Running water: Part two

Okay, second time around. This time, caulkless and REMOVABLE!

I previously mentioned that I bought a tupperware shoe box, trimmed the top and lost the lid. I used this as my water section, and had room to set up my saltwater dish on the same side. I also did an inch of plain soil on the bottom of the tank before i laid sand to keep some more moisture, and because Bubble and Jack seemed to like the soil they were in for a week while i gathered sand and set up the 30 gal again.
 What I can say so far is that i like this way better, they liked it, a little too much, they got themselves under the waterfall, and i had to dig them out because it scared me for a sec. in the future ill probably let them be.

 I also spent some time handling them before putting them in, i scoop under them and try not to put my hand over them unless im doing an actual transfer, this helps them feel less threatened. They seemed to calm down a bit and chill after a few minutes. Ill definitely have to do that now and again and see just how handleable i can get them!

 Pictures Ahoy!

Whole 30 gallon Breeder

Hide side (many hides buried for them to choose from)

Water side, Running fresh water with filter and salt water dish

Running water, filter, stones to quiet the flow and move it across the length, there are stones behind it keeping it upright and stacked to keep the crabs from getting stuck in there, also some fake plant stacks to try and make it look nicer haha.

A Death in the Family

  I am saddened to say, my midsize female has passed. We left her in a separate container as noted in the previous post and treated her as live, but she began to stink horrible and bloat to the point of *gag* explosion. I think she died that day when I moved her, when she stopped clicking. I still feel like it was my fault, I shouldn't have moved her. But she also may have been eaten or still died in her fragile state regardless. Im taking this as a learning experience, and hope when Bubbles molts (because Jack did already underground and completely ate his shell) that she stays underground too and doesnt surface and scare the crap out of me.
  As far as the 1/4 tank goes, it was a flop (also noted in previous post). The crabs at the moment are in a 10 gallon with natural plant food free topsoil. Due to some transportation and time errors, and a walmart employee being an idiot, I could not get the natural play sand I like. Soil will have to do and I think I like it, but am still gonna stick with sand (or mostly sand) when I get the 30 gal breeder up and running again.
  The 30 gallon got freshly scrubbed, sanitized, and detoxed today. As did everything that usually resides within, all is prepared to be set up when I can get out to Home Depot for sand. This time, I am still doing running water but in the safe and kinda redneck way... Let me explain.
 I went to walmart, and got a 97 cent tupperware shoe box. It holds 6 quarts, and fits perfectly in the tank i have with room on the end for my salt water dish. I cut the top off, making it 3 inches deep, and smoothed the edges with a lighter. Hopefully when it all comes together it looks okay, if not oh well ill live. Im planning on hooking up the filter as i did before, just now its in a REMOVABLE and CAULKLESS section that will be easier to drain and clean... not to mention completely nontoxic!

 ] I will take this time to mention yet again, that this is my first time owning these crabs, I have had them since February and am learning as I go. I decided to do this blog because of the lack of good info out there, and post how I work with my crabs and what I think may work best. They are known in pet trade to die quickly and be tricky, so you get to learn along with me. I AM IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM SAYING WHAT I KNOW IS BEST. As you can see in this post and last post, I screwed up. I am not perfect and am not a pro. This is just my adventure with an animal that I think makes a pretty neat pet. [

 Until next time readers... I hope this is helping people.

^ Jack, My big strong boy ^

Trouble in Paradise

Okay, so this gets a little complicated down the line. But I feel the need to write this as it happened last night.
-For reference, Jack is my male, the biggest. Boo is my medium female, missing two back legs. Bubbles is my small female. All are generally the same size but I can tell the difference.-
 The water side was a flop, about 24+ hours after the water was put in, there was an inch drop in waterline and it went into the sand. I had to do what I could to drain it and lay stone so they could walk around.

  On to the point of this post... Last night I am on my way to bed, and i hear a loud strange clicking. Now these crabs make noises, you hear their legs walking on hard things, you hear them digging and scraping or snapping their claws, but they also click. This was not a normal click. So I looked in and saw Jack laying awkwardly on the sand. legs in normal curved matter, but tilted flat. Mouth and front laying flat. He was the one clicking so strange.
Now I was worried, then I turn on the light and theres little to no orange color to him. I immediately think of the caulk, did some of the chemicals seep into the water that got into his sand?! They wet their gills with puddled water in the sand sometimes. Oh no!! I gently scooted him onto a piece of paper, and transferred him to a lidded container with a hide. I sprayed him with water to moisten the container and him and watched him go more and more limp, and heard the clicking slow and then stop. Did I kill him!? I had to get the others out (if the sand was poisoned they soon would be too!)
 So I start digging and find... a bright red orange crab.. Jack? Jacks the only one with red orange. Bubbles is the only other one with all legs... but this ones so big and shiny and with a soft shell, Bubbles must have molted! Transferred the REAL Jack to a separate container, rocks, dish of water, hide, misted. Hes fine.
 So I dig for my third... and find a tiny crab. Bubbles?! Boo was never that teeny. Oh my word I am a bad crab mommy who cant tell her crabs apart. In truth and reality it was BOO who was dying next to me... with all her legs? She must have molted... Sure enough after all crabs were in their containers, i found her entire old shell. =( What have I done?
  -You are not to handle a crab after molting. Molting is stressful to the animal and commonly makes them extremely lethargic until their insides expand and their shell hardens. Handling during molting may cause death-  and I handled her... and I moved her!
  Currently. They are all still in separate containers, not ideal size or substrate. Not ideal at all. But I have no more sand and am not moving Boo. Boo is still appearing dead. her eyes are mostly sunken in, still not moving. I feel terrible. Like a horrible person, I should never have touched them but I still fear the sand may be toxic and dont want to risk that. I dont dare touch Boo for a couple days to a week, to be sure she is dead or to be sure she is alive and regaining strength. It can take them time to strengthen. Until then I wont bother her. just look in through the side. This is what the molt looks like:

1/4 Tank: Accomplished.

Can I just let out a big YAYYY!!!!
Tonight we successfully assembled my homemade (kinda ghetto) 1/4 tank.
 Basically, we dug the crabs out, and stuck them each in a separate lidded container with moist paper towel and a hide for the next 24 hours. Tossed all the sand (BAD IDEA, but Good Idea), and cleaned my 30 breeder out. We cut a rectangle of 3 inch high plexiglass to fit as a waterproof barrier, and sealed with caulk... white ... caulk.
Ideal? not so much. Does it work and was it free? Absolutely. We set that in place, sealed it and waited. And then just tonight set it all up! It was a good idea to toss all the sand bc it was stankkyyy.
Bad idea because... Im low on sand! As of right now they dont have quite enough, but theres enough to cover the hides and bottom so it will do. I made sure to use multi sized stones in the water, with places to climb out. the filter is turned into a bit of a waterfall.
Here it is!:

Update: The caulk is crap and is peeling. but the water isnt leaking or anything... yet. I plan to get more sand, get my hands on some better and CLEAR caulking. and re do it when i can!

Update: My Tank

No real pictures to this post but I thought I would mention I purchased a filter system today, and have plans to set up a 1/4 water section to my 30 breeder. I got the Marina i25, Pics and more info after it gets set up in a week or two!

Is your Crab a Halloweener? Common Mistaken Identities

This post is based on research of description, and probably photographic matches of 4 commonly confused crabs. One of which is an actual Halloween Moon Crab, the other three are of different species and even genus. These were chosen based on my opinion of which were confused the most in name, photo, description and locations.



Rainbow Crab (Cardisoma armatum)
This crab (and just recently I realized other species of Cardisoma) I see photographically confused with Halloween crabs most often. This crab is from the same family (Grecarcinidae) but a different Genus, Cardisoma.
This crab goes by Patriot crab, and Moon crab (confusionnn).
Far from Halloween crabs, these babies are from the coast of Western Africa. They can reach 7 inches wide on the carapace (back).
Color difference is that these crabs bodies are more blue/violet. The have whitish claws and underbody, red orange legs, and most notable other than the body; they have light eyes.



Purple Land Crab (Grecarcinus ruricola)
I include this crab because its in the same family as the two listed below (includes Halloween Crabs), and because the name has gotten mixed with Halloween Crab photos often.
Also goes by the name Zombie Crab and Black Land Crab.
This one is found in the Caribbean, Western Cuba, all the way to Eastern Barbados as well as other places here and there.
G. ruricola can reach around 5 inches wide on the carapace (back). They have multiple color morphs: Black, yellow, red, and green. As you can see in the photo they are very different from those two below, they are dark all over and do not have the large sections of bright colors. Rather, they are darker, with bright accents.


Blackback Land Crab (Grecarcinus lateralis)
This is the most commonly confused I have seen in person. Twice now in pet stores near me I have seen these advertised as Halloween Crabs.
These also go by the name Bermuda land Crab, and get confused with the Christmas Island red land crab. Also from the family Gecarcinidae, this crab is along the Atlantic coast from South Padre Island, Texas; to Venezuela. Also found in the Florida Keys and Caribbean. They stay mainly along the dry sands, 25 feet above high tide.
These crabs reach up to 4 and a half inches wide along the carapace (back). They're are mostly reddish, orange, or lighter all over, aside from the large black spot on their back. This spot varies in size and shape.




THIS IS A HALLOWEEN MOON CRAB (Grecarcinus quadratus)
This is the crab I have. Part of the family Gecarcinidae, along with G. ruricola and G. lateralis.
Also goes by the names halloween crab, moon crab, white spot crab.

This crab comes from the pacific coast from Mexico all the way to Peru, Mainly known as from Costa Rica. They live in mangroves, Rain forests, and along sand dunes.
Said to get to 2 inches wide along the body, but have heard up to 4.
Has a dark purple/black carapace (body), mostly purple claws, orange legs and lower body (leaning more towards red or yellow depending on male or female it is assumed)
Distinguishing accents are noted as BLACK eyes, with two red, orange, yellow, white, or even maroonish spots, one by each eye; as well as commonly a yellow or orange "mouth spot" or "mustache". and two white or yellowish spots on the lower back.

My Crabs

Yay! My Babies!

Jack the first day I got him.

Boo the first day I got her.

Bubbles the first day I got her.

Boo Now. (Nearly 2 months later)

Jack Now, (Nearly 2 months later)

Bubbles Now. (Nearly 2 months later)