Number of crabs in a 20gL?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:58 am

I wanted some opinions from all you experts. I have a 20g L now with 5 PP's (one is MIA for several months now.) all are med to small. How many crabs can live comfortably in a 20g L?

TipkiFlora · Post by **TipkiFlora** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:15 pm

Well, I have a 20 gal long tank with about 11 tiny/small and 4 medium crabs. Most of them are under the sand at any given time - usually about 4-8 are up at once. They all get along fine and have lots of room to run around, up, and down. I have two coco huts (one on each side of the tank), a tall piece of coral, a straight stick propped up in the corner, and a squiggly horizontal stick as some of the things for them to climb on. I also ordered a hemp net ladder which should be coming in the mail soon!

So really they end up using the full 20 gallons of space.

MudCrabDude · Post by **MudCrabDude** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:07 pm

not2crabby wrote:I wanted some opinions from all you experts. I have a 20g L now with 5 PP's (one is MIA for several months now.) all are med to small. How many crabs can live comfortably in a 20g L?

Sounds like you've hit the magic number with that group. I would try to keep it that for a couple of years and then decide to either add a new member or upgrade to a bigger tank to then add a new tankmate.

Cynderella727 · Post by **Cynderella727** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:02 pm

I agree with MudcCrabDude. I only have six, ranging from small to a smallish large in a 33 gallon tat with 3 second levels. I like them to have more than enough room to molt in peace and grow. I may add another one in the future, but for now I am happy with my six. Just my 2 cents though.

Kilimanjaro · Post by **Kilimanjaro** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:37 pm

I've had as much as 11 (ranging from small to large) and also as little as three.

I think it's all about balance and experimentation.

There really is no "set" number, although there is a limit.

If you have a lot of climbing space (as I do with mine), you have more room and therefore you can get a few more herms.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:35 pm

Thank you all for the good estimates. I was at a store over the weekend and I rescued 3 crabs (Ruggie's) I think, I'm not sure. But the conditions they were in was terrible, I'll spare you the details. I wish I could have saved them all. But I bought a new tank, it's an odd size, it's about a 22 gallon and it's square 21 x 16 x 16. I can't wait to set it up. I'll keep the 20g l as a back up if this new doesn't work out. I'll add pictures when I'm done. Thanks again!

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Number of crabs in a 20gL?

Number of crabs in a 20gL?

Re: Number of crabs in a 20gL?