New Fiddler Tank

What do you guys think? Just got the male today and two females are hiding. I know the gravel is not recommended. I’m going to rebuid it soon with pure hermit crab sand. Male in the back left.

. Please see my post later in the thread asking for advice on a heater, thanks!

 

Never kept crabs before, seems like an interesting challenge! I do like the hermit crabs in stores.

 

I love it it looks so nice !!!

 

Very cool! I've been meaning to do a fiddler crab tank soon! Love the scaping. What did you use to keep the dry side elevated?

 

Unless its beach or playsand, don't bother with hermit crab sands. Its a waste of money, and when in a moist environment its known to clump and harden, like rock.

Instead, aquarium safe sands (like playsand or poolfilter sand, and depending on your local fish store, inert sands) would be a far cheaper and safer option.

Looks really good setup.

 

You will not believe what ran through my head when I first saw "Fiddler Tank" A guy with a long beard, floppy hat, coveralls with a jug band as back up.

I think I am loosing it.

Nice set up. I have wondered about crabs from time to time. Please keep the posts coming.

 

Very cool! I've been meaning to do a fiddler crab tank soon! Love the scaping. What did you use to keep the dry side elevated?

Garden rocks and bio lava? Pumice? Gravel from my pond holds it in place pretty good.

 

Unless its beach or playsand, don't bother with hermit crab sands. Its a waste of money, and when in a moist environment its known to clump and harden, like rock.

Instead, aquarium safe sands (like playsand or poolfilter sand, and depending on your local fish store, inert sands) would be a far cheaper and safer option.

Looks really good setup.

Really? Tbh, right now this is sand from Walmart’s terrarium dept. they call it “crushed rock” buts sand ppl! Anyway, I was a bit worried it might be too corse but its easy to dig in. My crabs haven't tried making burrow yet. That's why I thought I might need a better sand. Its the wrong season to get play sand and I can't find pool sand anywhere! I live in the sticks. Thanks for the advice!

 

Also, don't forget that fiddlers are not freshwater animals...they are going to need some marine salt in the water.

 

Biggest problem I’m having is finding a heater. With the water level so low, getting a good quality very small in tank heater is a problem. I was thinking of an under tank mat, but some have said don’t use them for hermit crabs, and idk if that would also apply to fiddlers. So, for now, they are slightly cold...but winter is coming. I will need something eventually. Any ideas?

 

Also, don't forget that fiddlers are not freshwater animals...they are going to need some marine salt in the water.

Yeah, I screwed up and bought aquarium salt when meaning to buy marine salt.so marine salt is on order, to arrive Monday. I will slowly introduce it a small pinch at a time so they can acclamate. I “rescued” these guys from Walmart. Now I have a milk carton of aquarium salt I don't need. Maybe that's why they haven't made burrows yet? I know the water isn't ideal atm, gonna rectify that next week! For now, at least they can escape it!

 

Biggest problem I’m having is finding a heater. With the water level so low, getting a good quality very small in tank heater is a problem. I was thinking of an under tank mat, but some have said don’t use them for hermit crabs, and idk if that would also apply to fiddlers. So, for now, they are slightly cold...but winter is coming. I will need something eventually. Any ideas?

I had that problem too. I went to get a heater from a lfs and they reccomened me get a heat mat. It didn’t heat the tank up at all and I wasn’t able to get to the store to buy another one for a week and the crab died the day I was able to get one I’m using this heater Zilla Reptile Habitat Lighting, Terrarium Heat Lamp Halogen MinI Dome & now my fiddler is so much more active !

 

I had that problem too. I went to get a heater from a lfs and they reccomened me get a heat mat. It didn’t heat the tank up at all and I wasn’t able to get to the store to buy another one for a week and the crab died the day I was able to get one I’m using this heater Zilla Reptile Habitat Lighting, Terrarium Heat Lamp Halogen MinI Dome & now my fiddler is so much more active !

Dont you need an open top tank for that? I keep the cover on. So many say they are escape artists, I worry about that. Do you use a red light so they stay warm at night too? I read about that somewhere.

 

Dont you need an open top tank for that? I keep the cover on. So many say they are escape artists, I worry about that. Do you use a red light so they stay warm at night too? I read about that somewhere.

No ! I use a closed mesh top. And yeah I use a red light all day & all night. But I still provide them with natural light during the day. The 25w red light is the one I use. The picture is how my top & lamp are set up

 

View attachment 479224
No ! I use a closed mesh top. And yeah I use a red light all day & all night. But I still provide them with natural light during the day. The 25w red light is the one I use. The picture is how my top & lamp are set up

Cool set up! Awesome! I'm going to get on that right away! Thank you so much!

 

Cool set up! Awesome! I'm going to get on that right away! Thank you so much!

Thanks !! I’m glad I could help !

 

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Thanks !! I’m glad I could help !

One more question? If you don't mind? Its hard to tell from the picture, but is all your sand damp, or should I provide some dry sand too?
Probably prefer damp sand, I just wanted to double check.

 

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One more question? If you don't mind? Its hard to tell from the picture, but is all your sand damp, or should I provide some dry sand too?
Probably prefer damp sand, I just wanted to double check.

All of my sand has been damp since I added water & is hasn’t dried. I haven’t noticed any problems ! I don’t think it’s too much of a problem as long as there is land and water

 

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One more question? If you don't mind? Its hard to tell from the picture, but is all your sand damp, or should I provide some dry sand too?
Probably prefer damp sand, I just wanted to double check.

If you want to add dry sand but the sand you have is getting wet maybe you can get a reptile water / food bowl that looks like a rock and fill that with dry sand and put it in the corner

 

All of my sand has been damp since I added water & is hasn’t dried. I haven’t noticed any problems ! I don’t think it’s too much of a problem as long as there is land and water

Do your guys burrow?

 

Do your guys burrow?

I have a girl that likes to burrow on the sides of the big rock thing I have in there I had a piece of driftwood in there that she used to burrow under a lot.

 

View attachment 479224
No ! I use a closed mesh top. And yeah I use a red light all day & all night. But I still provide them with natural light during the day. The 25w red light is the one I use. The picture is how my top & lamp are set up

My crabs get morning sun, and the girls (before I got thr male and new tank) loved climbing the highest branch to soak it in. I was thinking of moving them out of the sun, but considering its only morning and not too hot, I don't think I will now.

 

My crabs get morning sun, and the girls (before I got thr male and new tank) loved climbing the highest branch to soak it in. I was thinking of moving them out of the sun, but considering its only morning and not too hot, I don't think I will now.

Do you have a thermometer in the tank ?

 

Do you have a thermometer in the tank ?

Yep, its in the picture.

 

Harlee, how many crabs do you have and what's the size of your tank? Looks like a 10.

 

Harlee, how many crabs do you have and what's the size of your tank? Looks like a 10.

Oops didn’t see the thermometer ! I have one girl now. I had a boy as well but because of getting the wrong heater at first the other one passed I plan on getting two more a girl and a boy within the next week or two. & yes it is a 10 g tank .

 

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Oops didn’t see the thermometer ! I have one girl now. I had a boy as well but because of getting the wrong heater at first the other one passed I plan on getting two more a girl and a boy within the next week or two. & yes it is a 10 g tank .

Nice! That's plenty of room. Cant you even get two males a couple more females for that size tank? It might even encourage them to make burrows?

 

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Nice! That's plenty of room. Cant you even get two males a couple more females for that size tank? It might even encourage them to make burrows?

Ive heard some people say you can only keep 3 crabs (a male and two females) in a 10 gallon and I’ve always heard people say you can keep 6 (2 males and 4 females or 1 male and 5 females) in a 10g. I’m going to see how 3 crabs act in the tank together and if it seems like they can handle it I might add a few more slowly !

 

I know you may of already decided on the lamp, but if you do get the heat mat, ignore manufactures instructions and get the biggest mat you can to cover the entire back of the tank - or as much of it - and some brands are total junk, like Zoomed. Good quality heatmat like Ultratherm - found online - would be a good choice, since it can also be insulated to increase heat during winter if needed. That way, it will hopefully heat the tank high enough so its warm enough.

If too warm, a thermostat hooked up to the mat will keep it at a comfortable level.

(Lamps tend to dry things out a little too much, which I would avoid since these guys have gills and require some humidity in there too breathe)

 

You sure you need a heater? I catch fiddlers from NJ salt marshes. We have all four seasons here.

 

I know you may of already decided on the lamp, but if you do get the heat mat, ignore manufactures instructions and get the biggest mat you can to cover the entire back of the tank - or as much of it - and some brands are total junk, like Zoomed. Good quality heatmat like Ultratherm - found online - would be a good choice, since it can also be insulated to increase heat during winter if needed. That way, it will hopefully heat the tank high enough so its warm enough.

If too warm, a thermostat hooked up to the mat will keep it at a comfortable level.

(Lamps tend to dry things out a little too much, which I would avoid since these guys have gills and require some humidity in there too breathe)

Actually I have a heat mat ordered (before this post) but I thought I ordered it too big and was planning to return it. Then I learned I would also need a thermostat to be safe. And it had mixed reviews. Because it was too big (so I would be returning it anyway) I would ask advice on the best heater. The glass doesn't get too hot? I thought these were supposed to be undertank heaters?

 

You sure you need a heater? I catch fiddlers from NJ salt marshes. We have all four seasons here.

Fiddlers like temperatures of 75-85 degrees

 

You sure you need a heater? I catch fiddlers from NJ salt marshes. We have all four seasons here.

Not in a tank they don't tho....they probably burrow 2 ft deep in NJ.
I played with them in the swamps of LA where I grew up too, so warmer, but the winters there can get biting cold too.

 

Actually I have a heat mat ordered (before this post) but I thought I ordered it too big and was planning to return it. Then I learned I would also need a thermostat to be safe. And it had mixed reviews. Because it was too big (so I would be returning it anyway) I would ask advice on the best heater. The glass doesn't get too hot? I thought these were supposed to be undertank heaters?

I ordered an ipower, cheap, and likely not to work anyway. I looked up the ultratherm and a bit pricey atm...considering I just spent a chunk decking these guys out as it is. But I will keep it in mind for the future if I see an issue with too much evaporation. Hopefully the filter/waterfall setup will keep some humidity going in the tank.

 

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Ive heard some people say you can only keep 3 crabs (a male and two females) in a 10 gallon and I’ve always heard people say you can keep 6 (2 males and 4 females or 1 male and 5 females) in a 10g. I’m going to see how 3 crabs act in the tank together and if it seems like they can handle it I might add a few more slowly !

Yeah, I read only one male, one female in a 5 gallon. I have two females and one male.

 

Yeah, I read only one male, one female in a 5 gallon. I have two females and one male.

I hope to get two more soon because I don’t know if they get lonely or bored without company !

 

I hope to get two more soon because I don’t know if they get lonely or bored without company !

Mine don't seem to care about each other, one just uses the others head as boost to try to escape!

 

Actually I have a heat mat ordered (before this post) but I thought I ordered it too big and was planning to return it. Then I learned I would also need a thermostat to be safe. And it had mixed reviews. Because it was too big (so I would be returning it anyway) I would ask advice on the best heater. The glass doesn't get too hot? I thought these were supposed to be undertank heaters?

Heat mats underneath the tank is really only suitable if there's a shallow substrate, like for many reptiles and also due to the fact that the mat is used as a basking spot, not to heat the air - like you want to do with the crabs. Hence why its best to ignore manufacturers recommendations, since they will not work in what you're trying to achieve.

Ultratherms are a little pricey, but pretty much close to everyone I know that has them, loves them!

 

Fiddlers like temperatures of 75-85 degrees

I had mine for four years at room temperature, and only had deaths when I tried to keep it warmer. The species for sale in the US are native to the US and are not tropical.

 

I had mine for four years at room temperature, and only had deaths when I tried to keep it warmer. The species for sale in the US are native to the US and are not tropical.

Fiddlers range from up there in Ohio, to NJ, all the way down to south LA, so many many climates. Fiddlers in the wild can dig burrows 2ft deep to get out of the cold. That's why they need heat in an aquarium. Fiddler crabs hibernate in winter in colder climates.
Your guys probably did fine in a warm house in winter but were they active? I find mine much more active when warm.
Also, my guys are in front of a window, which gets much colder in winter....they will need a heater, at least during winter.