Adding other animals.

citiliviey · Post by **citiliviey** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 6:45 pm

Are there any other animals or so that I can add?

Either for eating or not for eating? Is there like a superfood live animal they would love? Or an animal they would just like to have as a buddy or aquaintence?

Also, can I add fish or starfish or underwater hermit crabs to the SW pool for company or food? I want to add something to get my babies happy. I want them to thrive.

Crabbzymagnus · Post by **Crabbzymagnus** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:29 pm

Well,I don't exactly recommend it,but I'm actually keeping 2 red crabs with my hermits,they seem to do fine together,had them for 4 weeks.My hermits would use their antenna to tickle them n they would just run around the tank.My freshwater bowl is deep enough for them and they spend most of their time on land.

They don't seem to pinch

Crabbzymagnus · Post by **Crabbzymagnus** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:29 pm

They eat leafy veggies and fruits,they are mostly nocturnal so they only come out with the hermits,they also don't dig holes so it shouldn't do any harm to molting crabs.
But I do not recommend it as they need a very warm temperature to survive.

megmaholm · Post by **megmaholm** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 10:09 pm

I wouldn't add anything to your pools - SW pools are tricky to maintain, and with one small enough to fit in a tank it wouldn't be near enough to support an animal in it.

If you want to add something to your tank, look into isopods/rolly pollies/pillbugs. They'll clean up food scraps and your crabs will snack on them. More info here: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 26&t=92538

citiliviey · Post by **citiliviey** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 11:41 pm

Thank you both! I can't wait! I shall post to pictures. c:

citiliviey · Post by **citiliviey** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 11:43 pm

Crabbzymagnus wrote:Well,I don't exactly recommend it,but I'm actually keeping 2 red crabs with my hermits,they seem to do fine together,had them for 4 weeks.My hermits would use their antenna to tickle them n they would just run around the tank.My freshwater bowl is deep enough for them and they spend most of their time on land.

They don't seem to pinch

Crabbzymagnus, where do you get the red crabs? o:

Crabbzymagnus · Post by **Crabbzymagnus** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 1:44 am

citiliviey wrote: Crabbzymagnus, where do you get the red crabs? o:

I found them in the wet market,were sold for $3 each in a plastic box with a small amount of water,they didn't even have any space there were like 20 inside there

,i chose the 2 most red ones.One of them just escaped from the crabitat and they'r really fast,I'v gotta find that little guy!

They also hide in the hermit shells

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:17 am

megmaholm wrote:I wouldn't add anything to your pools - SW pools are tricky to maintain, and with one small enough to fit in a tank it wouldn't be near enough to support an animal in it.

If you want to add something to your tank, look into isopods/rolly pollies/pillbugs. They'll clean up food scraps and your crabs will snack on them. More info here: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 26&t=92538

^this. I don't recommend trying to add other critters to the tank or pools except the rollie pollies. Those may even become snacks. It's just really difficult to give each animal everything they need to thrive in one aquarium, plus the risk they won't get along or one will eat the other. Most pools in crab tanks are way too small for pretty much any fish and they would also need to be properly cycled. It's something I think should only be considered after 1) you've had tons of experience keeping both animals separately and 2) tons of research. Then, even the most experienced keeper should have a back up plan for if it doesn't work out. But honestly, it's still not something I would recommend doing. I think if you're truly interested in another pet, do your research and set up it's own tank with everything it needs. Your crabs would be happiest in their own tank with proper space and conditions. They don't need any "buddies" other than other hermit crabs.

Beebalm · Post by **Beebalm** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 10:02 am

I agree - I would hate to think what would happen if one of those cute red crabs were hiding in a shell that the hermits wanted...

citiliviey · Post by **citiliviey** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:28 am

Thank you guys, any ideas what separate animals I could look into?

Crabbzymagnus · Post by **Crabbzymagnus** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 12:20 am

The red crabs usually don't stay in the shells for long.They usually stay in the. moss pit with the other crabsWhere do i get rolly pollies or pillbugs?

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:41 am

Isopods/rollypolies/pillbugs are crustacean cousins to hermit crabs and prefer similar climates. You can find them naturally in areas where there are trees and rocks. They like to hide under rocks and fallen tree limbs, thriving in the damp spots. Turn over large rocks or tree logs. You might even find some living among trees which have gnarly roots.

Crabbers unite!!!

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:45 am

The first one at the folloeing link might be easiest to find, but i'm not sure about your particular area: http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2013/06/ ... e.html?m=1

Good luck!

Crabbers unite!!!

Crabbzymagnus · Post by **Crabbzymagnus** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 3:14 am

YYWW wrote:The first one at the folloeing link might be easiest to find, but i'm not sure about your particular area: http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2013/06/ ... e.html?m=1

Good luck!

Crabbers unite!!!

Ok thanks YYWW!Are they very fast?

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 6:29 am

@Crabbzymagnus the ones in my area are not. Their legs aren't very long. They just crawl around slowly and roll into a ball when i pick them up, for protection.
Just bring a mini crabitat with you and try to get 20 or so. A plastic tub filled with leaf litter and a piece of wood will do. You want a lot that will breed or else they might not survive captivity. Some crabbers breed them and wait 2 generations before adding babies to the tat. This helps breed out possible contamination from pesticides and fertilizers.

ETA: here's our isopod sticky: viewtopic.php?t=92538

Crabbers unite!!!

HCA: Hermit Crab Association