I recently spent some time in Charleston Harbor where I took my touring Kayak, on returning home to the mountains I discovered a small quarter sized crab had hitchhiked back with me. I cauldn't just shake him out and wish him good luck so right now it's in a jar with a sea sponge and some sea salt water eating a little tuna. What better set up without going to extream can I do and what should I feed the little guy?
Small crab possably a fiddler
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Most crabs actually behave as if they were amphibians and need access to land and water. Pick up a hydometer from your LFS (~$6 for a plastic one), a bag of play sand from Home Depot (~$2.50), and a plastic rubbermaid container ($5-20 at Walmart) and you'll be pretty much set to care for him.
Mix the water and salt until you get something similar to where you noticed him (if you know it). Put the sand into the tub, pour in the water, add crab.
If you really want to make it happy give the sand some depth so it can dig in. Pick up two bags and make a section that's about 6"-8" above the waterline.
Pictures would help too.
Mix the water and salt until you get something similar to where you noticed him (if you know it). Put the sand into the tub, pour in the water, add crab.
If you really want to make it happy give the sand some depth so it can dig in. Pick up two bags and make a section that's about 6"-8" above the waterline.
Pictures would help too.
fishiechick
Registered Member
Hi, I have two fiddler crabs who share a ten gallon "crabitat" (a ten gallon glass aquarium is $10 at Walmart and the top is $7). I used sand and made a "beach" on one side, they have a sandstone rock island on the other side and two piles of smooth rocks which they are nearly always buried under.
The PP is right about them liking brackish water and the ability to get out of the water. I would recommend (very strongly) that if you do get the play sand to rinse it a TON before you use set up their new home. I have two tanks with sand and even after rinsing it for what seemed like forever it still took a couple of days to get clear water. My two like the sinking tablets for catfish, brine shrimp, peas, pretty much whatever I am feeding my other fish.
Oh yes, and when the crab molts, leave his little shell behind. He will eat it and it will give him good calcium for a new shell. Good luck!
The PP is right about them liking brackish water and the ability to get out of the water. I would recommend (very strongly) that if you do get the play sand to rinse it a TON before you use set up their new home. I have two tanks with sand and even after rinsing it for what seemed like forever it still took a couple of days to get clear water. My two like the sinking tablets for catfish, brine shrimp, peas, pretty much whatever I am feeding my other fish.
Oh yes, and when the crab molts, leave his little shell behind. He will eat it and it will give him good calcium for a new shell. Good luck!
Hey man, I live in Charleston (actually Summerville), hope you enjoyed the harbor, it's a beauty. The Ravenel Bridge is a sight too.
Anyhow, if it is small, flat, and brown with no obvious pinchers, it's a "wharf crab" and won't stay in water long, they prefer land close to saltwater. Fiddlers, even females, have at least small claws. The saltwater ones usually have some color, like red or purple. Make great sheepshead bait.
If you want a truly brackish fiddler, shoot me a pm or email and I can tell you *exactly* where to load up on brackish fiddlers. They do get about three times bigger than most fiddlers, but are neat. They do require some land to crawl on or else they'll climb out of the tank. Trust me, my wife knows all too well.
Anyhow, if it is small, flat, and brown with no obvious pinchers, it's a "wharf crab" and won't stay in water long, they prefer land close to saltwater. Fiddlers, even females, have at least small claws. The saltwater ones usually have some color, like red or purple. Make great sheepshead bait.
If you want a truly brackish fiddler, shoot me a pm or email and I can tell you *exactly* where to load up on brackish fiddlers. They do get about three times bigger than most fiddlers, but are neat. They do require some land to crawl on or else they'll climb out of the tank. Trust me, my wife knows all too well.