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 #1196153


Leira
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 Can I get some info on fiddler crabs please?

Hi, I figured this would be the best place to ask about fiddler crabs, so ask I shall!
Well, while in the petsore the other day, I saw some of them, and they looked like they would be a cute little edditon to my fishtank. So first off, I just want to make sure that they really are freshwater, and that the petsore just wasn’t saying that.
Secondly, I would like to know what their diet is, and what varieties of foods should I give them if I were to buy some.
Also, do they do best in groups? If so, how many?
And what is their adult size, and lastly, can I keep them with mollies, platties, and a baby rafeal catfish? He’s real tiny now, only 2 inches. In the petstore, they had the crabs with mollies, so I just wanted to make sure that it was okay for the crabs and fish though.
Any help would be apreciated, thanks!
-Leira
03/04/07  12:59pm

 #1196524


Clawedfrogsrule
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   Message To: Leira   In reference to Message Id: 1196153


 Can I get some info on fiddler crabs please?

Sorry, unfortunately although every petstore says that they’re freshwater, they really live in brackish water. Not only that, but they also need a land portion of the tank where they can come out of the water to breath. I know petstores are horrible and just sell them as aquarium additions, but they’re really not like that at all.
They only get up to about 2inches long, and if you keep more then one together, they might have some territorial disputes, but nothing too bad really...I’d keep about three at most in a ten gallon with plenty of places to hide and a nice land portion with some plants and hides also so that they can all feel secure. They can eat a large variety, shrimp pellets, algea pellets, frog food, fish food, and pretty much anything else that you might feed to fish. Although, I would suggest not keeping them with live fish that you like, because they might nip at the fins or eat them eventually.

Good luck, they’re fun guys to watch.



03/04/07  04:22pm

 #1202053


_Jonathan_
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   Message To: Clawedfrogsrule   In reference to Message Id: 1196524


 Fiddler crab halp

yeah, I think that they won’t live very long in fresh water. I got one one day and it lived for less than 2 weeks in my freshwater aquarium. I had plenty room underwater for it to roam, but there wasn’t much land, and the water was freshwater. They wouldn’t survive in your aquarium very long. You have to give them specific needs that the pet stores don’t give them. If you still plan on getting some then you should probably buy another tank, fill it about half way with water and get a filter. You would also have to have brackish water. I’ve never had a brackish aquarium before, so i m not sure how that all works, But good luck with them if you get any!
03/08/07  03:39pm

 #1203693


Mama42
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   Message To: _Jonathan_   In reference to Message Id: 1202053


 Fiddler crab halp

hi, i got a fiddler crab at the pet store the other day for my fresh water tank. and, yea, i found out the hard way. it didnt die yet, but it doesnt like the tank. it stays mostly in the filter. im going to make a brackish tank.

i know it is suppose to be partial salt water with sand and gravel mix. not sure tho.
there is someone on here that knows that told me how to house a fiddler crab. i think its "Jonathon" or something like that. good luck. M-
03/09/07  08:35pm

 #1203698


Mama42
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   Message To: Mama42   In reference to Message Id: 1203693


 Fiddler crab halp

oh sorry didnt realize "jonathan" already replied to your post



03/09/07  08:39pm

 #1203780


_Jonathan_
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   Message To: Mama42   In reference to Message Id: 1203698


 Fiddler crab halp

Hey mama42. I am real glad you are diciding to make a brackish aquarium. I am glad you found out about fiddlers and freshwater now and that you didn’t find out the bad way that I did. Make sure you do a lot of research on brackish aquariums, and don’t use salt from your kitchen! Thats the worst thing you can do. Go to your pet store and ask for assistance with help on how to make a good brackish aquarium. I have never made one, I just know that you have to know a lot about it because of my experience. Good luck with your aquarium!
03/09/07  09:44pm

 #1204033


Mama42
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   Message To: _Jonathan_   In reference to Message Id: 1203780


 Fiddler crab halp

uh-oh. i hope its not as hard as a salt water tank. but, oh well, i want to keep my crab. wish me luck



03/10/07  03:14am

 #1205034


Leira
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   Message To: Mama42   In reference to Message Id: 1204033


 Fiddler crab halp

I don’t think I’ll be getting any. We have enough trouble taking care of our 3 freshwater aquariums, a chinese water dragon, garter snake and parakeet. It would be murder to set up another tank, lolz.
But thanks for the advice just incase some time in the future we have the time for them.
Thank you all,
-Leira
03/11/07  01:07am

 #1214150


Dinox64
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   Message To: Leira   In reference to Message Id: 1205034


 Fiddler crab halp

Alot of fish can handle some brackish element.I had a fiddler for about a year and a half,never added salt to tank.I did lower my water level a little so when it climbed to the top it would be out of the water when it wanted to be.They are also escape artist,seal any vents.For food he would filter water at the surface at feeding time and sometimes trail a flake to the bottom then clean up after the fish.When done head back up.Sad to say a visiting nephew inlaw that does’nt understand the word no lift the lid when I was’nt home and I found him dried up behind the couch.
03/19/07  01:01am


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