Crabby eating his decor?!

DobbyTheFreeCrab · Post by **DobbyTheFreeCrab** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 2:15 pm

Hello!
My purple pincher (?) Dobby eats any leafy decorations I put in the tank - or at least nibbles on them/pulls them apart.
I'm worried that he is ingesting the plastic decorations (just store bought foliage for reptiles) but his tank looks dull without it.

Does anyone have any ideas for decor that I can add that he won't eat or at least is safe if he wants to have a nibble??

Thanks!

Motörcrab · Post by **Motörcrab** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 9:26 pm

What types of enrichment (activities) do you have for your crabs? If there isn't much for them to climb on, or do, they may be picking at them for something to do. You can also try rinsing the plants in your dechlorinated freshwater to see if that helps too.

DobbyTheFreeCrab · Post by **DobbyTheFreeCrab** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 3:18 am

He has some wood in there that he climbs on, and some other shells and some pebbles, and he likes to climb and walk across the mesh lid.
What other enrichment would you suggest for him?
Thanks

Motörcrab · Post by **Motörcrab** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 5:59 am

Hermit crabs actually love exercise wheels for mice and hamsters. Preferably the plastic ones. The wire screen wheels can break their legs. Making a hanging moss pit out of a plastic shower caddy with suction cups will give them a a place to hide and boost humidity too.

You said he, so I'm assuming you have one hermit crab? It is generally considered best to have at least two of the same species together since they are social creatures. People have also kept just one perfectly fine for years.

Motörcrab · Post by **Motörcrab** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 6:08 am

Here is one of our 29 gallon crabitats. On the right is plastic egg crate, also called lighting diffuser we use as a shell shop. We also have that on the background behind the crafting mesh. On the left we have a moss pit, a flower pot hide, and hanging dome in the back. You can see the wheel in the background and and all sorts of things to climb in, on and across.

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DobbyTheFreeCrab · Post by **DobbyTheFreeCrab** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 6:10 am

That's awesome thank you! I will have to get creative for him to make it more exciting!

Yeah I would love to get him a friend, I used to care for him at a public aquarium I worked at, and when they were doing a new exhibit where he was they said he would be added to the surplus list to be rehomed at another site so I asked if I could bring him home instead. I'm not sure my tank would be suitable for more than 1 though, and for as long as I know he's been on his own. Maybe one day I can upgrade and get him some buddies!

HappyHermit0916 · Post by **HappyHermit0916** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 11:40 am

DobbyTheFreeCrab wrote: ↑
Mon Aug 10, 2020 2:15 pm
Hello!
My purple pincher (?) Dobby eats any leafy decorations I put in the tank - or at least nibbles on them/pulls them apart.
I'm worried that he is ingesting the plastic decorations (just store bought foliage for reptiles) but his tank looks dull without it.

Does anyone have any ideas for decor that I can add that he won't eat or at least is safe if he wants to have a nibble??

Thanks!

Something I would recommend chia seeds, you can grow them and crabs can eat the sprouts! :crabbigsmile:

Hermielover121 · Post by **Hermielover121** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 12:19 pm

I would recommend getting these plant bushes from the dollar store. You can bush the out branches and it creates a lot of room to hide if you buy more then one ( they are only like a dollar each ) it creates kind of a forest and they really like it

Sorry about the cords in front

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DobbyTheFreeCrab · Post by **DobbyTheFreeCrab** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 1:23 pm

Thanks for the help! I have bought some bushy plants in the past but he pulls them apart and nibbles on them and I'd hate for him to ingest anything and get sick!

I might look in to planting things in his enclosure but I doubt there's enough sunlight for the plants to grow!

I definitely have crabitat envy, I need to sort out a bigger tank so I can give him lots of places to climb and hide! He seems happy enough with what he's got but I have an old fish tank I can upgrade to once I move house.

Hermielover121 · Post by **Hermielover121** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 4:32 pm

What size tank is he in currently. I’m pretty sure that he is bored and that’s why he is eating his decorations does he seem interested in the food that you make or only the plants. What type of food do you make for him maybe he doesn’t like it, Make sure that you were giving him a variety of foods so that he feels like he can choose.

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DobbyTheFreeCrab · Post by **DobbyTheFreeCrab** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 6:00 am

He is in a 60L (16 gallon) tank. He doesn't seem too bothered about most foods. He absolutely loves carrot, and always eats that when I offer it to him, but other things he's not too bothered. I offer him spinach, watercress, various fruit, peppers, mushroom, prawn, tomato, cucumber, egg and egg shell, chicken and white fish (he has sometimes eaten chicken and white fish but more recently has ignored it). Basically anything in the fridge that is OK for him to eat I offer to him. I also grate cuttlefish bone over his food every couple of days (I've tried giving it to him in chunks but he doesn't touch it).
He's been a fussy eater as long as I've known him (way back when I cared for him at a public aquarium) and I'm at a loose end as to what to try.

Any help would be massively appreciated, I want to give him the best life possible!

Hermielover121 · Post by **Hermielover121** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 1:09 pm

Hmmm I am not quite sure. The next thing I would try is getting him a buddy maybe that will help

DobbyTheFreeCrab · Post by **DobbyTheFreeCrab** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 1:13 pm

Once I move into my new home and have more space I will be upgrading his home so will look into getting him a buddy! Thank you

ROSIEonFIRE · Post by **ROSIEonFIRE** » Wed Aug 12, 2020 6:38 pm

Motörcrab wrote:Here is one of our 29 gallon crabitats. On the right is plastic egg crate, also called lighting diffuser we use as a shell shop. We also have that on the background behind the crafting mesh. On the left we have a moss pit, a flower pot hide, and hanging dome in the back. You can see the wheel in the background and and all sorts of things to climb in, on and across.

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This is somewhat off topic but wow I love this tat! 2 suggestions: 1 u could wrap the little second layer in burlap or cover it in brown craft mesh if u wanted to make it look a bit more natural and 2. Wouldnt it be cool to make a little permanent cave under the sub with eggcrate???

I'm breaking down my tat RN for a move and I wasn't really planning on making any changes when I set it up again but this tat is giving me some IDEAS.

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HCA: Hermit Crab Association