Hi all, returning crabber here!

Please post here if you are a new crab owner and someone will be along shortly to welcome you to the HCA! This is also the place to welcome new crabbies to your clan!
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craboloading
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Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by craboloading » Fri Feb 15, 2019 11:13 am

Hi, everyone. Happy to be here at the HCA. :)

I was a serious crabber around 8-10 years ago (I was probably between 13 and 16 at the time). Had several large 'tats set up and over 50 crabs. I quickly became overwhelmed and failed to take proper care of them after a few years. I found another crabber locally who took my remaining crabs into his care.

Flash-forward to adulthood: I finally got crabbos again - after years of wanting to! I am keeping the hobby MUCH smaller this go-round though. :lol: Spent a few weeks gathering supplies and setting up a stable 10 gallon aquarium. And then I got crabs! 2 small PPs, lovingly named 'Scuttles the Shadow Crab of Disparity and Darkness' and 'Beacon the Two Pound Crab of Light and Purity'. The names are subject to getting longer as I learn their personalities more, haha.

No real point to this post other than to just be ecstatic about crabs with people. My roommate has been laughing at me a ton for sitting, all hunkered down & still, watching them at night. They've both been dipping into the salt water a lot, as well as eating plenty. I am anticipating them to dig down for a molt soon as they both are missing the tips of several legs. Honestly am surprised that they haven't dug at all yet as I have had them for almost a week.

But yeah! Hi everyone!
3 PPs: Beacon the Two Pound Crab of Light and Purity & Scuttles the Shadow Crab of Darkness and Desparity ~ 2/10/19 and Felicity Crab-19 ~ 5/24/20
1 Orange Cat: Chloe Hannah ~ 4/2015

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Hermiesguardian
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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by Hermiesguardian » Fri Feb 15, 2019 11:44 am

Hi! You're gonna soon remember how addicting they are and upgrade. A 10gal gets sung with all their stuff. Lol.
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi

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craboloading
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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by craboloading » Fri Feb 15, 2019 12:06 pm

Hermiesguardian wrote:
Fri Feb 15, 2019 11:44 am
Hi! You're gonna soon remember how addicting they are and upgrade. A 10gal gets sung with all their stuff. Lol.
Oh, I know! :lol: Current living situation calls for no more than a 10 gallon, am looking to buy a home sometime in the next year or so. Figure I'll give the crabs an upgrade at the same time. Gonna have to try and be content with what I can swing for now. I had the hardest time setting it up, the smallest I had ever worked with before was a 20 gallon (long) aquarium. It was difficult making a 10 gallon functional and appealing, but I am happy with how it turned out.
3 PPs: Beacon the Two Pound Crab of Light and Purity & Scuttles the Shadow Crab of Darkness and Desparity ~ 2/10/19 and Felicity Crab-19 ~ 5/24/20
1 Orange Cat: Chloe Hannah ~ 4/2015

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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by aussieJJDude » Sat Feb 16, 2019 7:31 am

Welcome to the board!

A 10g is a good way to get back into the swing of things without biting off more than you can chew type of thing. A burnout is never fun, I've experienced similar at times and it's hard to make things work.

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craboloading
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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by craboloading » Sat Feb 16, 2019 11:24 am

While I already have a thread going, can someone double-check the foods I've offered them for just general OK-ness?

Sunday: dried mealworms, pineapple, steamed cauliflower
Monday: same food as Sunday + plus raw chicken
Tuesday: raw turkey, olive oil, honey, steamed brussel sprout, and clementine
Wednesday: same food as Tuesday
Thursday: dried mealworms, blueberry, quinoa, red lentils, corn
Friday: same food as Thursday

This weekend I intend to pick up some small quantities of shrimp/fish (I don't eat seafood, so it isn't something that I often have on hand) for a little more variety in protein choice. Otherwise - I'm just trying to stick to a basic plan of protein + fruit + veg + occasional other & trust that the crabbos can figure it out from there. Seem solid?
3 PPs: Beacon the Two Pound Crab of Light and Purity & Scuttles the Shadow Crab of Darkness and Desparity ~ 2/10/19 and Felicity Crab-19 ~ 5/24/20
1 Orange Cat: Chloe Hannah ~ 4/2015


teachincrabbie
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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by teachincrabbie » Sat Feb 16, 2019 11:52 am

craboloading wrote:
Sat Feb 16, 2019 11:24 am
While I already have a thread going, can someone double-check the foods I've offered them for just general OK-ness?

Sunday: dried mealworms, pineapple, steamed cauliflower
Monday: same food as Sunday + plus raw chicken
Tuesday: raw turkey, olive oil, honey, steamed brussel sprout, and clementine
Wednesday: same food as Tuesday
Thursday: dried mealworms, blueberry, quinoa, red lentils, corn
Friday: same food as Thursday

This weekend I intend to pick up some small quantities of shrimp/fish (I don't eat seafood, so it isn't something that I often have on hand) for a little more variety in protein choice. Otherwise - I'm just trying to stick to a basic plan of protein + fruit + veg + occasional other & trust that the crabbos can figure it out from there. Seem solid?
You may want to throw in some eggshells for calcium. I also suggest some cuttlebone in your tank so they can munch on that.

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craboloading
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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by craboloading » Sat Feb 16, 2019 1:15 pm

teachincrabbie wrote:
Sat Feb 16, 2019 11:52 am
You may want to throw in some eggshells for calcium. I also suggest some cuttlebone in your tank so they can munch on that.
There is cuttlebone in there! Just didn't think to mention it with the rotating foods. Thanks - will make a note to boil some eggs this weekend. :D
3 PPs: Beacon the Two Pound Crab of Light and Purity & Scuttles the Shadow Crab of Darkness and Desparity ~ 2/10/19 and Felicity Crab-19 ~ 5/24/20
1 Orange Cat: Chloe Hannah ~ 4/2015

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Hermiesguardian
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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by Hermiesguardian » Sat Feb 16, 2019 6:45 pm

Don't forget leaf litter. And worm castings.
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi

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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by odelayheehoo » Sat Feb 16, 2019 7:05 pm

I keep greensand, egg shells, and cuttlebone stuck into the substrate for easy use.
Keeper Since 2016
75G - 10PP

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craboloading
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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by craboloading » Sat Feb 16, 2019 10:14 pm

Hermiesguardian wrote:
Sat Feb 16, 2019 6:45 pm
Don't forget leaf litter. And worm castings.
Not exactly "leaf litter" but I do have a ton of organic dried calendula I could give to them. I need to get some worm castings, that is something I'd forgotten - thank you!
odelayheehoo wrote:
Sat Feb 16, 2019 7:05 pm
I keep greensand, egg shells, and cuttlebone stuck into the substrate for easy use.
Do the eggshells not get icky over time? More so in terms of smell. :lol: I put some in with their dinner tonight and there is a definite egg-smell.
3 PPs: Beacon the Two Pound Crab of Light and Purity & Scuttles the Shadow Crab of Darkness and Desparity ~ 2/10/19 and Felicity Crab-19 ~ 5/24/20
1 Orange Cat: Chloe Hannah ~ 4/2015

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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by GotButterflies » Sat Feb 16, 2019 10:17 pm

Welcome back to the addicting world of crabbing! :)

Make sure you cover all aspects of food pyramid :) Foods should be organic when possible. Hermit crabs are sensitive to pesticides and fertilizers.
Safe food list: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92557
Unsafe food list: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92556
Food pyramid: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92554
Provide calcium too - cuttlebone, eggshells, coral, oyster shell, exoskeleton
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by curlysister » Sun Feb 17, 2019 10:59 am

I didn't like raw eggshells either. So I keep the shells from hard cooked eggs, and use those instead. No smell, no goo, no ick factor for me! LOL.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers

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Hermiesguardian
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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by Hermiesguardian » Sun Feb 17, 2019 12:38 pm

My crabs love raw eggshell. Especially with a bit of egg still inside. I had one recently that dragged it into the pool. That was a mess. But just like other foods I remove it after a couple of days.
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi

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craboloading
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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by craboloading » Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:28 pm

Just wanted to give a little update since my original post, Scuttles has returned from his very first molt with me! Within probably the first 2 weeks he dug underground and he just came back up yesterday. He is visibly larger as his formerly well-fitting shell seems a bit small now & his nails are nice and sharp. I am so stoked that he has already successfully molted in my care. Beacon went underground on Tuesday, so hopefully in a few weeks I can report that he has also completed a molt. :)

Loading Scuttles up with some post-molt nutrients. Mineral supplement, worm castings, & the basic diet from THCP in the dry foods dish. Eggshell, scrambled egg, frozen brine shrimp, blackberry, a single piece of air-popped popcorn, and calendula flower in the fresh food dish.
3 PPs: Beacon the Two Pound Crab of Light and Purity & Scuttles the Shadow Crab of Darkness and Desparity ~ 2/10/19 and Felicity Crab-19 ~ 5/24/20
1 Orange Cat: Chloe Hannah ~ 4/2015

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Re: Hi all, returning crabber here!

Post by RiNiKy506 » Sat Apr 13, 2019 3:02 pm

Congrats on successful molt! Always so exciting when they come back!

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