Dilemma

[crabbycasey]

I currently have glass water dishes for salt and freshwater pools. They also both have aquarium rocks and mesh in them as a means to climb in and out. They were my first pools in this tank and I have since learned the hack of doubling up on plastic dishes to have a place holder under the one I’ll remove to change their water. I had used glass thinking it would be sturdier and less likely to get tipped over. I’ve found what I want to use for their new pools now and am super excited to put them in! However, I have 4 molters and am scared to pick up a bowl bc I’ve learned crabs like to bury/molt under solid objects for protection. While I can be patient as far as redecorating with the new pools, my dilemma is now changing their water. How long can the pool water go before it really needs to be changed? Which is more important...changing the water and possibly disturbing a molter or leaving dirty water for who knows how long, waiting for all my molters to surface?

Appreciate all advice, thank you!


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[JoeHermits]

Normally I’d say no more than a week between water changes since ammonia can build up pretty quickly once organic matter starts to rot in it.

Otherwise, depending on how deep the pools are set in lifting them up may not be as risky as you think. As long as the substrate is moist enough to not cave in on itself you can lift them up and then put something over any molters underneath.


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[CrabbyLover77]

I usually go a week between water changes. Of course, if they get too sandy or poopy I change them in between.

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[crabbycasey]

Normally I’d say no more than a week between water changes since ammonia can build up pretty quickly once organic matter starts to rot in it.

Otherwise, depending on how deep the pools are set in lifting them up may not be as risky as you think. As long as the substrate is moist enough to not cave in on itself you can lift them up and then put something over any molters underneath.


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Thank you...gives me a little more comfort in removing the bowls. My sub is a great consistency so it should hold. Really wanted to change the water and figured it was important. Glad to know I can, thanks again Joe!


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[aussieJJDude]

I honestly wouldn't stress too much about it. But if worried, you could go down the route of a Turkey baster (or something similar) or using scrap peice of airline tubing and syphon out dirty water...?

[crabbycasey]

I honestly wouldn't stress too much about it. But if worried, you could go down the route of a Turkey baster (or something similar) or using scrap peice of airline tubing and syphon out dirty water...?

I really considered something like that, haha! Going to just very gently lift it and take a peek first, then gently remove it. Gonna do it later today, wish me luck!


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[crabbycasey]

Update: I was able to successfully change out their water! Carefully lifted each pool and fortunately, there were no exposed crabs underneath! I took this opportunity to go ahead and switch out the pools with my new desk drawer organizers...smaller one sits inside the larger one and I added moss pits in the open space of bottom one. This will hopefully allow absorption of any spillover and now the bottom larger one acts as a placeholder so I don’t have to worry with the same concern again of possibly exposing a molter with water changes! Here’s a pic...that’s Ruby in the first one




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[PinkyNTwinkie33]

They look so fun!


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[crabbycasey]

Had so much fun creating them...hoping the crabbies like them too!


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[CrabbyLover77]

Nice!

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[crabbycasey]

Thanks!


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