LiveHermitCrabs.com

[parrothead]

For those of you who have ordered violas before - when she says small is that pretty true to a small size - or if I order small am I going to get tiny tiny crabs?

I got small Violas just last month, they were a perfect size small

[wolfnipplechips]

I had ordered small violas from her a couple years ago. They came small (normal small), now are happy, beefy mediums!

[cjmiller]

Ok so now I need an opinion - I really want violas - BUT - I really don't want to have another tank set up. I have empty tanks - I just don't want to deal with two tanks on a regular basis. Is it ok to mix the PP's, E's, and violas? Or should I maybe just not get the violas until I am ready for another tank? I keep going back and forth on it and I just can't make up my darn mind. At least if I order them I will have some time to prepare....since the shipping is going to be delayed for a while.

I want em - just don't think it is bad enough for two tanks yet maybe in the future....but not right now.

[kuza]

I believe most people mix them up together, only Rockygirl had a separate viola tank as far as I'm aware.

[parrothead]

Ok so now I need an opinion - I really want violas - BUT - I really don't want to have another tank set up. I have empty tanks - I just don't want to deal with two tanks on a regular basis. Is it ok to mix the PP's, E's, and violas? Or should I maybe just not get the violas until I am ready for another tank? I keep going back and forth on it and I just can't make up my darn mind. At least if I order them I will have some time to prepare....since the shipping is going to be delayed for a while.

I want em - just don't think it is bad enough for two tanks yet maybe in the future....but not right now.

I keep all my crabs (including Violas) in the same tank with out incident.

[lefty]

i had to adjust my temps a little higher before i got mine but they're in main tank and have found them to fit in very well. i really love having the different kinds, so happy in their silly shells you can always spot them.

[Careyenz]

I have 6 species mixed. I do have a separate E tank for troublemakers, but haveno issues otherwise.

[cjmiller]

Awesome! Thank you everyone.

Last question (for now lol) What does she normally charge for the overnight shipping? If I am remembering it correctly isn't it around $35?

[parrothead]

Awesome! Thank you everyone.

Last question (for now lol) What does she normally charge for the overnight shipping? If I am remembering it correctly isn't it around $35?

Yup $35

[Mattygun]

This is very helpful information. I am considering ordering some exotics from this site. I sent her an inquiry about the shipping and she replied within 12 hours. Of course, I haven't placed the order yet. I am going to check with my local exotic pet guy but I fear he may only be able to get the PP'S. As for the exotics, I am considering 3 straws, 3 violas, and a couple of E's. I currently have 4 smalls (3 pps and I believe an E) and a jumbo pp named Thor, all in a 20 gallon tank. Happy to say after losing my first jumbo in only 3 weeks all my crabs seem very healthy. My tank conditions are textbook best I can figure. (2 have been down buried for 8 days...my first molting crabs?! No fishy smell yet so fingers crossed.). I'd like to get my new crabs in a large size for a total of 13 crabs. If I upgrade to a 40 gallon tank with elevated live moss pits, drift wood and a hemp hammock, would you all think that size would be sufficient?

Just want to add as a new 'crabber' ow much I appreciate this site. I owe my daughter for reintroducing me to keeping exotic animals as pets. I love these fascinating creatures! Thanks all!

[LittleCrabby12712]

Straws won't be a good choice, since you're a new crabber. They require alot of care and expierence.

[Mattygun]

Yea, I've been thinking of that as I have continued researched further. In your experience, what are the special needs that Straws require? Are their required conditions different enough that they require to be kept separately? I read many places where folks keep them with other species but I would appreciate your feedback on the matter.
Thanks!

[kittyluvcrabby2113]

I'm not an straw owner but I do know some of there requirements... (fixed my answers)
They need a lot of substrate about 4-8 inches deep (depending on the biggest crab size)
There temp must range from 80-85 & humidity 80 * it must stay like this at all times it cant drop below
They require a large saltwater pool
A large crabitat at least a 40 gallon tank or bigger
And a wide variety of foods, and certain foods to maintain there color.....

[sugarselections]

Where did you get that info on straws? Pretty much none of it is true.

Are straws more delicate and harder to keep alive in captivity in the long term? Absolutely yes. Do they really have any special requirements that we can pinpoint at this time? No. The problem is that we don't know what it is that we're missing in their care that causes them to rarely live more than a few years in captivity.

Any well set up crabitat with the standard resources is all that's required for straws. They need 3X their height in substrate depth for molting, around 80/80 for temp/humidity with rises and falls for day and night, marine saltwater in a dish deep enough to allow them to fully submerge, an amount of space in the crabitat corresponding to their size as measured here: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/pages/sizing.htm.

Also, I believe Indos are the largest species of hermit crab followed by the purple pincher. Straws can get to jumbo size but I've never heard of one bigger than that. Somebody correct me on that one if I'm wrong.

[boxcat]

I agree 100% with everything Sugarselections said. Regarding hermit crab size, I think PPs grow to the largest mass but indos have the largest size? Something like that-- they both can get very large though.