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:
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| Aww Hes missing 2 legs right now, not sure why exactly. Mad molt or fight. |
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| Look at that face <3 |
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| Comparison to Size from Feb 2011 |
BUBBLES:
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| Such a sweet face, and that lovely purple carapace! |
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| 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:
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| Wow she looks huge here |
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| aww |
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| Semi Irrelevant sharp claw shot, but shows her carapace width as approx. 2 inches |
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| Looking at my hand funny |
JACK:
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| SO Bright and Beautiful! |
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| Great shot showing the texture and his one missing limb nub |
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| 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. |
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| 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!?
Hi Brandy!
ReplyDeleteYour crabbys are soo cute! My daughter just brought home a little female crab from a local reptile shop and we are looking up all sorts of info (which there isn't much) to set her up right.
She does have a leg injury near one of her larger claws so hopefully that will be better after a molt.
We would also like to get her a friend but there was only one at the shop.
We have her in a 20 gallon tall aquarium but now we see that she needs more sand. We bought her some pretty purple sand from the shop but maybe later we'll just get the reg. sand like you have.
Here is her photo....
https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1013714_10151643446118085_441020776_n.jpg
Do you use a heater, humidifier, and lamp? I am getting one and the pet store can not tell me much about them. What is the min size tank for two? What are the essentials? Years ago I had hermit crabs and I still have all the stuff from them.
ReplyDeleteMinimum size tank for two would be a 20 gallon. All other housing tips and care can be found in older posts, please see the side and click the tag links for care/caresheet/temp etc. :)
DeleteCan halloween crabs be housed with hermit crabs?
ReplyDeleteNo absolutely not, they can be agresive ans may kill the hermies
DeleteHi! I've recently been researching HMCs and coming upon your blog was like striking gold! I do have a few questions: 1. Would you be able to post a pic of your current tank? 2. I'm trying to find ways to make the terrarium, part land/part water with the land sloping into the water and a dish of salt water. Do you think that's an ok idea, or should I just have 2 separate water dishes? 3. What are your thoughts on using a Exo Terra terrarium, because I was looking at purchasing one of them. Terrarium link: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12330526&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo
ReplyDeleteI should post an update... there are other posts of my previous tank exploits if you scroll.... my male Jack recently died.so i downgraded bubbles to a ten.
DeleteThere are ways to do half tanks but i failed at mine. Problem is you need clean water...and thats a lot to change all the time. I found dishes easiest, bc my crabs like to throw sand in the water constantly.
As for the exo, which one is it? That link fails me. From what i know i wouldnt. You need minimum of 6 inches deep on the high side to slope down. I think that may be hard in an exo unless the water sides the front. Exo doors have slits around them.
Brandy, I just got 3 Halloween crabs. 1 male and 2 females. I have noticed a sound like squeaking coming from them.... Is this a sign of unhappiness or stress or mating.... IDK so I hope you do
ReplyDeleteSadly i dont have any 100% conclusove evidence of what their noises mean. Mine clicked with their mouths on and off. I think it is just communication in general. From what ive seen they do it in many situations, stressed, happy, arguing...they also liked to scrape their claws againsthe ank which makes a terrible noise but they seemed to have fun with it.
ReplyDeleteAs long as theyre eating and active, id say no worries :)
Hey Brandy, I love reading about your little Halloween crabs. I've had one for about six months and finding your blog has helped out. I was wondering if you could provide some information about molting. About a week ago my female Halloween crab has been essentially frozen and is sitting out in the open. We suspect that she's molting but are trying to find other opinions for what's going on and how long we should leave her alone before we start getting worried. She's only molted once in the time that we have had her and the first time she was buried in the sand. Also because she is so tiny often it is hard to see if she has eaten anything whenever she is not molting, do you have any foods that your crabs like that you could recommend?
ReplyDeleteWould you mind sending me photos of her and your set up? Im always curious to see. My stance is leave her be. Especially if shes small. Are you sure its her and not her molt? What do you feed her? I have a ppost somehwere about it. Fresh greens, fresh fruits (apple, papaya, banana, coconut even) mine loved celery greens and romaine, apple, and red shrimp. You can get it in the turtle aisle. Dried red shrimp. Theyre stinky bit they love them and its a great source of calcium. Do you provide cuttlebone? The need that. If youre comfortable please send pics to muddslingercc(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI am from Hungary, I own a halloween moon crab for a half year now and I really ejoy your blog, there are so much valuable information here. What I want to ask you, that as I can see on your pics, they were not afarid of you eg. when you took them in your hands. My crab (she's female) is still really afraid of me. Usually during the days she's in hiding, at least now, in the winter but sometimes when the sun is shining she comes out, but during the nights she's always out discovering and digging :) But when she sees me she always runs back into her shelter. The tank is quite close to my working desk (appx. 1,5 m from my chair), I made it so intentionally, I thought she will get used to me easier and when I just work sometimes she comes out, but when I go closer, she hides, sometimes even showing me offensive movements. I always took care not to do too fast movements and I always apporach the tank slowly. Do you had such experiences at the beginning? Maybe do you have any "techniques" to get on with these nice creatures better and make them friendly?
Thanks in advance, best,
Adam
Hello Adam from Hungary!! Im so happy to get a message from someone out of the country thats so cool :)
DeleteAs for your crab, it sounds like shes happy and healthy. Im sorry that these photos are a tad misleading. Most of the time my crabs hid. The exact same behavior yours shows. Its natural. In these photos i had dug them out to replace their sand, and while they were in these small containers id set my hand in. They were scared at first but with no place to hide they eventually come explore your hand. With very slow movements i was able to touch them more but they will always revert to being scared and scurrying away. Maybe next time you clean her tank you can try this? Hope this helped!!
Hi! First off, thank you for providing more information about these guys than I've been able to find -anywhere-.
ReplyDeleteBut, I need a bit of advice. I just got my Halloween crab, Elvira; I'm in love with her, I know they're hard to keep alive, and I really want to do right by her. She currently has a set up of sand (with a gradual slope) and a bit of repti-bark on top because that's what she was used to when I bought her. I've got plenty of cuttlebone pieces, salt and fresh water dishes for her to soak in, etc. Working on some hides, and adding a few more inches of sand so she can really burrow. She's always either hidden under a log, or intermittently out and about, seemingly happy, but.. she hasn't eaten since I got her two days ago. Is she just getting used to me, and her new home? Or should I be doing something different? I've been giving her spring mix, mango and a bit of blueberry, food wise.
Thank you for any help you might be able to give me. :)
Just keep on offering her food :) she will come around. Sounds like she has a lovely home!
ReplyDeleteHello not sure if my crab is even a halloween crab. I want to make it a proper habitat. It doesn't have any orange dots markings on its head/body at all. Its head n body is a pal purple and legs r orange/red. Any help I would appreciate.
ReplyDeleteHello I did more diggin online
ReplyDeleteAnd I think my crab is a Patriot Crab. Habitat same a halloween crab but they don't need salt water. Question when u give your crabs cuttlebone do u just put the entire thing in habitat so they can't eat whenever or do u break it up and feed with other foods????
Could you send a picture? Muddslingercc (at) aol (dot) com
DeleteAnd always provide cuttlebone, they will nibble at will. They need coipous amouts of calcium
There is a facebook group for Halloween moon crab questions, suggestions, and ideas!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/605714292849029/
Hello we have a holloween moon crab. We got him from the beach in July this year. He never moalted so we don't know what is going on with him. He haves been laying lifeless on top of his sand for about a month now no movement at all he didn't eat or drink anything.He is stiff I can't stand it. I don't want to touch or mess with him in case he is moalting. There been no "death" smell at all this whole time. If u can help in any way it would be greatly appreciated. Thank u.
ReplyDelete