More crabs desired

[Zena]

I have a large PP and E that we have had for almost 8 yrs. My crabs have gone house shopping and found a new home that is 50g and they say it has room for new friends. Do all of the different land crab species get along when housed together? Love to have a strawberry maybe a Ruggie or cavipes. Allowing for growth how many more crabs can be added. The 50g tank is 47” across the front glass, 12” front to back, and 21” from bottom to top. Is there an option to have one UTH that will cover 45 inches of the back glass?? Any suggestions or design ideas of how to make this tank amazing would love to hear them.

[curlysister]

Here is the HCA guide as to how many crabs of what size will fit into a tank of different sizes.

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 26&t=92541

[Zena]

Thank you! The chart was very helpful! It looks like I can have a total of 8 crabs if each one gets 6.5 g each accounting for long term growth. Do you think a variety of different species will get along? Do any one species need a buddy of the same species?

[Motörcrab]

I have two purples in with my strawberries. We also kept E's with purples too. I have never had any issues with my purples and straws being together. E's tend to be a little more protein hungry and can go after molting crabs.

They say it is always best to have a species buddy. I like having at least three just in case something happens to one they still have a buddy. We kept just one E with some purples. Our one purple seemed to become his friend and coach him to move around. It was pretty cute.

If you decide to go with other species be sure to read up on their care. Each one has their own special needs. Straws are probably the most delicate and tricky to care for. Purples seem to be the most hardy and can live with the other species requirements.

Reptile Basics and The Bean Farm both sell Ultrathem heater that will fit across the entire back.

[wodesorel]

I'd be cautious introducing new crabs. Given how long you've had them, they are doing extremely well. Introducing new crabs could potentially introduce new parasites or pathogens. If you're going to attempt it, I'd recommend isolating the new guys for several months, through at least one molt, preferably two. I also wouldn't recommend overcrowding - given their ages they should be about jumbo (or soon to be), which would mean 15 gallons per crabs, especially if this will be your last upgrade.

[DragonsFly]

I second wodesorel's caution, very strongly. Not only can introducing new crabs potentially bring in a disease, it will destabilize the relationship your current crabs have already established. Although the general guide gives a rule-of-thumb number, the fact is that captive wild animals endure stressors that geometrically multiply with each added individual (this was my Master's thesis subject, so I'm happy to go on ad nauseum about this if you want to know more). Adding new "buddies" can result in aggression, injuries, molting cannibalism, all kinds of unpleasant things. Particularly since E's have an established record of molting cannibalism, I would probably figure that if these two guys have been happy and healthy together for 8 years, you're better off keeping the "dynamic duo" as it is. I know it is tempting to want to "collect them all," but if you really want to do that, I'd think in terms of creating separate set-ups for any future acquisitions.