How to introduce a new crab.

[Brian_T]

I am adopting a neighbors crab tomorrow. Do I need to do anything special to prepare? It has apparently been living in a wife mesh cage for the last year and a half.

I am guessing I do not need to isolate since it's been effectively isolated. I will examine under a magnifying glass to check for mites.



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[CrabMater]

Everyone has their way. If they are clean (no mites) just put them in. I personally do not bathe my crabs. Ever. Im very hands off and hope that with abundant resources (shells, water, food, molting space, adequate substrate depth) they will be ok. HCs are pack animals. Jealousy over mates is very low, probably because for the casual crabber, mating conditions are not met. Shell aggression may cause fights, so be sure you have at least 2 shells per crab.( I have way more than that) In the wild a lone crab will roll up on an established colony. There is a pecking order but the PP is a very mellow crab.
Good luck. Ask questions. Be vigilant esp in the first few days.

[Kermie16]

How exciting!! Looking forward to some pics:) As CrabMater said, for the most part it is personal preference. I like to dip our newbies in the FW pool and then let them meet their tank mates. Making sure u have the appropriate sized shells for each crab is important and to have several available so they have choices. Hope all goes well!!


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[Crabinski]

Just give the new crab a dunk in the tank's FW pool so he'll smell like the others and then sit back and let them introduce themselves. There'll be some antenna waving, maybe some pushing and shoving, but don't be concerned unless there's an attempt to hijack the newcomer's shell. With any luck, the newbie won't be the same size as any of your current clan but that doesn't stop shell envy. If there's serious grappling of the shell, especially if the crab is flipped on his back, just separate the crabs (i.e., put one in the moss pit, in a pool, at the far side of the tank). This will usually do the trick.

[Brian_T]

The new crab has arrived. It is just kind of hiding in a corner.



It is in sorry shape so I am keeping my fingers crossed. It seems to be missing a claw and the current shell appears to be over sized. Fortunately I have some shells slightly larger, about the same and slightly smaller. I set up a small shell shop in one corner. All the shells are too small for the other crabs so hopefully no fighting.

I put in honey, egg shells, red shrimp and peanut butter for a good energy snack. We'll see what happens.

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[Kermie16]

Sounds like he's in the right place to recover. From the pics, looks like a little guy. Hoping he finds a new shell and has a good successful molt!


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[kieagcarm]

The new crab has arrived. It is just kind of hiding in a corner.



It is in sorry shape so I am keeping my fingers crossed. It seems to be missing a claw and the current shell appears to be over sized. Fortunately I have some shells slightly larger, about the same and slightly smaller. I set up a small shell shop in one corner. All the shells are too small for the other crabs so hopefully no fighting.

I put in honey, egg shells, red shrimp and peanut butter for a good energy snack. We'll see what happens.

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What's the white things around him? And is your sub gray? Maybe is just the picture

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[Brian_T]

The new crab has arrived. It is just kind of hiding in a corner.



It is in sorry shape so I am keeping my fingers crossed. It seems to be missing a claw and the current shell appears to be over sized. Fortunately I have some shells slightly larger, about the same and slightly smaller. I set up a small shell shop in one corner. All the shells are too small for the other crabs so hopefully no fighting.

I put in honey, egg shells, red shrimp and peanut butter for a good energy snack. We'll see what happens.

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What's the white things around him? And is your sub gray? Maybe is just the picture

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The picture is at a weird angle. The white thing is a netting I made from cotton rope. The sub isn't gray. It's standard playsand/coco fiber. Maybe a little heavy on the coco fiber. The camera washed out the color.

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[Kermie16]

Kieagcarm, I love how observant you are! I wish I had that gift! I didn't even notice the things you pointed out. Brian_T, curious how U made the netting? I'm always looking for extra crabbie crafts Is it like ur standard fish netting or something else u created?


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[kieagcarm]

Kieagcarm, I love how observant you are! I wish I had that gift! I didn't even notice the things you pointed out. Brian_T, curious how U made the netting? I'm always looking for extra crabbie crafts Is it like ur standard fish netting or something else u created?


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Thanks, I'm curious by nature and ask questions of everything. I'm always looking for ways to improve my tank, since I seem to utterly fail at every turn these days

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[Kermie16]

If there is one major thing I've learned when I started crabbing, it is that making mistakes is the best way to learn - I've made numerous mistakes and the wonderful HCA members were never judgmental and always were here to guide me ^_^ Brian_T, did u name ur new guy/gal?


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[Visual]

I'm thinking of making some netting. I have cotton rope and hemp rope and twine. No idea which thread to put this in or if I should have started a new one, please direct me if there's a better place. But my question is, is there a better material? Would cotton be prone to mold? Also how do you guys hang all this stuff? All suction cups? I can't even keep my coco fiber up! Help :/

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[Kermie16]

I'm thinking of making some netting. I have cotton rope and hemp rope and twine. No idea which thread to put this in or if I should have started a new one, please direct me if there's a better place. But my question is, is there a better material? Would cotton be prone to mold? Also how do you guys hang all this stuff? All suction cups? I can't even keep my coco fiber up! Help :/

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Hey Visual! So I think this post would either go in Crabitat conditions or maybe better under DIY? But since I don't know how to move posts, I will just reply here:) I can't speak for cotton rope as I have never used it and that is why I'm curious of Brian_T's experience with it and what he created. I have used both hemp rope and twine. I don't know if this is necessary, but I soak both in MSW for like an hour, then set out to dry. When completely dry, then I put into the tank. I do something similar with our wood structures except after soaking, I like to put mine in the oven. I have heard of some using Velcro strips to keep the coco walls up, although I'm not sure how that works. I have ziptied our coco wall up on corner guards that I siliconed into the tank. Other things to consider if that's not a possibility is poking holes in it and slipping them through suction cup hooks, 3M plastic hooks or using another structure to hold it up (I use an aquarium rock on one side to help hold it up along with the zip ties). Hope that helps!


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[Brian_T]

I'm thinking of making some netting. I have cotton rope and hemp rope and twine. No idea which thread to put this in or if I should have started a new one, please direct me if there's a better place. But my question is, is there a better material? Would cotton be prone to mold? Also how do you guys hang all this stuff? All suction cups? I can't even keep my coco fiber up! Help :/

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Hey Visual! So I think this post would either go in Crabitat conditions or maybe better under DIY? But since I don't know how to move posts, I will just reply here:) I can't speak for cotton rope as I have never used it and that is why I'm curious of Brian_T's experience with it and what he created. I have used both hemp rope and twine. I don't know if this is necessary, but I soak both in MSW for like an hour, then set out to dry. When completely dry, then I put into the tank. I do something similar with our wood structures except after soaking, I like to put mine in the oven. I have heard of some using Velcro strips to keep the coco walls up, although I'm not sure how that works. I have ziptied our coco wall up on corner guards that I siliconed into the tank. Other things to consider if that's not a possibility is poking holes in it and slipping them through suction cup hooks, 3M plastic hooks or using another structure to hold it up (I use an aquarium rock on one side to help hold it up along with the zip ties). Hope that helps!


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It's been there for a few months. I used the cotton because I was going for a decorative sort of macrame look. It's also thicker at 1/8 inch then most netting. I boiled it in msw before putting it in. It hasn't molded but it is dirty with substrate. I plan on replacing it with hemp or jute.

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[Brian_T]

The new arrival is just tucked into that corner, partially under a peice of driftwood. I am fighting the urge to check on it. I know I'm supposed to leave it alone while it settles in. It's been in a wire cage for over a year and will probably need time to adjust.

I'm just watching out for a surface molt.

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