Rainbow Land Crabs (Cardisoma armatum)

[ste123]

i am interested in the wall lol.
i was thinkin of just gettin a pane of glass and sum aquatic glue. but its the measurements that will be hard

[pufferpuggirl]

My idea is to get some slate, or other inexpensive stones, and to put them together with an aquarium grade silicone, so it looks more natural and smooth on the crabs as well ... and I've been thinking about doing something like that for my mudskippers too, as their requirements are very close, except that my mudskippers need brackish water. Really nothing complicated, but I got the idea from doing some caves for my Ceylon puffers. I had bought some slate caves from a guy on eBay and to be honest, they weren't that well done, very sloppy in fact, and I had to re-seal a few seams. So I thought I might start doing my own and they came out much better and were less expensive as well. And then I had the idea for the retaining wall.

[ste123]

sounds cool, but alot of effort lol.
ive just had mike out and let him climb on us whilst we watched a film.he seemed fine then.

but as soon as he goes back in the tank, he doesnt move at all!

[pufferpuggirl]

I've never gotten mine out, I'd be afraid my dogs would get one and kill it by mistake. I really can't think why your Mike is behaving like that .... sounds like something about the tank. Was he more active when you had the water set-up (versus having land, as you have now)?

And in regards to the wall, I think it's rather fun to make stuff like that. When I tried using a retaining wall in my mudskipper's tank, I used a plastic lid from a plastic container, and although it did initially do the job, it looked horrible. So I want something, this time, that looks more natural. And I enjoyed making those caves, so I think it would be fun doing a wall too!

[ste123]

well ive got loads of aquarium gravel, all different colours and stuff so if i make a glass wall i can easilt cover it.

after i wrote the comment on here, mike came out and was moving around. I think he waits till everything is still in the room and then wonders about. he must be scared of me lol. could hear him all through the night thought, and when i woke up in the morning he was sat still half in the water half out.

i think hes nocternal and scared of me

[pufferpuggirl]

Well, I do believe they are nocturnal ....and mine aren't crazy about me getting into their tank either, but they are much better than when I first got them. I think from all the activity at the LFS where I got them, they were sort of shell-shocked because if I happened to stop and look at them, just through the glass, they would run and hide, and now I can actually put my hands in the tank and they won't move unless I get really close to them, and even then it's just sticking the claws at me like "don't mess with me!"

[ste123]

MIKE MOLTED!!
i knew there had to be somnething goin on!!

ive got the picture for you



He is so shiney now, looks amazing!!!

[pufferpuggirl]

Wow that's fantastic!! Strange though, when my female molted, she came out a very different colour. Her legs weren't orange at all, they were light green, they are just starting to get back to normal colour now, and it's been what, 4 weeks since molting. Her carapace wasn't that blue-purple colour either, it was grey. Just interesting because your guy is nice and colourful now. Great news!

Hey we seen some for sale at a fish store we went to yesterday, but I felt sorry for them because they were in a regular tank with tropical fish, with no place to get out of the water at all. When I lifted the lid, you could see about 3 of them at the very top, out of the water, and I suspect they will fall out of the tank, and die. I felt sorry for them, thinking that they either have to endure being in the water all the time, or risk falling off and never getting back in the tank and drying out. How can these stores not research what they have? Ironic though because this very store is the first place I seen these crabs and I wanted them way back when I first seen them, but I waited and got them at another store. I always come home and research what I've bought to find out as much as I can about them. I wish these stores would do the same.

[robert_hollis]

If you're wanting to warm the air in the tank, why not use a a heat lamp, or waterproof hot rock like they sell for reptiles? with a heat lamp, you could even get one that puts out UVA UVB rays, if you like. I dunno if that would be beneficial for the crabs, but I know turtles need it... They might come out, and bask in the warmth more often. Of course, I dunno this. I'm just thinking aloud -er... in type.

-Rob

[ste123]

thats not good, they drown if they cant get out of water dont they. you should have told them at the store.
what store was it?i still havnt found any, but think i'll be ordering from http://www.junglebugs.co.uk/store when they get some new ones in next week.
Cant wait. and im getting some glass and aquarium glue to make a divider, so the water can be a great area soon

also, mikes staying in the water atm. i was planning on changing the water today but wen i tried to get mike out he struggled to get up the rock and fell on his back a bit, so i think he might be slightly week atm. so i'll wait till tomorow till i change the water. leave him to it. its supposidly a crutial time for a crab to be comfortable

[ste123]

the underflap (the thing thats different in males and females) is quite open atm, do you think theres a reason for that?

just thinking maybe it hasnt attatched properly?

[pufferpuggirl]

I would be very reticent to move Mike around, or do anything that causes him to move. He would have been very soft after coming out of the molt and he needs time to harden up his shell. I would try not to disturb Mike, I'm sure he's tired after going through the molting, it takes alot out of them. As to the apron (I believe that's what it's called), I do not know why it's open a bit, but just leave it be. I would leave him alone as much as possible. When did he actually molt? Was it last night, or yesterday? And if so, you need to let him be to himself for a good 24-48 hours after he's gone through that. Don't forget that some of them don't eat before they molt and therefore would be very weak after going through that process. He needs to recoup.

The store we seen them at is called 'The Aquatic Centre' in Bulcote, Notts

[ste123]

yeh ok i'll definitely leave him alone then.

i went out last night around 10 and came in today about 7 so it was any time between then.

i've just emailed the store that i'm gona order from and think i'll be getting them on friday. cant wait!

[pufferpuggirl]

You getting more than one? I'd love to see a photo when you get them.

[ste123]

Got the new tank set up!!!Its great, mikes hangin upside down in the cave at the moment, hahha.

2 new crabs are on their way tomorow, will get pictures and post them!!