anyone here keep fiddler crabs?

Gage

i have a 10g brackish tank, its filled all the way, but my lava rock sticks out of the water.

my question is, what is the male:female ratio? or will one male or female be happy be there self?

also, are these guys good hunters? or are they just scavengers?

Flashygrrl

If you could, I'd lower the water a bit and have more stuff sticking out or have some floating plants. It's fine the way it is but the more stuff the happier they seem to be and you have to be careful that they don't get out. As for male/female ratio, they seem to do well with pairs, the males won't really hurt each other. Most like to have a mate around, my male was the exception but he was always odd like that. As for hunting, yes they will kill fish but it's not a necessary part of their diet. Let algae grow on stuff and you can feed them flake food and they will be happy. I never fed anything live, I dunno if they can really catch it easily enough.

Hope this helps!!!!

Gage

thank you for the reply

so is a SG of 1.008 good for them, i think i may try a pair, if the SG is ok for them anyway, i have a bumblebee goby, leaf goblin fish, and a hogchoker (freshwater flounder) in the tank, i dont think he can catch any of them if he tryed LOL.

ill se about lowering the water, i have an aquaclear on there, so i dunno how low i can make it without putting to much stress on the filter, if i cant lower it that much, then ill put anoth lava rock on the other side to stick out of the water.

they cant get out, its completely covered, my parents had them when i was younger and and they constantly found them on the floor.

i wish i could give them there own tank, but being 15 and only having my bedroom to work with, i just dont have room, i already have a 90, two normal size 10g, and a custom built 10g (32"x7").

so you would recommend a pair then?

thanx again for your help :D

Flashygrrl

Nope, you're already either overstocked (how much DOES a flounder poo, anyways???)or close enough to your capacity (I can't find the leaf goblin fish size so I dunno for sure), and lowering the water would cause more problems than it's worth. I'd leave well enough alone...sorry :(

Update: Just read your posting on the leaf goblinfish. You've got enough territory problems between them and the goby. Definitely leave it alone.

ttesgirl82

what type of heater and filter is best to use for a fiddler crab tank?

Flashygrrl

Wellll, we just used a Whisper with the filter intake as far down as possible (resulted in a great deal of splashing and having the water level sometimes get too low) but I don't think I would recommend that...maybe a powerhead set low in the tank or something that keeps the water moving around a bit. Heater wise, if you're using a 10 gallon with a lower water level then maybe a 25 watt (since norm would be 50 watt) or a 20 gallon with a 50 watt. A light is necessary too but don't go overboard and they need a hiding spot for when they molt (or see you and run away, they're kinda skittish once you get them away from the petstore and the general chaos in those tanks)

Gage

honestly, the flounder doesnt poop much at all, not that ive noticed, but i have an aquaclear 20 and another overhang filter that came with it that is meant for a 10g, so i probably wouldnt notice a lot of poop on the substrate anyways (none actually )

and about the leaf goblinfish, they are actually hanging out together, there is no territory problems believe it or not (i was happy to find out :))

Flashygrrl

It'd be too much changing around and really, you'd be taking a lot of swimming space away from them if you had to take water out so ehhh...why rock the boat when they all get along?

Gage

ya, i decided to pas them up, it all really came up cuz they are keeping them in freshwater, i felt bad for them.

KingOfRats

Well one thing mine seem to enjoy, I have about an inch thick layer of white crushed coral, and a bunch of flat rock that ramp out of the water and onto a little island, I keep the water about 2-3 inches deep (non including substrate) If you are to feed them things to hunt, Brine shrimp and Tubifex worms. The Tubifex worms will burrow into the sand, stick out and the crab will be able to catch them. The brine just get eaten. simple as that. It seems from what I've seen, males have a bit harder time catching live things because of their clunking claw.