randomly gifted crabs
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 10:58 pm
I work at a pet store (small, local, and actually meets the minimum for all the species we sell. we are encouraged to deny sales if there is an animal welfare concern )
and the other day someone had an emergency rehoming of purple pincher crabs. The store has a few from similar cases right now, but they were MUCH larger. I had an empty 29 gallon tank, so I took the 4 crabs home. She told me their names are Hermie, Squeezy, Dolly Lama, and Teddy. Hermie and Teddy are in painted shells, but she really seemed to know her stuff and was very heartbroken to have to rehome them. It was an emergency.
Luckily enough I kind of on-again off-again obsession with the little guys, and have been stockpiling supplies for them over the years. I wasn't going to adopt some until I had a 75 gallon, but I still feel good about this decision.
I got them set up in my cornsnake's old baby bioactive terrarium.
After I got them set up the first night, Teddy immediately tried on a, at least I thought so, more fitting shell (his is painted, and QUITE large for him) But he didn't seem to like it, and I had to break up a fight as Teddy returned to his old empty shell that Hermie was taking an interest in. I turned Hermie around to face the climbing wall, and he calmed down. Lots of chirping, very dramatic. I've been rotating the shells in there the past couple days, but I haven't seen anyone really shopping around for shells since.
Humidity looks good! 80% when I go to bed and 65% when I wake up to mist again.
here's an imgur gallery with some pictures!
https://imgur.io/a/POYS0Jq
QUESTIONS:
I've got two heat mats on there, but the temperature is staying at 71° on the warm side, 67° om the cold side. I turned my home thermostat up to reach that high, but that's not sustainable for my budget. Does anyone have any tips and tricks for warming them on a budget?
I bought a glass lid, but how the heck does anyone attach that back plastic peice?! I've been trying for days and I've actually cut myself up more than once so far.
I have a few dependable critter keeping friends I think could possibly take 2 of them. I've asked around, but do you guys think it'd be okay to split them up?
and the other day someone had an emergency rehoming of purple pincher crabs. The store has a few from similar cases right now, but they were MUCH larger. I had an empty 29 gallon tank, so I took the 4 crabs home. She told me their names are Hermie, Squeezy, Dolly Lama, and Teddy. Hermie and Teddy are in painted shells, but she really seemed to know her stuff and was very heartbroken to have to rehome them. It was an emergency.
Luckily enough I kind of on-again off-again obsession with the little guys, and have been stockpiling supplies for them over the years. I wasn't going to adopt some until I had a 75 gallon, but I still feel good about this decision.
I got them set up in my cornsnake's old baby bioactive terrarium.
After I got them set up the first night, Teddy immediately tried on a, at least I thought so, more fitting shell (his is painted, and QUITE large for him) But he didn't seem to like it, and I had to break up a fight as Teddy returned to his old empty shell that Hermie was taking an interest in. I turned Hermie around to face the climbing wall, and he calmed down. Lots of chirping, very dramatic. I've been rotating the shells in there the past couple days, but I haven't seen anyone really shopping around for shells since.
Humidity looks good! 80% when I go to bed and 65% when I wake up to mist again.
here's an imgur gallery with some pictures!
https://imgur.io/a/POYS0Jq
QUESTIONS:
I've got two heat mats on there, but the temperature is staying at 71° on the warm side, 67° om the cold side. I turned my home thermostat up to reach that high, but that's not sustainable for my budget. Does anyone have any tips and tricks for warming them on a budget?
I bought a glass lid, but how the heck does anyone attach that back plastic peice?! I've been trying for days and I've actually cut myself up more than once so far.
I have a few dependable critter keeping friends I think could possibly take 2 of them. I've asked around, but do you guys think it'd be okay to split them up?