New Crab Owner

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 11:06 am

Good job on the bargain hunting! Now that is how a real crabber operates. Dang that is a good deal!!Everything looks good! I actually have one of those plastic climby hidey things you're talking about so I'm hoping it's ok... You will be surprised what they can successfully climb on, he he.

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 5:02 pm

I was going to recommend crafty stores like Michaels/Jo-ann/Hobby Lobby. They've always got bags of shells of all sizes. I got lots of suitable shells and also cheap natural sea sponges there.Plastic plants are OK, I use tons of them. They're an easy way to add security to the tank. Gives them lots of shade and areas for hiding. Places they can feel secure and safe in without having to bury.Crabs from pet stores often have gone through considerable stress during distribution, even if the pet store conditions look OK. So it's not uncommon to lose crabs from petco/petsmart (and especially kiosk-type sellers). Following the PPS guide can help but even that's still not foolproof.

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 1:18 am

Thanks for the continued feedback as I learn how to provide them the best care

Couple more questions: I got some play sand to replace the calci sand which I eventually want to replace completely. My question is should I just add some of it to top for now or would I be OK to completely change it all out (just got them Friday)? Obviously I have to work around my fresh top molter who is quarantined in a corner under a pop bottle top either way. And either way, do I take them out and put them in a bowl or something or just work around them?Lastly, they don't seem to like the shells I put in (pic above). Krabbie Patty changed into the one w/ brown spots but then got back in his painted shell. Can someone show me a pic of some others to try? Are they the wrong size maybe?

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 10:35 am

I am going to defer to more experienced crabbers on the first question. As to the shells, I swear I didn't find a shell my crabs liked for MONTHS. I would buy shells and buy shells and boil shells and put them in and ... nothing! Measuring the opening with a caliper and then ordering specific sizes from HCP was my first successful shell purchase. When you find shells they like, you will know right away because they will be excited and start changing!

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 1:11 pm

Just because crabs don't change shells doesn't mean they don't like them. Crabs often don't change if they're satisfied with what they have. Sometimes even their in a terrible shell and they'll choose to stick to it for years.If the shells are correct, trust that if the crab decides he wants to change, he'll pick one.We generally don't recommend adding much substrate ontop of existing substrate. Added weight can collapse tunnels. If it's only been a few days it's probably ok to re-swap out the sand now if you want to.

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 2:03 am

Krabbie Patty finally changed out of the painted shell, so I took it out this morning. I don't know if he just has to get used to the new shell, but he was toppling over a bit while exploring in it. He did get in yet another shell after that one though, so maybe it just wasn't a good fit. I'm still planning to get some more just to make sure they all find one they like so I can get the painted ones out. My dilemma about the substrate is that I have a surface molter quarantined in the corner under a 2 liter top. I want to make the sand deeper since it's barely a couple inches now so that's why I want to switch it out. Should I just do all the changing around the molter and it's ok to make it deeper around him (not too deep or the other will be able to climb in since I cut part of the neck off the bottle)? I guess I need to know what is more important, to get deeper substrate in there or wait until the molter is done.

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 3:51 pm

if you can put it around the molter without disturbing them at all, and there's no other crabs buried, that would probably work.

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 11:41 pm

Thanks! I think I will work around the molter and change out to the play sand today.I finally got a small peek at Sheldon last night. He's the smallest and shyest of them. I think he's an E, as is my molter. So, I ended up with 2 Es and a PP. The PP, Krabbie Patty, last night had climbed up the climbing wall and was upside down on the corner of the screen lid scratching around.

He's been very active and fun to watch since I got them. Is this typical of PPs vs Es?

DragonHeart33 · Post by **DragonHeart33** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 1:58 am

From what I have been told (correct me if I'm wrong) E's are usually more active than PP's and are tank terrorists. Also keep an eye out for fighting. I just recently learned that E's are more aggressive but people have had no problem with them together. You should also get a species buddy for your PP, They usually like the company of their own kind since the two kinds aren't together in the wild. I hope this helps!

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 2:18 am

That's funny because I was thinking the PPs must be the terrorists. My PP has stood on top of both the E's. One was molting (was before I isolated him in a pop top) and the other is smaller than him. I only have a 10 gallon right now, so I would be worried that 4 in a 10 would be too much

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 2:46 am

Yes my Es are definitely more active. They're faster, too! But they are more sensitive so maybe more likely to suffer PPS.

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 6:40 am

I've had some unusual ones as well. I have had PPs who were super active and pushy, one was so tiny she (Luna) was in a shell that was slightly smaller than an eighth of an inch but she was/is a terror! She is push and bossy and she chirped so loudly that I thought at first we had a nest of baby birds just outside the window. She's been with me a year now and has only grown to fit shells that measure 1/2 inch or less. She no longer chirps as much but she gives my E a run for who is in charge in that tank. I've also had all my Es including the lone adoptee that is still going, change out of their shells into new ones within the first day or two at my house. Es are supposed to be particularly stubborn about such but not mine. And while the Es that have lived here, some briefly, have been active in different ways than my PPs, they have also been quiet compared with the likes of Luna (the bossy chirper) and George (the shell changing drama queen).The other thing I've noticed with mine is the ones who are really big are active in ways the little one are not. They are not afraid of me in the least and will continue whatever they were doing unless I sort of run at them...it happened once, they're in the kitchen and I had something dripping.Peg

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 11:44 am

That's too funny Geranium I can't wait to see all their personalities come out. We already started calling Krabbie Patty "Troublemaker" because he always seems to be looking to get in trouble Sheldon finally started moving around more last night and today and is peeking out of his shell. I think he's a PP as well. I thought he was an E because of just his color, but I think I see a purplish pincher? Here are a couple pics:http://s46.photobucket.com/use...bs/100 ... g.htmlHere is how my tank looks now that I added all playsand around the molter:http://s46.photobucket.com/use...bs/100_1174.jpg.htmlI kept the sand less deep at that end so "Troublemaker" doesn't try to climb in the bottle to get at Krusty, as he was after him before which is why I had to put the bottle around him.

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 11:59 am

Tank looks great! I agree Sheldon looks like a PP.

jgfceit · Post by **jgfceit** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 12:39 pm

Definitely a PP.