Red Crabs
 

We bought 4 dwarf red crabs a while back... they lived happily for about 3
days then 2 of them decided to climb up out of the tank and sit on the glass
ledge just under the hood... where they died. The other 2 crabs stayed in
the water and seemed to freeze solid and again die.

Anyone know why this might be?

I would really like to give them another go but obviously i don't want them
dying again. Since then i've cleaned the tank out throughly and replaced the
foam filter with an undergravel one with power head one end and riser the
other with air stone and carbon filter on.

We have fish in the tank that are all healthy, just as we did when we had
the crabs.

Simon wrote:
We bought 4 dwarf red crabs a while back... they lived happily for about 3
days then 2 of them decided to climb up out of the tank and sit on the glass
ledge just under the hood... where they died. The other 2 crabs stayed in
the water and seemed to freeze solid and again die.

Anyone know why this might be?

I would really like to give them another go but obviously i don't want them
dying again. Since then i've cleaned the tank out throughly and replaced the
foam filter with an undergravel one with power head one end and riser the
other with air stone and carbon filter on.

We have fish in the tank that are all healthy, just as we did when we had
the crabs.


Any possibility you could have had a touch of ammonia or nitrite? Or
high nitrates from the UGF? A heavy tank cleaning can sometimes cause a
tiny cycle that doesn't bother fish or register on test kits, but can
harm inverts. Another thing that comes to mind is that dwarf red crabs
are really brackish, so they might not have been comfortable in pure
freshwater. Also, if they were trying to moult (seems unlikely if all
died at once) they need iodine. A drop per 10 gallons of reef iodine
weekly is all they need, but it apparantly makes a huge difference to FW
shrimps and crabs.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

"Elaine T" wrote in message
. ..
Simon wrote:
We bought 4 dwarf red crabs a while back... they lived happily for about
3 days then 2 of them decided to climb up out of the tank and sit on the
glass ledge just under the hood... where they died. The other 2 crabs
stayed in the water and seemed to freeze solid and again die.

Anyone know why this might be?

I would really like to give them another go but obviously i don't want
them dying again. Since then i've cleaned the tank out throughly and
replaced the foam filter with an undergravel one with power head one end
and riser the other with air stone and carbon filter on.

We have fish in the tank that are all healthy, just as we did when we had
the crabs.
Any possibility you could have had a touch of ammonia or nitrite? Or high
nitrates from the UGF? A heavy tank cleaning can sometimes cause a tiny
cycle that doesn't bother fish or register on test kits, but can harm
inverts. Another thing that comes to mind is that dwarf red crabs are
really brackish, so they might not have been comfortable in pure
freshwater. Also, if they were trying to moult (seems unlikely if all
died at once) they need iodine. A drop per 10 gallons of reef iodine
weekly is all they need, but it apparantly makes a huge difference to FW
shrimps and crabs.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

At the time we only had a foam filter, no undergravel.

I honestly wouldn't know if there was any ammonia or nitrate in the tank at
the time.... we've never tested for that. As long as the fish are healthy we
assume all is well.

I also gave red crabs, not sure if they are dwarf.

I don't have iodine, but I do put a 1/4 teaspoon salt every 25% water
change on my 33 gal tank, thanks to elaine sugestion.

The crabs are doing fine, one of them has molted and the other I guess
should be doing it shortly too. How long between molts by the way?

I just lost a ghost shrimp, with the white syndrome. Not sure if it was
white before he died or not, was not there to see it.
But my water change with the addition of plant fertilizer might have
something to do with it.

But the other one I have has molted once and it looks good.
Got two more today. :)
Love those fellas.

So I am not sure if iodine or salt is the reason why they die.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I also gave red crabs, not sure if they are dwarf.

I don't have iodine, but I do put a 1/4 teaspoon salt every 25% water
change on my 33 gal tank, thanks to elaine sugestion.

The crabs are doing fine, one of them has molted and the other I guess
should be doing it shortly too. How long between molts by the way?

I just lost a ghost shrimp, with the white syndrome. Not sure if it was
white before he died or not, was not there to see it.
But my water change with the addition of plant fertilizer might have
something to do with it.

But the other one I have has molted once and it looks good.
Got two more today. :)
Love those fellas.

So I am not sure if iodine or salt is the reason why they die.


If there are fish in with the crabs would the salt harm the fish?

I have another tank i could set up soley for crabs but nowhere to put it at
the moment.

If i was to have a tank with just crabs would i need a filter setup? I
assume it would be a 50 - 50 setup with half water and half out of water?
That's the effect i'd like anyway. Also lighting... would they prefer
natural or would having some artificial be ok?

Simon wrote:
"Elaine T" wrote in message
. ..
Simon wrote:
We bought 4 dwarf red crabs a while back... they lived happily for
about
3 days then 2 of them decided to climb up out of the tank and sit
on the
glass ledge just under the hood... where they died. The other 2
crabs
stayed in the water and seemed to freeze solid and again die.

Anyone know why this might be?

I would really like to give them another go but obviously i don't
want
them dying again. Since then i've cleaned the tank out throughly
and
replaced the foam filter with an undergravel one with power head
one end
and riser the other with air stone and carbon filter on.

We have fish in the tank that are all healthy, just as we did when
we had
the crabs.
Any possibility you could have had a touch of ammonia or nitrite?
Or high
nitrates from the UGF? A heavy tank cleaning can sometimes cause a
tiny
cycle that doesn't bother fish or register on test kits, but can
harm
inverts. Another thing that comes to mind is that dwarf red crabs
are
really brackish, so they might not have been comfortable in pure
freshwater. Also, if they were trying to moult (seems unlikely if
all
died at once) they need iodine. A drop per 10 gallons of reef
iodine
weekly is all they need, but it apparantly makes a huge difference
to FW
shrimps and crabs.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

At the time we only had a foam filter, no undergravel.

I honestly wouldn't know if there was any ammonia or nitrate in the
tank at
the time.... we've never tested for that. As long as the fish are
healthy we
assume all is well.


Now I am not an expert by no means. And again, I am not certain if this
is that same species of crab that you have. I have been doing some
research on Red Claw Crabs and freshwater lobsters as I have been
considering whether or not to get one for my tank. The RCCs, at least,
need a place to go the is above water for brief periods of time. Does
your water contain any copper? Here are two sites that I found helpful.
http://www.centralpets.com/critterpa.../FWI4673.shtml
http://wrongcrowd.com/staticpages/index.php?page=crab
I am sorry for the loss.

Will

"Simon" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
I also gave red crabs, not sure if they are dwarf.

I don't have iodine, but I do put a 1/4 teaspoon salt every 25% water
change on my 33 gal tank, thanks to elaine sugestion.

The crabs are doing fine, one of them has molted and the other I guess
should be doing it shortly too. How long between molts by the way?

I just lost a ghost shrimp, with the white syndrome. Not sure if it was
white before he died or not, was not there to see it.
But my water change with the addition of plant fertilizer might have
something to do with it.

But the other one I have has molted once and it looks good.
Got two more today. :)
Love those fellas.

So I am not sure if iodine or salt is the reason why they die.


If there are fish in with the crabs would the salt harm the fish?

I have another tank i could set up soley for crabs but nowhere to put it
at the moment.

If i was to have a tank with just crabs would i need a filter setup? I
assume it would be a 50 - 50 setup with half water and half out of water?
That's the effect i'd like anyway. Also lighting... would they prefer
natural or would having some artificial be ok?




I think i will setup my spare tank just for crabs. I see there is a few
guides online for keeping crabs properly. What type of crab is recommended?
Our local place sells the rainbow crabs, red crabs and dwarf red crabs

"Simon" wrote in message
...

"Simon" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
I also gave red crabs, not sure if they are dwarf.

I don't have iodine, but I do put a 1/4 teaspoon salt every 25% water
change on my 33 gal tank, thanks to elaine sugestion.

The crabs are doing fine, one of them has molted and the other I guess
should be doing it shortly too. How long between molts by the way?

I just lost a ghost shrimp, with the white syndrome. Not sure if it was
white before he died or not, was not there to see it.
But my water change with the addition of plant fertilizer might have
something to do with it.

But the other one I have has molted once and it looks good.
Got two more today. :)
Love those fellas.

So I am not sure if iodine or salt is the reason why they die.


If there are fish in with the crabs would the salt harm the fish?

I have another tank i could set up soley for crabs but nowhere to put it
at the moment.

If i was to have a tank with just crabs would i need a filter setup? I
assume it would be a 50 - 50 setup with half water and half out of water?
That's the effect i'd like anyway. Also lighting... would they prefer
natural or would having some artificial be ok?




I think i will setup my spare tank just for crabs. I see there is a few
guides online for keeping crabs properly. What type of crab is
recommended? Our local place sells the rainbow crabs, red crabs and dwarf
red crabs


As this group isn't very busy is there a better one i should be asking
questions about crabs on?

Got:

Tank: 24 inches long x 12 inches wide x 12 inches tall
Hood - still in parents loft so need to check how secure it is.
Lighting unit.
Heater.
Fluval 3 foam filter (to be laid on it's side) - intending to replace with
smaller fluval 1or 2)
Rocks

Need:

Bulb - what type?
Sand - what type?
Gravel - what type?
Seasalt?
Crabs!

Question: Sea Shells. Could i put these is if they've been cleaned in
boiling water first? I think it would add to the natural look I picture in
my mind.

How I want it to look:

Water one end with a "beach" coming out of it.

OR beach at the back of the tank - stretching the 24 inches and water at the
front. Not sure if to have beach at sides of water at sides.

AND

Some rocks in the water (and shells?), one or 2 largish rocks and smaller
ones on the beach (and shells?) small peice(s) of driftwood or bogwood.

How often do red crabs need to come out of water? I'm wondering if the setup
would be overkill for them and they spend 5 mins a day out of water. Maybe a
different type of crab is needed?

Any advice would be great!

"Simon" wrote in message
...

"Simon" wrote in message
...

"Simon" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
I also gave red crabs, not sure if they are dwarf.

I don't have iodine, but I do put a 1/4 teaspoon salt every 25% water
change on my 33 gal tank, thanks to elaine sugestion.

The crabs are doing fine, one of them has molted and the other I guess
should be doing it shortly too. How long between molts by the way?

I just lost a ghost shrimp, with the white syndrome. Not sure if it was
white before he died or not, was not there to see it.
But my water change with the addition of plant fertilizer might have
something to do with it.

But the other one I have has molted once and it looks good.
Got two more today. :)
Love those fellas.

So I am not sure if iodine or salt is the reason why they die.


If there are fish in with the crabs would the salt harm the fish?

I have another tank i could set up soley for crabs but nowhere to put it
at the moment.

If i was to have a tank with just crabs would i need a filter setup? I
assume it would be a 50 - 50 setup with half water and half out of
water? That's the effect i'd like anyway. Also lighting... would they
prefer natural or would having some artificial be ok?




I think i will setup my spare tank just for crabs. I see there is a few
guides online for keeping crabs properly. What type of crab is
recommended? Our local place sells the rainbow crabs, red crabs and dwarf
red crabs


As this group isn't very busy is there a better one i should be asking
questions about crabs on?

Got:

Tank: 24 inches long x 12 inches wide x 12 inches tall
Hood - still in parents loft so need to check how secure it is.
Lighting unit.
Heater.
Fluval 3 foam filter (to be laid on it's side) - intending to replace with
smaller fluval 1or 2)
Rocks

Need:

Bulb - what type?
Sand - what type?
Gravel - what type?
Seasalt?
Crabs!

Question: Sea Shells. Could i put these is if they've been cleaned in
boiling water first? I think it would add to the natural look I picture in
my mind.

How I want it to look:

Water one end with a "beach" coming out of it.

OR beach at the back of the tank - stretching the 24 inches and water at
the front. Not sure if to have beach at sides of water at sides.

AND

Some rocks in the water (and shells?), one or 2 largish rocks and smaller
ones on the beach (and shells?) small peice(s) of driftwood or bogwood.

How often do red crabs need to come out of water? I'm wondering if the
setup would be overkill for them and they spend 5 mins a day out of water.
Maybe a different type of crab is needed?

Any advice would be great!


Done some more reading and red crabs are manily aquatic so perhaps my first
idea of the beach at the side, that way i'm not wastong tank space on a huge
beach that will hardly get used!

"Simon" wrote in message
...

"Simon" wrote in message
...

"Simon" wrote in message
...

"Simon" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
I also gave red crabs, not sure if they are dwarf.

I don't have iodine, but I do put a 1/4 teaspoon salt every 25% water
change on my 33 gal tank, thanks to elaine sugestion.

The crabs are doing fine, one of them has molted and the other I guess
should be doing it shortly too. How long between molts by the way?

I just lost a ghost shrimp, with the white syndrome. Not sure if it
was
white before he died or not, was not there to see it.
But my water change with the addition of plant fertilizer might have
something to do with it.

But the other one I have has molted once and it looks good.
Got two more today. :)
Love those fellas.

So I am not sure if iodine or salt is the reason why they die.


If there are fish in with the crabs would the salt harm the fish?

I have another tank i could set up soley for crabs but nowhere to put
it at the moment.

If i was to have a tank with just crabs would i need a filter setup? I
assume it would be a 50 - 50 setup with half water and half out of
water? That's the effect i'd like anyway. Also lighting... would they
prefer natural or would having some artificial be ok?




I think i will setup my spare tank just for crabs. I see there is a few
guides online for keeping crabs properly. What type of crab is
recommended? Our local place sells the rainbow crabs, red crabs and
dwarf red crabs


As this group isn't very busy is there a better one i should be asking
questions about crabs on?

Got:

Tank: 24 inches long x 12 inches wide x 12 inches tall
Hood - still in parents loft so need to check how secure it is.
Lighting unit.
Heater.
Fluval 3 foam filter (to be laid on it's side) - intending to replace
with smaller fluval 1or 2)
Rocks

Need:

Bulb - what type?
Sand - what type?
Gravel - what type?
Seasalt?
Crabs!

Question: Sea Shells. Could i put these is if they've been cleaned in
boiling water first? I think it would add to the natural look I picture
in my mind.

How I want it to look:

Water one end with a "beach" coming out of it.

OR beach at the back of the tank - stretching the 24 inches and water at
the front. Not sure if to have beach at sides of water at sides.

AND

Some rocks in the water (and shells?), one or 2 largish rocks and smaller
ones on the beach (and shells?) small peice(s) of driftwood or bogwood.

How often do red crabs need to come out of water? I'm wondering if the
setup would be overkill for them and they spend 5 mins a day out of
water. Maybe a different type of crab is needed?

Any advice would be great!


Done some more reading and red crabs are manily aquatic so perhaps my
first idea of the beach at the side, that way i'm not wastong tank space
on a huge beach that will hardly get used!


This is how i want it to look but with a smaller beach - i think this one is
set up for lad rainbow crabs?

http://www.shrimpcrabsandcrayfish.co...TerFrontSM.jpg

http://www.shrimpcrabsandcrayfish.co...aTerSideSM.jpg