Red Claw Crabs

[spotnnotfarm]

So, I got a pair of red claw crabs for my classroom. The PetSmart associate told me they were easy and did not need a lot of special care. I did research when I got home and I have found tons of contradictory information!

Some say gravel is not good, some say it is fine. Some say freshwater is ok, others say it is not. Does anyone have them and can help me out? I currently have them in a large bowl with gravel. I have a sloped beach area (gravel) and a water area. They also have 2 plants to hide in. I added a bit of salt today to make brackish water… any tips???

[trubandloki]

It is not unusual for the sales associates at places like that to not know the actual details of the care that is needed for a pet. They are taught what is on the little care sheets they give out when they sell a pet.

I do not know anything about red claw crabs, but I would love to see a photo of yours. They sound so interesting.

[spotnnotfarm]

Yea, that is why I did research. The problem is that everyone has vastly different ideas…imagine that! LOL

[TheHotSensitiveType]

Yeah… About the only thing I believe from Petsmart/Petco employees is when they received a shipment of fish! Some of the things I have been told… OMG

So red claw crabs are brackish water animals. They can survive for a bit in freshwater, but keeping them in freshwater will drastically reduce their lifespan. Are you using a refractometer or hydrometer to measure salinity?

A bowl is going to be too small long term. Opinions will vary widely on this, but I wouldn’t go smaller than a 10g for multiple animals. The fact that you have a water and land area with hiding places is great and necessary. However, unless the room that these guys are in is warmer (75-80) you will need to add a heater to the water and should really have a filter for water flow as well as filtering properties. Crabs can be messy animals…

You probably came across this sheet while looking at care, but IMO this is a very accurate care sheet. http://www.aquariadise.com/caresheet-red-claw-crab/

Good luck with your new pets!

[spotnnotfarm]

[QUOTE=TheHotSensitiveType;8800477]
Yeah… About the only thing I believe from Petsmart/Petco employees is when they received a shipment of fish! Some of the things I have been told… OMG

So red claw crabs are brackish water animals. They can survive for a bit in freshwater, but keeping them in freshwater will drastically reduce their lifespan. Are you using a refractometer or hydrometer to measure salinity?

A bowl is going to be too small long term. Opinions will vary widely on this, but I wouldn’t go smaller than a 10g for multiple animals. The fact that you have a water and land area with hiding places is great and necessary. However, unless the room that these guys are in is warmer (75-80) you will need to add a heater to the water and should really have a filter for water flow as well as filtering properties. Crabs can be messy animals…

You probably came across this sheet while looking at care, but IMO this is a very accurate care sheet. http://www.aquariadise.com/caresheet-red-claw-crab/

Good luck with your new pets![/QUOTE]

Thank you!!! I have to go back to petsmart today, so I will get a hydrometer. I will look at heaters too. Thanks for the info!!!

[Foxtrot_s]

The gravel may not be a very good idea because the poop gets trapped in it, so you should probably rinse it occasionally…we do not recommend gravel bottomed fish ponds for that reason. In nature it gets rinsed out by rain, or water movement.

Tap water has chlorine in it - use water that has been standing a while, or spray it in the air first.

[spotnnotfarm]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8800624]
The gravel may not be a very good idea because the poop gets trapped in it, so you should probably rinse it occasionally…we do not recommend gravel bottomed fish ponds for that reason. In nature it gets rinsed out by rain, or water movement.

Tap water has chlorine in it - use water that has been standing a while, or spray it in the air first.[/QUOTE]

I may switch them to sand this week. I did but a water conditioner in the water, does that help?

[Nezzy]

if you have chlorinated water you need a dechlorinator which will also help with chloramines. Sorry you have to go thru so much now.

[shayaalliard]

Also, if no one has mentioned it yet, they are BIG TIME escape artists. If there is a gap, or a plant or any imaginable way to escape, they will

[Nezzy]

[QUOTE=shayaalliard;8803349]
Also, if no one has mentioned it yet, they are BIG TIME escape artists. If there is a gap, or a plant or any imaginable way to escape, they will[/QUOTE]

TRUE!! I have used that stuff at the craft store that you can put yarn thru to form things, like tissue box covers and such, it is little plastic squares and you can cut it to fit the top of the tank where you have any openings.

[spotnnotfarm]

[QUOTE=shayaalliard;8803349]
Also, if no one has mentioned it yet, they are BIG TIME escape artists. If there is a gap, or a plant or any imaginable way to escape, they will[/QUOTE]

Yes! one of them is plotting daily…

[TheHotSensitiveType]

[QUOTE=spotnnotfarm;8800672]
I may switch them to sand this week. I did but a water conditioner in the water, does that help?[/QUOTE]

You probably are fine as long as the water condition removes both chlorine and chloramines. What kind of water conditioner is it? My go to water conditioner is Prime as it removes both chlorine and chloramines. Many municipal water sources use chloramines now which don’t break down over time like chlorine and are very deadly to aquatic animals requiring the use of a water conditioner.

[trubandloki]

Still waiting for photos of their cuteness.

[pony_powered]

I feel your pain. My kid brought home two of those crabs after his class was done with their ecosystems unit. I didn’t even have anything to put them in.

Off to PetSmart, and a whole lot of money later…:eek:

[shiningwizard255]

Vet this suggestion before actually purchasing it, as I know what animals you own but have no actual experience with them, but play sand makes a great substrate for my hermit crabs. Very cost effective way to give them the sandy area they need. So if play sand also works for these guys may save you a little money.

Good luck!!