Got Crabs?19:11 Feb 02 2009
Times Read: 748
This is in reply to the many messages and comments I have received about my little crustacean friends. People have asked, should I get them? What do I need? How do I get started?
First thing you need to do, as with any pet, is decide if you have the time to care for it. Crabs don't require a lot of attention, but like any living thing they do like interaction and attention. 15 to 20 minutes a day, to change their food and water, clean up a bit, and handle them, is all right for a start. Once you get them, you may find you want to spend more time with them. And the more you do, the tamer they will be.
Next, you need to get them a suitable home. A fish tank is good, one with a tight lid. My tank is about 3 feet long by 2 feet high and sits on a low table. Keep it away from direct sunlight and away from drafts. If you are buying a used tank, make sure and scrub it out good before putting anything in it.
Next, you need some substrate (sand) for the bottom. The little guys live in this, they burrow in it, and even eat some of it. You can buy the calci-sand that is at the pet shop, but if you want to save money, go to the hardware store and get a big bag of sand that you fill up back yard sand boxes with. This will do nicely and last you forever. Put a couple inches in the bottom of the tank. The crabs need at least that much to burrow into, for resting and moulting.
Next, the "crab house essentials". Food dish, two water dishes (one for regular water and one for salt water, which is explained in a moment), a hermie hut, some things to climb on (you can buy little logs and things at the pet shop, but you can also put rocks and branches (small ones obviously) that you find outdoors. Just make sure they are cleaned off, the rocks need to be scrubbed well.
You will need a small vial of crab salt which the pet shop provides. Crabs need contact with salt water regularly. This is different from table salt, which you must NOT use. They bathe in the salt water to help strengthen their exoskeleton, and just enjoy playing around in it too. If you buy a gallon of distilled water at the grocery store, add a teaspoon ful of the crab salt and mix well. Put a few tablespoons full of this in a shallow food dish and put it in the tank. The crabs will love it.
Next, food. You can, and should, buy the pre made crab food at the pet store. The little guys eat very little and sometimes not every day so it lasts a long time. A teaspoon full every day is enough if you add fresh stuff, which I do. Fresh food..most fruit, in small bites of course, grapes, bananas, oranges, apples, pears. Most veggies..carrots, green beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower. Meat..yes, they eat meat. Chicken, beef, pork, just small bites. Anything we eat, they will eat, of course leaving off the junk food which is no good for anyone, and nothing salty. They LOVE popcorn (mine do anyway)..just the unsalted kind.
Now, the crabs themselves. Get two to start, as they love company. Keeping one crab will only make it lonely and listless and may stop eating altogether. They travel in large groups in nature, so a small group of 2 or 3 is best to start. Don't worry, they do not breed in captivity.
You might think, do they bite? No, but they may nip or pinch if they feel threatened or frightened. Pick them up by the back end of their shells and place them in the palm of your hand gently. After a bit they will start crawling around and explore, just be careful not to drop them. The more you allow them to "get acquainted" with you the tamer they will get, and you can hand feed them this way too.
Crabs can live quite a long time in captivity, so buying a couple is a long term investment. They aren't expensive (the little ones I bought were only $3 each). I wouldn't get crabs if I had another pet such as a cat or dog, as these animals can get curious and knock over the tank to see what is in there, or hurt the little guys if you have them out for exercise.
There is your crab starter. I hope this answers a few basics for ya!
COMMENTS
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dracken
22:55 Mar 22 2009
dont worry about the leg it will sprout another, really cool aye