Red Crab vs Hermit Crab

Hello All!

Not sure if anyone has experience with either but thought I would ask. Since fish lore members seem to know all

I have an empty 10 gallon tank that we are thinking of converting into a crab tank. Does anyone have experience with hermit crabs or red claw crabs? I've seen them both at our LFS.

Any pros or cons to either ?

 

I actually have a 40 gallon hex dedicated to red claws and I have ownd lots of hermits in my time!

Red claws aren't very social and need land to climb out of the water to breath but also they need salt in the water as they are brackish crabs (not aquarium salt, you'll need marine salt like instant ocean) mine have developed a taste for live plants and are also not very skilled at catching shrimp....

The hermits need a sand/coconut fiber substrate as where they are found in the wild is mostly near wooded beaches and when the did the sand can collaps on them but the coco fiber seems to help with that... they also should be sprayed daily because they will need high humidity for molting... they eat a verity of things mine liked fruits (nothing acidic though) also you need to have at least 3 extra shells (larger than current shells) per crab... these guys are also very social and prefer to have other hermits around... for a 10 gallon I would say you could get at least 3... oh and they love to climb so get them lots of toys!!!

 

Red claws are fun. When I kept them I enjoyed watching them hunt crickets.
Have you considered disco vampire crabs?

 

I've never heard of the disco crabs. I don't think they carry them anywhere around me. What are they like?

Shipping isn't available around here right now due to frigid temps and less options in Canada.

I just took a trip to the LFS and I think I'm leaning towards the red crabs so cute. How many could I get in a 10 gallon? More then 1?

As for keeping them. Any ideas on the best/ easiest way to divide an aquarium for land and water?

 

I've never heard of the disco crabs. I don't think they carry them anywhere around me. What are they like?

Shipping isn't available around here right now due to frigid temps and less options in Canada.

I just took a trip to the LFS and I think I'm leaning towards the red crabs so cute. How many could I get in a 10 gallon? More then 1?

As for keeping them. Any ideas on the best/ easiest way to divide an aquarium for land and water?

I just made an artificial shoreline with sand and gravel. Just bear in mid that red claws are BRACKiSH. I wouldn't put more than two in a 10. They're very territorial.
Vampire crabs- they have different care requirements

 

Those vampire crabs look amazing. What are the requirements for those? I can always see if my LFS can special order. Not sure if they can.

For brackish water it is a simple fix correct? Just add instant ocean or something like that?

Just curious now would the red crabs eat guppy fry?

 

I actually have a 40 gallon hex dedicated to red claws and I have ownd lots of hermits in my time!

Red claws aren't very social and need land to climb out of the water to breath but also they need salt in the water as they are brackish crabs (not aquarium salt, you'll need marine salt like instant ocean) mine have developed a taste for live plants and are also not very skilled at catching shrimp....

Do you know if there any plants that you could keep with them? Do you have a pic of your set up?

So ghost shrimp would not be a good treat for them

Sorry for all the questions! I like to be prepared

 

We ended up with fiddler crabs. 1 male and 1 female. So cute!! They didn't have the red claw crabs I was originally going to pick up.

The LFS employee swore up and down that they were strictly freshwater. But after coming back here and reading I see that they are brackish I think. So I will be off again when the stores open back up Tuesday for some Instant Ocean I suppose.




how can you not love that face!