Adventures with Fiddler Crabs

[zombiefetus]

I decided to start up a breeding tank for Fiddler Crabs, I thought I'd start a topic on my findings and such since I'll be using the little buggers as food for Rizz my GSP, and since there seems to be a huge lack of information about keeping crabs.

(I'll be using a 10 gallon tank for this.)

Current findings:
Most fiddler crabs need brackish water (1.005-1.010)
They also need to have access to air, Rocks or driftwood sticking out of the water is good.
They like lots of hiding places, so lots of plants and rocks.
Sand is the best substrate because they like to burrow.
75-80degrees F is usually good. Some people have good luck just keeping them at room temp.
Food- lettuce, shrimp, sinking shrimp pellets.
They're escape artists, so ductaping all the escape roots is good.

Not sure what type of filter I'll be using yet.

I won't bet getting them for about a week, but I thought I'd post this now. If anyone has tried anything with any fiddler crabs, please, post your experiences with them.

I'll keep everyone updates with pictures and how everything is going. ^-^

[Nick]

Filter won't matter a ton, if you want to breed, you'll have a nylon over the intake anyway, and no debris actually getting in, so you can run any old thing without a cartridge if you want,it's the nylon on the input you'll be cleaning, and you'll be doing it a lot.

[zombiefetus]

Thanks for the advice, I'll definately keep that in mind.

[It'sJames]

They sure are escape artists! Several weeks ago my fiddler, Nelson, was in a small bowl on my kitchen table (this was only temporary), while I used him as a subject for an art project. I'd left the room, only to return when I heard someone yelling from the kitchen. The little guy had escaped, and was crawling across the kitchen floor! Thankfully he was found alive, and he was quickly returned to his tank.

[yunachin]

That is neat that you are going to breed them. We have them wild around here and if you go down to the beach near the salt marshes they are EVERYWHERE....THOUSANDS of them.