast I'ved got the tank on it's way and can set that up

 

[ger87410]

Look in my sig to see what other fish I have with my crabs. The black fin shark is a bottom dweller and the crabs leave them alone. I see them waving their claws around like mad waiting for something small to get in there but it never happens. I've got them at a sg of 1.004 (don't forget that temperature affects the sg reading) and they seem to love it. I'm very slowly raising the sg to 1.005.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Are the black finned shark basically the same as the red finned as I really liked them in the shop but was advised against them.

I would love to have them but also the tank will only be 5gallons and won't beable to get my much wanted 80gallon any time soon to move them to!! But if they son't gorw to big I would be happy to have them!!.

I was going to get guppies with them as then they can supply a tasty snack for the crabs in the form of fry.

 

[ger87410]

No, black fin sharks grow to 10". As they get older you start them out in brackish water and move them to salt water after adult size is reached. They're also a type of catfish. I think ranbow sharks are fw.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Hmm guess not then!! i'll stick with guppies.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Righty I have my tank hood made and is crab proof.

Justneed to know what temperature to preheat the oven to!!

 

[ger87410]

Regular temp. ~78 farenheit.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Good good, no adjustment needed then.

I have fitted a normal light flourescent tube lamp that you would have aorund the house in there. it's 18W and 2 ft long fitted in the back 1/3 of the hood.

Will this be too bright for the lil fellors?

I was going to get some this morning but he didn't have any left so he gets new stock in tomorrow