Post by GEOvanne on Mar 7, 2007 20:32:22 GMT -5
Feeding
They dig burrows up to a foot deep. When the tide comes in the crabs climb into the burrows and plug them up with sand pellets. The Fiddler Crab scavenges for pieces of organic matter that has washed up near their burrows. Feed small amounts of food, and remove and uneaten food the next day. Feed once every one or two days. Some good foods are:
Freeze-dried Plankton, FMR Hermit Crab Food, HBH Newt and Salamander Bits,
Tetra Color Bits, Tetra Repto-min
Housing
A simple set will can include a 5 or 10 Aquarium with screen cover, or a plastic container (minimum 2 gallon size) with lid.
Rinse the aquarium with clean water (never use detergents) and then add the sand to the bottom. Use a clean bucket and prepare a gallon or two. Follow label directions (one cup makes 2 gallon ) Add enough salthingyer to cover the sand by 1". Then gently slope the sand some that 1/2 of the aquarium is dry and 1/2 is wet. Place the shallow water dish of freshwater on the dry side. You will need to provide a shallow water dish of freshwater for your crabs.
Put a 2-4" layer of fine aquarium sand (or play sand) in the tank for burrowing. Optional: Some systems also include an inch or two of peat moss under the sand.
Purchase a small pack of "Instant Ocean synthetic sea salt (5 gallon size will do.) You will use 8 tablesthingys of salt to one gallon of water. You will need some "NovAqua" chlorine neutralizer when you mix up the salthingyer.
Change 1/3 of the water once or twice a month. Remove uneaten food as needed.
Fiddler Crabs are not suitable for community fish tanks. In a freshwater aquarium they will only live a month or two.
You can keep them as singles or groups. Because of the specialized housing requirements it is best not to mix them with other animals. Adult males have one claw that is larger than the other. The female lays eggs that hatch 7 to 10 days later. It is next to imposible raise babies bacause the conditions are extremly hard to replicate. The larvae are microscopic, only mother nature is delecate enough to handle them.
They dig burrows up to a foot deep. When the tide comes in the crabs climb into the burrows and plug them up with sand pellets. The Fiddler Crab scavenges for pieces of organic matter that has washed up near their burrows. Feed small amounts of food, and remove and uneaten food the next day. Feed once every one or two days. Some good foods are:
Freeze-dried Plankton, FMR Hermit Crab Food, HBH Newt and Salamander Bits,
Tetra Color Bits, Tetra Repto-min
Housing
A simple set will can include a 5 or 10 Aquarium with screen cover, or a plastic container (minimum 2 gallon size) with lid.
Rinse the aquarium with clean water (never use detergents) and then add the sand to the bottom. Use a clean bucket and prepare a gallon or two. Follow label directions (one cup makes 2 gallon ) Add enough salthingyer to cover the sand by 1". Then gently slope the sand some that 1/2 of the aquarium is dry and 1/2 is wet. Place the shallow water dish of freshwater on the dry side. You will need to provide a shallow water dish of freshwater for your crabs.
Put a 2-4" layer of fine aquarium sand (or play sand) in the tank for burrowing. Optional: Some systems also include an inch or two of peat moss under the sand.
Purchase a small pack of "Instant Ocean synthetic sea salt (5 gallon size will do.) You will use 8 tablesthingys of salt to one gallon of water. You will need some "NovAqua" chlorine neutralizer when you mix up the salthingyer.
Change 1/3 of the water once or twice a month. Remove uneaten food as needed.
Fiddler Crabs are not suitable for community fish tanks. In a freshwater aquarium they will only live a month or two.
You can keep them as singles or groups. Because of the specialized housing requirements it is best not to mix them with other animals. Adult males have one claw that is larger than the other. The female lays eggs that hatch 7 to 10 days later. It is next to imposible raise babies bacause the conditions are extremly hard to replicate. The larvae are microscopic, only mother nature is delecate enough to handle them.