Hi im new and have a few questions

[butterflychild]

Hello im new i have a 55 gal fish tank, 20 gallon fish tank, 6 Beta tanks and a 5 gal tank with a Purple Vampire Crab. Im needing to know what kind of home do i need for my crab and what other stuff do i need. Aswell do they need to live in a desert home, rainforest home or Invertebrate home. Im thinking of getting one of the Exo Terra kit homes but not sure what one or what even to do. I dont know what other stuff i need for the crab to make it a proper home and a happy crab. I have the crab in a 5 gal with gravel on bottom and some substract on the top but not real deep. And a few plastic plants in it with a Beta log and a bowl thats about 3-4 inches round. But i feel the crab needs a beter home then that. PLEASE HELP. Thank you.

[hencpu]

Hi, welcome to AQ, I'm sure there will be some invert & crab experts here who can help

[butterflychild]

that would be nice be i havent had anyone respond to me exsept you. I am really in desprate need of some help before my crab dies on me and i dont want that to happen.

[stormhawk]

These crabs need a paludarium with some degree of moisture to survive. Best with a equivalent land and water area. These critters are found near forest streams etc, so you can imagine what sort of habitat they need to be happy. This thread will give you more info with regards to the care of Vampire Crabs:

http://www.crustaforum.com/board/sho...rma-sp.&p=4967

As for ideas on how to do a tank, just type Vampire Crab tank on Google, and use the pics from the search as a guideline. This page below shows pictures of their natural habitat:

http://www.crustahunter.com/en/node/1045

Here's an example of a simple nano tank made by a fellow member, retriZach:

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...h-s-Paludarium

[fisherw]

I have seen very elaborate set-ups and also very simple ones. Essentially, the points to keep in mind are:

access to fresh water: Simple containers will do as long as the water is deep enough for the crab(s) to submerge completely and of course, can get out of. I read that the crabs can drown although one of mine seem to prefer to be completely submerged for long periods. Advice varies regarding percentage of water to land but I understand the crabs are terrestrial so probably more land makes sense. My set-up is primarily land with 2 containers of water (as I keep more than 1 crab).

substrate: If you read info from the net, the crabs burrow. So soil rather than gravel. I use a peat and coco husk mix. Don't know if you can get it there but I suspect, pet shops catering to vivariums or garden centers selling potting mix might carry the stuff.

hiding places: Bits of pots (those for plants, not for cooking) with a curve would be good. Or fashion something with 2 bits of support at the side and a large flatter pebble for a "roof" built into the substrate will do. The log you mentioned (I assume it is a smallish bit of driftwood) might suffice. Mine don't burrow per se but go to the hiding places I set up and enlarge the space by moving the soil around.

food: Mine seem to be picking on the soil most times. I read the stomach contents of dead vampire crabs are mainly vegetable in nature so they may be feeding on plant bits. So if your substrate has coco husk, that might keep it from starving. I was advised to feed them with Hikari Crab Cuisine (a branded prepared food for crayfish, crabs and shrimps) but mine seem not to like it. Often I throw in what is available from the kitchen, bits of vegetables (carrots, broccoli), scraps of seafood (shrimp bits, etc. but be warned, these go bad and smell so clear uneaten bits), even bits of spaghetti, rice.

plants: I have them but I suspect the aesthetics is appreciated more by me than them. No harm I suspect. Might make them feel more secure. Who knows?

They don't like to be harassed (who does?) so I suggest removing the crab to a container and remodeling in one go and then transfer it back rather than work on the tank with the crab in it.

[Wackytpt]

Welcome to AQ!

I will shift this thread to the correct sub forum.

Cheers

[silane]

hiding places: Bits of pots (those for plants, not for cooking) with a curve would be good. Or fashion something with 2 bits of support at the side and a large flatter pebble for a "roof" built into the substrate will do. The log you mentioned (I assume it is a smallish bit of driftwood) might suffice. Mine don't burrow per se but go to the hiding places I set up and enlarge the space by moving the soil around.

mine does not burrow too, I am using shrimp soil as base, they should be soft even if they have the habit of burrowing.

[butterflychild]

So do you think organic top soil would be ok for on top of the vivarium.? Im putting natrual looking pebbles on the bottom and then play sand on top of the pebbles but i think plastic screen between the two and then organic top soil then some kind of mosses.