Freshwater Crabs
- Thread starter morextremist
- Start date
Anything else in the tank? Crabs are predatory. Small bottom feeders would be at risk, snails too.
Crabs are amphibious crustaceans, in other words they need access to both air and water. My crab has been in the tank for about 5 months, and I have generally two places set up (with driftwood and a branch scavenged from my backyard) in the tank where he can get out of the water. I also have a crayfish, so I have to have two places or they will fight over who gets the high ground.
Some crabs like to dig (fiddlers, etc.) and therefore require a more imaginative setup.
Also have heard most crabs do better in slightly brackish water but mine seems happy & healthy in fresh.
Crabs are amphibious crustaceans, in other words they need access to both air and water. My crab has been in the tank for about 5 months, and I have generally two places set up (with driftwood and a branch scavenged from my backyard) in the tank where he can get out of the water. I also have a crayfish, so I have to have two places or they will fight over who gets the high ground.
Some crabs like to dig (fiddlers, etc.) and therefore require a more imaginative setup.
Also have heard most crabs do better in slightly brackish water but mine seems happy & healthy in fresh.
I guess I'm boned then. Is there any type of exotic crayfish then? I'm amazed that on this whole planet there's no crab that can live underwater and survive.
There are, but I'm not sure there are freshwater varieties readily available at LFS's.... I'll see what I can find. As far as I know most freshwater crays and lobsters don't need access to open air.
You don't need much space for the crab to get out, my tank is full with only a few inches between the water level and cover, but he still spends much of his time up there. I have an in tank filter and he lived on top of/inside it for a few weeks too.
You'll need a VERY tight cover for crabs and crays, they escape easily on air hoses, etc.
Ton of good info in this post: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44667
You don't need much space for the crab to get out, my tank is full with only a few inches between the water level and cover, but he still spends much of his time up there. I have an in tank filter and he lived on top of/inside it for a few weeks too.
You'll need a VERY tight cover for crabs and crays, they escape easily on air hoses, etc.
Ton of good info in this post: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44667
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As far as I'm aware, there are no FW crabs; they are either SW or brackish. There are SW species that can spend their entire life underwater (actually must).
Crayfish are freshwater, but should be housed in a species only tank simply because they will not hesitate to kill and eat other tank inhabitants. You may also want to look into shrimp species (some are pretty darn cool).
Crayfish are freshwater, but should be housed in a species only tank simply because they will not hesitate to kill and eat other tank inhabitants. You may also want to look into shrimp species (some are pretty darn cool).
DisagreePumaWard said:
Cherax sp. crayfish, yes, specie only. They are nasty brutes that could do with a big spanking
Procambarus sp. crayfish, no, they are semi-aggressive and do well with other semi-aggressive fish. Mine is housed with silver dollars and tiger barbs. The housing is also crowded (they're getting a bigger tank in December), so I've been watching for behavioral changes. Nothing as yet.
I would not advise anyone to put them with any bottom dwellers, however, mine gets along fabulously with a Mystery Snail and a Candy Striped pleco. He's been housed with the pleco for 3 months now.
My 2 cents,
Roan
PumaWard said:
S'mo BS. Red clawed crabs can live fine in either slightly brackish or fresh water. They will not breed in FW to my knowledge.
My crayfish (native from RI), was raised in the tank from 1 inch long. He is now about 5 inches long, and has never killed anything in the tank (see below) other than snails. The only fish in my tank that causes grief is my green barb, and my crayfish is terrified of that fish, and I've seen the barb nip at the crays feelers.
OK, I wouldn't recommend it either (adding crays), PW is right on that score.
I can't believe no company has figured out a way to house crabs that need air in a full tank. Maybe some special room or cave that has access to air but can also be at the bottom of the tank.
you cuold house them the same way you would housea turtle. Some people build up rocks, but there are platforms you can by the will com out of the water and that the crab can climb up on.