Good beginner crab sp.

[pentapede]

I am thinking about trying to keep crabs and was wondering if there are any good beginner species that i should stary out with. these are my criteria: only a third or less of the encloser can be taken up by water. thanks!

 

[Charliemum]

I am thinking about trying to keep crabs and was wondering if there are any good beginner species that i should stary out with. these are my criteria: only a third or less of the encloser can be taken up by water. thanks!

I was told vampire crabs were good for beginners, Geosesarma .
I havent kept them but I would one day like to keep them so have enquired on here before .

@Smotzer you keep crabs could you help please?, pretty sure it was you that helped me

 

[Tbone192]

Most species of hermit crab are a piece of cake to care for, there are even terrestrial hermit crabs.

 

[viper69]

I had terrestrial hermits- very easy
Also very easy to dehydrate

 

[Brewser]

I would research Geosesarma Genus aka Vampire Crabs

 

[Jimbob]

Well I’m experiencing carisoma guanhumi now and can say he? is already very active, colorful, and full of personality…. The downside is I opted for a 75g tank and I feel it is too small. I’m on the search for a used 120g and even that I’m iffy about.

 

[Tbone192]

Go big or go home! Get a colony of crabs, anything that doesn't thrive goes into the crab pot

 

[pentapede]

Well I’m experiencing carisoma guanhumi now and can say he? is already very active, colorful, and full of personality…. The downside is I opted for a 75g tank and I feel it is too small. I’m on the search for a used 120g and even that I’m iffy about.

I have an empty 120 gallon standard.

 

[Glorfindel]

Go small and stay away from home.
lol
Start with an easy to keep smaller species of crab or crayfish.

 

[Jimbob]

I have an empty 120 gallon standard.

I’ll buy it, haha. But if you’re interested in this species, I think they are pretty awesome. Almost feels like the personality of one of the smaller active crab species, but in a BIG crab. Mine doesn’t seem too upset in a 75, but I feel at least a 120 would only be right long term. Especially if he gets any larger. Doesn’t seem too delicate, but I haven’t gotten him through a molt yet, so we’ll see. He really loves tunneling and remodels the tank every night. As much substrate as you can fit in the tank would be ideal.

main problem I’ve run into is finding a suitable lid that allows me easy access while not being weak enough for him to push to off. Another thing is I have two mixing bowl sized containers for his freshwater and saltwater and he dump substrate in them or flips them over every night. I have sponge filters that I was going to use, but I don’t think there’s any realistic way, he’s a bulldozer of an animal if I’ve ever seen one!

 

[pentapede]

He is so pretty. What is his name?

 

[Jimbob]

He is so pretty. What is his name?

thank you, I enjoy him! Name is Me’shell(like from the movie dodgeball). My wife is terrified though, she was an expecting a smaller crab… to be honest so was I, but . Was pretty funny seeing the family’s reaction when I unboxed him.

 

[Smotzer]

@Smotzer you keep crabs could you help please?, pretty sure it was you that helped me

I am thinking about trying to keep crabs and was wondering if there are any good beginner species that i should stary out with.

Hello there @pentapede and thank you @Charliemum for the mention!

So I would say that probably crabs arent ever truly all that beginner friendly, without doing a good deal of information and set up, but saying that you can succesfully keep some of them with grewat success if you have never kept any type of crab or aquatic/semi aquatic animal.

So based ob your criteria there are quite a few crab species such as Geosesarma which do really well with about a 2/3 - 1/3 land to water ratio. And this water will be purely freshwater. Then theres those like @Jimbob is keeping, Cardisoma guanhumi, which need small pools of both fresh and salt water and these also arent going to be the main feature of the enclosure, they need the largest majority to be room for burrowing. Really it comes down to deciding what you are interesting in keeping and then preparing fort those specific setups.

What species are you currently looking into, and what has this research showed for how to best care for them. I do know theres some misinformation outthere and I have been trying to limit that with accurate captive care on a site of mine.

 

[Jimbob]

I gotta say, I’ve kept a lot of critters… chameleons and many other reptiles, saltwater/freshwater aquariums, etc. I felt like setting up my cardisoma tank was one of the more complex/complicated ecosystems I’ve put together, especially given their large size/strength/messy nature. It has also been one of the most fun! I guess a lot of it also comes down to how nice you want to make it too.

Very underrated pets IMO