Hermit Moon of Endor Crabarium (pics!)

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:00 am

JMT I'm so jealous right now your tat makes mine look like child's play.lolI'm to O.C.D to have my enclosure that well covered I have to be able to see what my crew are up so I do leave some viewing space open.I would love to be able to be that creative the way you have your plants and wicker rapped around each other makes the whole think look like a forest or jungle canopy.

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 1:35 pm

I've got about 25 crabs, mostly PPs with some Es, Straws, and Ruggies. They range from small to large. Largest is almost tennis ball. But i think he was the size of a quarter when I got him.I'm planning to do some on-line order this summer. Petco hasn't carried exotics around here in a few years now.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 2:12 pm

This has got to be the sickest tank I have every seen! Great work! I was also wondering, I have a 10 gallon tank and I thought it would be cool to have some vines hanging above the ground so that my crabbies could climb. Would it be safe to do that with such a small tank or should I just stick to my mini tree?

SharminsMagic8 · Post by **SharminsMagic8** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:58 am

Holy crabitat, I bet they LOVE it!

dylan644 · Post by **dylan644** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:42 pm

Don't just strand them up and down tatalati, strand them across the tank too. I plan to put vines across my 10gal with some hanging down. Try and make the most use of the 10gal as you can. It doesn't offer too much space, but if you can organize things right then you can make more out of it.

jmm · Post by **jmm** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:21 am

Hi Jedi!Well, good news! Cranky is resting, comfortably, in his new shell and getting a stronger, harder skeleton each day. Whew!Since I now only have 2 I'd like to add to my family. I never see any crabs bigger than a quarter. Where could I order larger ones? Like you said, Petco tried to get them for me but can't. My Cranky is also size of a tennis ball and I'd like to get him/her a 'like size' friend.BTW....love the new setup you have for your crabs. But, how and how often can you stir or clean the soil? Thanks!!

jmm · Post by **jmm** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 4:11 am

Your tank is so amazing, I have so many questions as do a lot of us. Do you make house-decorating calls? So, here goes:--your bonsai is real, --the wicker baskets sit on the soil (mine turned to mush), and --I see you layer the substrate? I mix my EE and sand and it is mostly EE. Guess I should add way more sand? If I do, should I now layer what I have with the sand? My tank is about 4' x 18"d x 2'h. My substrate is 6"? deep, is that enough? --Do you have any under tank heaters? You ROCK Jedi!!

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 5:11 am

Glad to hear about Cranky!About once every 2 months I pull out the toys and clean the noodles off of them, and then scrape the top layer of noodlicious substrate off. But I don't do any "stirring" for fear of disturbing buried crabs.The bonsai is plasticThe baskets sit ontop of the mini-cubes, about 4 inches minimum off of the substrate.The substrate is layered for convenience when setting up. The crabs will have it fully mixed in a couple months from digging, and it's fun to watch the progress.There are two small low-side-mounted UTH to warm the substrate on either side.There's several on-line crab stores. I've yet to do my research yet to pick one but I'm open to suggestions. They all seem to have pros and cons from what I remmeber.

jmm · Post by **jmm** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:33 am

Thanks for answering all my questions.Where do you get your babies?

texasreb · Post by **texasreb** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:09 am

I'm on the look out for a 90 or 92 corner tank, one is acrylic and one is glass, right? Did you buy yours new or did you get a used one? My preference is for a used one, but I'm not having any luck finding one...YET!

jmm · Post by **jmm** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:01 am

OK. Now I have the plants and some wood to add when Cranky is back to his usual cranky self.Questions: Should I keep the red light on all the time? It seems to keep the heat consistant. It's a 50 in a reflector light. I do have 2 under tank heater as well. And I'm really interested in something like the Habba Mister but hear mixed reviews. And, when I change the water, I dump the dirty water into the soil. Is that OK?Thanks again, Master!

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 5:50 am

A red heat light can stay on 24/7. I've never dumped old water into the soil before though. Usually the old water might have high nitrate levels.