Mini (fiddler) crabs?

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yonsu

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Jun 5, 2006
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I've already done a search and unfortunately came up with nothing. I have a friend that is extremely interested in setting up a mini crab (from PetSmart) tank.. Can anyone specify whether or not these specific crabs are brackish? Unfortunately, I've been hearing both brackish and freshwater.. Also, I understand that the can live completely submerged.. does this have an eventual effect on their lifespan, and why?
But my biggest question is whether or not these guys pose a threat to fish.. I've always been under the impression that they are fairly peacefu, and are strictly scavenging.. can someone verify?
Thanks in advance!
 
I honestly know nothing about fiddler crab's care but I do know about the questions you are asking (from crab-hunting.)

1. They can live in brackish and freshwater (they don't do well in fresh) AND saltwater (that I know of.) When I go to Florida I find them in drainage ditches and in pits by the water--- they live anywhere.
2. They can live fully submerged but they do much better in a tank that has half water, half land. They like mud or sand as substrate.
3. They don't pose a threat to fish but they don't live long in a community aquarium.

Good document:
http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10fidderlercrab.htm
 
I have a fiddler crab and from what I gather all species need salt in the water and they DO need someplace to get out of the water, they spend alot of time up top, I got a floaty piece of foam rubber, some floaty plants and a pile of rocks on the one side of the tank so mine can get out, and am lightly salting the tank. So far Ive had 1 molt (I guess thats is a good sign).

I got the tank and everything in it second hand. so I dont know how old anything is, but Im going on 3 months.
 
Fiddler crabs are brackish. They don't live long in freshwater

They are semi-aquatic, spending most of their time on land. They don't live long when completely submerged

They are peaceful. They do quite well with peaceful fish, though a proper fiddler tank wouldn't have much water area.
 
Thanks for the prompt responses. Can anyone tell me why they don't live long completely submerged? I've read that they will only live a month or so submerged, but why? One of the pet stores in my area keeps them submerged and has only had 2 losses in their years of keeping them..
 
they are designed to live on the beach and on mangrove/tree roots.

seems to me like the shell gets harder out of the water. But I dont really know.

I think read somewhere life expectancy in captivity is 2 years...3 in the wild. I dont think I would buy another one (not that I bought this one,was orphaned), I feel bad, someone snatched these things off the beach. :^(

But on the other hand I love it when he walks around out of the water. and seems like the worlds largest spider, and I have spent a crapload of money to make sure he has alot of semi submerged and dry roosts.
 
Fiddler crabs are, for the most part, land creatures. It's much like me throwing you into the ocean and expecting you to live 75 years.
 
I've had a small crab for a month now and it has been submerged eversince. I thought it was a pure scavenger some of my fishes started to disappear. and then the other I saw it grab one of my older fishes and I was really shocked. I have thick sand in my aquarium and it spends most of its time under it. Check my thread to see the crab under freshwater inverts
 
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