crustaceans......

[AudreyElizabeth]

I've combed the internet and found a lot of conflicting information, even regarding the same species..... Any good up to date books on crabs and crayfish out there?

 

[Arachnopuppy]

Just don't get crabs. They die too easily.

For both crabs and crayfish, you need to put a rock in the tank or anything that allow both animal to get out of the water. They both get oxygen from air more than water. Crabs tend to drown more easily if you don't allow them a way of coming out of the water.

You must have a hiding spot for each crayfish, or they will fight each other for them, sometimes even to the death. Hiding spots also allow them to molt safely. If there is no hiding spot for a particular crayfish, molting means becoming a meal for other crayfish.

Crayfish prefer cooler water than room temperature (I'd say around 67-70). Crabs on the other hand like it warm (close to the 80's).

Whenever you see a molted exoskeleton lying around, do not remove it. Crayfish often eat the xoskeleton to get back the protein they lost.

Only put crabs and crayfish together if they are relatively the same size. Most often, the crayfish will outgrow the crabs and will make meals out of them.

Don't put anything in with the crayfish. Your crayfish will try very hard to eat your fish, frogs, and everything else that are in the tank with them, even the plants.

You can feed the both of them just about anything. I feed mine carrots, fishfood, meat, plants, and anything else I can find.

If you ever see a female crayfish with eggs attached to her lower abdomine, remove her from the rest of the group immediately. The little ones when they hatch will become easy meals for other crayfish. The mother, however, will care for the little ones until their 2nd molt. She may even die from exhaustion.

Oh yeah, keep your water clean. Crayfish have very good sense of smell that allow them to find food very easily. Dirty water will disrupt this sense of smell and they will not able to find food. I've done some experiments on this. Even if the food is put right in front of them in a dirty water environment, they still wouldn't go for the food. If I put them in clean water, they almost instantaneously go after the food immediately after I drop it in.

These are some general information that I've experienced first hand. If you need to know specific info, please tell me and I will tell you.

 

[deifiler]

Why is a crab like the product of Japanese Earthquakes?

-They're both 'Crustaceans'/Crushed-Asians

Hur hur... Lame jokes...

Any pics by theway?

 

[caligulathegod]

yeah, here's some pics.

 

[caligulathegod]

'Nother.

 

[Immortal_sin]

oh no...look what happened to Godzilla!!!!
Also, one note that Lam failed to mention....crayfish are really really really good to eat!!=D =D

 

[Wade]

The oxygen needs of crayfish are going to vary depending on where you collect them. Those from moving streams usually need more disolved oxygen than those from still water ponds, lakes etc. Those from stilll ponds are usually easier to maintain. Some species live a good distance from water and survive by burrowing down below the watertable. They come out at night to collect leaf litter, worms etc.

What sort of crabs are we talking about here? Hermit crabs? They'll live for decades if provided adequate care. Fiddler crabs? Much more difficult. Fiddler crabs are semi aquatic, and most species require salt or at least brackish water to survive. Fiddlers feed by sifting sand through their mouthparts and seperating out the organic debris. This debris is deposited during high tide. This sort of arrangement is hard to reproduce in captivity! You see them in pet stores all the time kept fully aquatic in fresh water, but I don't think they live long in that type of arrangement.

Other crabs turn up in the pet trade as well, but they are often difficult to keep. Nearly all crabs need salt water at least at some point in their life.

Wade

 

[danread]

Originally posted by Lam
Just don't get crabs. They die too easily.

For both crabs and crayfish, you need to put a rock in the tank or anything that allow both animal to get out of the water. They both get oxygen from air more than water. Crabs tend to drown more easily if you don't allow them a way of coming out of the water.

Crayfish prefer cooler water than room temperature (I'd say around 67-70). Crabs on the other hand like it warm (close to the 80's).

You've made enough sweeping generalisations there haven't you?? Crabs don't just dies to easily unless you are doing something wrong, as Wade said, hermit crabs can live for years and years. I kept a small colony of rainbow crabs for over 4 years.
Some crayfish and crabs are completely aquatic, therefore not needing to have a rock to get out of the water with. It completely depends on the species. Same for temperature, how can you make a comment like that? Some crabs come from tropical environments, as well as cooler climes, same with crayfish.

Dan.

 

[AudreyElizabeth]

Thanks for the info Lam! My crab,
(a rainbow/moon/soapdish/Don'tyouhatecommonnames) is kept with one third water two thirds land. I have a heat pad underneath the water part that keeps the water temp. at about 77, 78 F. I also have a filter in there, and it keeps the water sparkling clear! So far the crab is active and has made a pretty deep burrow in the sand. I've had him for about a month and a half.

I'll post pics later on today of the setup.

I've been keeping my new crayfish (a bright blue one) in unheated water with a rock that it can climb on to.

Since I have today off I'm probably going to set up a special tank just for him....