Brackish Water Crab Questions

Hello Everyone,

I am currently in the process of planning/ researching for my new decision to turn my 20- Gallon tankure into a crab paradise! I have already done some considerable research, but I have a few questions. One of the plans I am doing is making a beach environment with rocks, plants and sand. However, I have learned that crabs like to chomp down on green leafy plants. What type of plants would be suitable that they wont destroy? I was initially planning on planting my dwarf mufasa banana tree on the "beach" because its a beautiful plant and it would be a perfect environment for it. Will the crabs destroy the banana tree? I am basically going to acquire any type of crab I can wether that will be a red claw, fiddler's crab, etc. Are there any differences in care between the two? Also, if anyone has any pieces of advice please let me know! I am really excited to get some crabs!

 

Hello. I have a 15 gallon with 8 fiddler crabs, so hopefully I can answer your questions.

They do love plants, yeah. They rip apart just about anything you put in. I would suggest some tough grassy plants that they can't easy tear. Not sure of any specific species.
Yup. That would look like a salad to them. If you keep them well fed on a meatier diet, or provide plenty of plants, you might be able to pull it off, but I wouldn't risk it.
Not really. Red claws are a bit prettier though.
Make sure you have a secure lid! Crustaceans are expert escape artists, regardless of the species. My crabs have gotten out plenty of times. If you have any more questions, let me know .
Make sure they have air. Also don't forget some salt. I know stores like Petco or Walmart sell them as "Freshwater crabs" but they really aren't. I suggest a specific gravity of about 1-1.5

 

Okay I might decide to shy away from plants but I will do more research to see if there are any other species. Also, I am thinking about putting some bumblebee gobies with them. Would these be acceptable tank mates? I have read they are good tank mates. However, I am concerned with having enough water volume with the "beach plan" for the little guys. And how many of them could I get if any at all? My vision is to create a mini beach ecosystem. While the crabs will be the main organism in there, I would like to have some side species. Let me know and thanks!

 

Okay I might decide to shy away from plants but I will do more research to see if there are any other species. Also, I am thinking about putting some bumblebee gobies with them. Would these be acceptable tank mates? I have read they are good tank mates. However, I am concerned with having enough water volume with the "beach plan" for the little guys. And how many of them could I get if any at all? My vision is to create a mini beach ecosystem. While the crabs will be the main organism in there, I would like to have some side species. Let me know and thanks!

They'd work, yeah.
What size is the tank? Kinda hard to give stocking suggestions if I don't know how big the tank is .

 

Sorry its a 20 gallon tank!

 

Sorry its a 20 gallon tank!

That's fine!
You could also have some hermit crabs (there is a difference between Petco stock and ones that actually live in the water), though I'm not sure how many of the regular crabs you want.
The fish would definitely work. You could probably have about 3 if you'er going to split the tank horizontally between ecosystems.
Also some nerites, though you don't want to go overboard.

 

Mudskippers?

 

Mudskippers?

Hmmm mud skippers do seem interesting. I am thinking 3 crabs, a mudskipper, and 2 bumblebee gobies. What do you guys think?

 

Hmmm mud skippers do seem interesting. I am thinking 3 crabs, a mudskipper, and 2 bumblebee gobies. What do you guys think?

That miiiight work. I wouldn't add anything else though.

 

Just a caution: I have kept fiddlers with bumblebee gobies before and it was a mistake. They attacked them. Tried to eat them.

 

Just a caution: I have kept fiddlers with bumblebee gobies before and it was a mistake. They attacked them. Tried to eat them.

I kept a goldfish with fiddlers for a couple of years. They rarely made a move at it.
It might depend on the crabs personality. My biggest is approaching 3 inches, with a claw to match, yet he's scared of the littlest one, who's half his size! The little ones I can hand feed because they're so chill, yet if I get close to the big ones they go running off.

 

I turned my 55 gallon tank into a "crabitat" more than a year ago. I ordered some maldives online (I live in Colorado) and put in 10 air plants. These are safe for crabs. But, I do have a question. I have had 3 crabs die in one week, that is very unusual because I have only lost 1 crab in the last year. The only thing different is that I bought a new LED light. Could the light affect the crabs? Thx

 

Nope. Must be something else, though I'm not sure what it could be.

 

After losing most of my fiddler crabs and doing a ton of research, I've discovered that it was my new LED light causing problems! Fiddler crabs need a heat light along with a calcium supplement. Without these their shells become soft and rubbery and they cannot shed. They actually get strangled in their shells. I feel terrible for letting this happen.

 

I'm new to this forum, and I've learned a lot. Thanks