UPDATE: Photos, size comparisons, tips on handling, and more photos.

The moment you have all been waiting for, my photo update! I have officially had them for about a year and 6 months. and they have gotten so big! The first set is indoors with sunlight streaming in, and the comparison of them to the first molt of their fallen mate (so the size they were when I got them) Please click photos to see full size! I went macro so there are a lot of details to see when they stayed still enough :P

JACK:

Aww Hes missing 2 legs right now, not sure why exactly. Mad molt or fight.

Look at that face <3

Comparison to Size from Feb 2011

 BUBBLES:

Such a sweet face, and that lovely purple carapace!

Comparison from Feb 2011

Photos Taken outside are next. You will see me handling them some. I told you tips on how to get them from the tank to a carrier in this post. To get them to crawl on me while in the carrier i lay my hand in away from them and stay still. They soon come to explore, just dont move! or they will run or pinch.

BUBBLES:

Wow she looks huge here

aww

Semi Irrelevant sharp claw shot, but shows her carapace width as approx. 2 inches

Looking at my hand funny

 JACK:

SO Bright and Beautiful!

Great shot showing the texture and his one missing limb nub

Other missing limb nub, and the proper place if you choose to lift your crabs with your fingers. But beware at this size they can still reach and pinch underneath.

Last one of his cute mug, his carapace is smaller than Bubbles, under 2 inches but not much.

Well thats all for now!! Ill probably do another update like this in 6 months to see how much they have grown until then.

Any suggestions on what else you would like to see on the blog!?

Cleaning Day Process: The way I work

So I cleaned out the tank today and decided to walk you guys through what I do for my dynamic duo.

I am going to trow this out there, and some people might not like it, but I only do a full sand replacement about every 3 months now.
It seems like its too far and few between but for me its not. These guys in the wild leave their food hoardes to rot in the ground so having tiny bits of shredded food here and there doesnt seem to bother them. February will be 2 years that I have had these guys and its the longest I have seen anywhere that anyones been able to keep them going. So I would like to think that what im doing is okay for mine. 
Every week I scoop out what poo I see (looks like tiny black cylindrical tubes) Every month-month and 1/2 I scoop out the yucky looking sand and mix in some fresh, and every 2-3 I full replace like I did today. Usually around then it starts to smell a bit strange.

ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU KNOW whether or not your crab is molting before doing this type of thing. you never want to dig up a molting crab. I make sure I see both my crabs out 3 nights in a row.

I grab multiple hole-less grocery bags, two carries that the kiddos cant escape from (taller than their legs and body outstretched sideways), 2+ gallons of spring water or treated water, a 50 bag of natural unbleached play sand (I use quickcrete brand from lowes $3.57), my sprayer, two old socks, and a scoop I got at the dollar store that looks like it would be for flour or coffee beans or something. 

First I pull the tank a bit from the edge for easier access and pull all decor and bowls out that I can see (things get buried). I then begin scraping and scooping bits at a time into the bags to toss. Do this very carefully so you dont accidentally find a tunneled crab and break legs. I scrape and scoop from low water side up because it gives you 6+ inches before possibly finding one. 

Scoop as shown

I dont have pictures of all of the steps that follow, but when you do find a crab and have them up and running around now is the time to pull them out. I put old socks on my hands to make a sort of cloth web hand. It saves you from being pinched and helps scoop them up. I get a container ready and try and grab them, sometimes i put the container on its side and scoot them into it. Other times I get them to pinch a handing part of the sock to swing them in. Either way I get them both out and secured, I usually spritz them down and give them some leaves while I work the rest of the tank.

Next I get as much sand out as possible, hose it down with some soap and water, rinse thoroughly and replace. I then add an inch of water to the bottom and begin pouring my sand. This helps keep the dust down as you pour.

Putting in water first keeps dust down

 I keep pouring sand and adding water as needed, stirring occasionally to evenly moisten, you want it to be sand castle building moist. I then position water dishes, hidden hides and small rocks and create a slope. You want it high on the non water side and sloping low to the dishes. This naturally lets them find water. I then add the fake leaves, including the bunches you see me adding below.

Add decor! Leaves rocks and branches give them climbing and hiding spots

 I also then reclean any sand from the dishes, make one fresh and one salt. I also create a fake burrow here and there to get them started and give them a place to go when I put them back in.

See, Nice slope. Leaves hides and rocks

I then usually photograph them which is a hard job and will be shown off in the next post, and return them! Secure lid and turn on their heat lamp =]

Look, Jack is at the freshwater! Bubbles already hid herself in that rock hide.

This is my WHOLE shelf that they are the bottom of. I convinced my boyfriend to build it for me haha. It houses the crabs, my Grandma Leopard Gecko, Kali. And all (currently) 13 hatchling Crested geckos. The adults are on another unit. 

Most of my other critters, and some artwork and decorations ;)

Hope this helped! Onward to the photospam of babies!!!!!

Information on the Blackback Land Crab (Grecarcinus Lateralis) NOT HALLOWEEN MOON CRAB

A reader had emailed me about getting the wrong crab, what was it? They had received the Black back land crab instead, under the name "halloween crab". (Please see "Is your crab a Halloweener?)
This got us chatting for a while as I tried to do some research and help a fellow crabby lover out. He brought to my attention a german site that translated some information that I found quite useful, even if it was not 100% accurate.
I have shared this with you and would like to add a few alterations, such as the temperature range they list is 68-82 F. Id probably keep it 74-80 range since this is in a tank and not the wild, they cant dig as deep to escape heat. They also list that they do not need a water dish.
hm.
I highly disagree with this here. I think any living creature will benefit from a water source (even crickets and feeder bugs need water access such as crystals so they dont drown)
G. Lateralis may avoid bodies of water in the wild but I can bet they dig deep to find the water table. They use the substrates internal moisture to wet gills, but in captivity we can not always guaruntee there is enough internal moisture. I think you should always include a dish just in case. these creatures are not stupid, if the substrates dry they will seek water.

Other than those points i find this entry quite helpful and am glad the reader took the time to show me!
Before I leave this post id like to make a point of reminding you all how to research for your buddy.
Google search not just caresheets, but scientific blogs and articles, REAL RESEARCH papers. Look at 10, 15, 30 pages. There is no such thing as too much. Look up where these crabs live in the wild, then research those countries. These things give great insight as to how they live in the wild and what you should give them in return to replicate things like temperature and substrate.

I am currently working on two new posts after this, one of how i go about digging out the critters and cleaning, and just another photo update on the lovies. Hope you enjoy!!!