Freshwater crabs are nocturnal creatures. They are highly active scavengers. Although they are primarily omnivorous, some representatives of the species may be considered predators. Freshwater crabs LOVE to explore, and they spend much of their time hiding and climbing.
Deservedly, they have a reputation for being excellent escape artists. Freshwater crabs will often take advantage of the tiniest hole that might present an opportunity for them to escape.
So make sure that your aquarium is escape-proof! Many owners can recount with amusement the funny moments they have caught their crabs trying to escape from their aquarium. Most freshwater crabs are not that aggressive, but temperament varies across species. Some are more territorial than others and will attack other crabs. There are many types of freshwater crabs so their appearance will naturally vary.
They come in many colors and patterns, from the vivid purple of the small but beautiful Vampire Crab to the more aggressive but beautiful Panther Crab with its leopard-like pattern.
The tiny Fiddler Crab is recognized by its one very distinctive large claw. As was noted above, freshwater crabs live in a variety of ecosystems ranging from swamps, bogs, and other freshwater bodies in different tropical and subtropical regions.
Many of their worldwide ecosystems are threatened today. As a result, many of them are endangered or on the cusp of becoming so. If you want a healthy and well-adjusted crab you will need to replicate their natural habitat as close as possible. This will require some research on your part. Fortunately today, you can find plenty of reliable research online in forums and groups devoted to specific hobbies. Take advantage of these outlets to educate yourself and to hear from other crab owners about their experiences.
There are so many types of freshwater crabs and they all have their own unique requirements. Overall, all freshwater crabs will require adequate space, a safe water temperature, and to ensure that their overall habitat is suitable for their needs.
A proper habitat will need plenty of stones and terrestrial areas, logs, and decor organic and commercial for hiding and exploring. A quality pet store will have many interesting options. They will also require plenty of plants. Additionally, you will need to ensure that the water is clean and that the salinity and PH levels are appropriate.
That depends on you. How many crabs would you like to have in your collection? One crab will usually require at least five gallons and plenty of room to play.
It will also require that you provide adequate dry areas if your freshwater is not fully aquatic. If you intend to house more than one crab, you will need to carefully follow the recommendations below to ensure that your crabs each have adequate space. In such instances, you will certainly need a larger aquarium. If you are going to keep multiple freshwater crabs it is advised that you allow no more than one crab per square foot.
Naturally, the more crabs you intend to house, the larger aquarium you will require. Not all types of freshwater crabs get along with other crabs, including those of the same species. Compatibility with other animals depends on the type of freshwater crab. Some crabs coexist well with snails. Others will just want to eat them. You will have to be careful in deciding whether to keep fish in the same tank with them.
Certain fish can sometimes prey on your crabs. You will also need to take into account that some crabs can be aggressive with one another. Such aggressive behavior might vary depending on the space you provide and the types of crabs in your collection. As a general rule, crustaceans can be very territorial.
Territorial exchanges can sometimes lead to damaged or missing appendages or even death. You can definitely keep them together, provided that you ensure proper space living quarters for each individual crab. The more crabs you want to house, the larger the aquarium should be.
Some crabs may get aggressive with one another, so you will need to consider the size of your tank and the types of crabs that will be living in the same aquarium.
As omnivores, you have many different options when it comes to feeding them. Suitable foods for freshwater crabs include bloodworms, algae, vegetable wafers, insect larvae, brine shrimp, seawood, flies, commercial foods, and plant wastes. Keep in mind that there are two types of protein:. Even though, in terms of components, we will not see a big difference between animal and plant proteins , the ratio of amino acids is different.
That is why crabs need all types of protein. Diversity is very important! The following are suitable food items for your pet crab:. Calcium is super important for any crab species because this is the main component of their exoskeleton shell. A calcium deficiency can cause weakness in the shell and when this happens, the crab becomes susceptible to diseases, heat, and dehydration in terrestrial crab species.
Calcium can be found in such products as:. Cuttlefish bone should be in the tank all the time. Be very careful with plants in crab tanks. So, do your research beforehand! In all other cases, there is a huge risk that plants will become their delicacy.
Unfortunately, many crab species will eat, cut, and uproot any plant in the tank. Therefore, unless you are ready to buy some cheap plants you are willing to lose, it will be better to focus on floating plants or fake plants. As with all crustaceans, ideal food sources include popular dry pellet foods and frozen foods.
Good examples of these are links to check the price on Amazon :. In general, most adult crab species do quite well on one feeding per two days. However, some owners prefer to feed them daily to prevent them from getting hungry and picking on tankmates. However, young crabs should be fed every day.
They grow fast and require frequent feeding. The good thing though is that young crabs will eat the same meals as adult crabs. Of course, nobody will do such calculations, that is why the optimal dose is usually determined empirically. Crabs are not fast eaters. Leave their food in the tank for hours before removing it. In nature, crabs are nocturnal animals. Their feeding activity increases at night a few hours after the onset of darkness. Even though some individuals can be active even in the daytime.
For best results, give them food before nightfall. It will replicate the conditions and environment under which they eat naturally. A wide variety of foods from the list above should be offered on a rotating basis. DO NOT feed them the same food all the time. This is wrong. Ideally, you need to have at least different types of products to vary. It will give your crabs more vitamins to improve their immune system and prevent molting problems.
Their antennules have special chemoreceptors that allow them to detect chemicals in the water that are released by the food. By using their pincers, they pass food to their mouths which have 3 pairs of maxillipeds jawfoot and a mandible jaw. Crabs use maxillipeds to rummage, hold and bring food to the mouth during eating. Unlike humans, their jaws open by moving from side to side.
Interesting fact: Do you know that crabs have teeth inside their stomach? Thai Devil Crabs are omnivores that will feed on aquarium algae and plant detritus. Protein-based snacks are good, too. They enjoy brine shrimp and will often eat leftover pellets that fall to the bottom of the tank.
Speaking of the tank, these crabs need hiding spaces. They do best when they have a lot of access to soft sand so that they can burrow themselves for safety. Perhaps one of the most fascinating freshwater aquarium crabs you can get, the Vampire Crab is sure to the star of your tank.
It has stunning good looks that stand out against natural backdrops. These crabs are covered in deep purple. Some slight color variations can exist as well. Many crabs will feature pinkish claws or splotches of white on their back.
Bright yellow eyes on top of their head round out their quirky appearance. When fully grown, Vampire Crabs are only about 2 inches wide with their leg span. Their body is only about an inch across, making them very small. Vampire Crabs require lush environments with access to both land and water. Both areas need to be covered in plants. Not only does the crab feed on plant matter, but the vegetation will provide cover.
As for water quality, these crabs are hardy enough to adapt to a range of conditions. They do best in temperatures between 70 to 82 degrees. High humidity is also a must. These crabs are fittingly named.
They are largely nocturnal and will spend most of the daylight hours hiding. Red Claw Crabs are another popular invertebrate in the aquarium community. They can be a bit shy and skittish. These crustaceans come from Asia and are most often found in rivers leading to the ocean. Thus, they need brackish water to stay healthy. Water should have a specific gravity of around 1.
Land access is also important. A water to land ratio of 3 to 1 is ideal. As always, plenty of hiding places is preferred. Though, you should be wary of introducing too many living plants into their habitat.
These freshwater aquarium crabs have a reputation for shredding and uprooting plant leaves! Their claws are sharp and powerful. As their name would suggest, the claws are typically covered in bright red. Red Claw Crabs are moderately-sized creatures, measuring about 4 inches wide with their leg span. The carapace is usually only 2 to 2. These intimidating crabs are an interesting addition to freshwater tanks. It will still need a small patch of land to get out once in a while, but they will spend most of their time living aquatically!
As long as you keep temperatures between 75 and 82 degrees, you should have no problem keeping the Panther Crab healthy.
The Panther Crab is very beautiful. Its base color is tan or beige. Like Fiddler Crabs, most male Panther Crabs also have a single large claw. This species is one of the larger freshwater crabs for aquariums, measuring between 3 and 4. As a result, their large claw is capable of doing some harm. They can be kept in pairs, but even then you must keep a watchful eye. Freshwater Pom Pom Crabs are relatively new to the aquarium trade. But if you can get your hands on one, they can be a joy to care for.
These crabs are completely aquatic. We do recommend keeping the water levels low, though. Freshwater Pom Pom Crabs are notorious escape artists. Overall, the crustaceans are not picky. To stay healthy, they need temperatures between 68 and 78 degrees.
The pH balance of the water should be around 6. The coolest part of Freshwater Pom Pom Crabs is their looks. These are small fish. Most will be less than an inch wide when you first get them. At most, they will get to be about 1. That includes their legs! While they may be small, they have some cool features. The most iconic is the patches of hair that grow on their claws.
Food collects in the fibers, making it easy for the crabs to gather plant detritus and algae. If you only have room for a small tank, the Micro Thai Crab may be the species for you. Their bodies only get 0. The crabs can be difficult to spot sometimes. They are covered in a camouflaging grayish-brown color. Thin spider-like legs do expand their size a bit, but their tiny size allows them to hide virtually anywhere. Speaking of which, hiding spots are good for this species.
They do just fine in tanks as small as 5 gallons.
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