Post
by Crabinski » Tue Feb 02, 2016 6:14 pm
More climbing/hiding stuff! A suspended moss pit is a great idea (or even setting one up in a corner at ground level). Small branches from safe-wood trees (check Safe/Unsafe Foods lists), not treated with pesticides, are terrific climbing features and are free! Pieces of cholla cactus wood can be found at Hobby Lobby and other craft stores for under $5. Check out your local dollar store and thrift stores for nifty plastic/cloth vines and flowers -- colorful "bushy" flowers like mums are fun for the crabs to climb on and hide in/under. Most of the cloth flowers will come with long plastic stems (wire within) that can be trimmed down and poked right into the substrate, leaving the leaves and flowers above-ground.
Another easy and cheap climbing/napping item is fish net. This is sold bagged at Michael's, Hobby Lobby and Jo-Ann, usually around $6 for a 3'x5' piece. As it is genuine used fish net, it will need to be washed in very hot water (no soap, of course) to get rid of any detritus and some of the genuine stink, too. It's simple to cut the netting to any size you want and drape it along the glass to create a crabbie version of a rock climbing wall; the net can also be draped over a stick, resin tree or cholla to create both a climbing and hiding area.
Last but not least, although you have teeny and small crabs now, they'll grow quickly at that size, molting frequently, and will need deeper substrate than it appears you currently have in the tank. Be sure that the substrate is at least 6" deep throughout so they can have fun tunneling and be safe when molting.
PPs are Big Enzo, Charles Paris and Mr Pinch
On the Big Beach in the Sky: Murray, Gino, Oscar, Gordon, Ignatz, Harry and King Felix the Pale
Also Mom to Imogene the Syrian Hamster