AIBU to ask if anyone has rainbow crabs?

[catgirl1976]

DS (9) really wants some so I got the tank and everything for his birthday. I think I’ve set it up ok from googling (fish shop were meant to give me advice but have been useless)

I want to order the crabs but does anyone know if it looks ok? Will they get stuck in the underwater cave a drown? What do I feed them and how often? Are they hard to
Keep?

If anyone has any tips or advice I would be so grateful. I know this is probably for a specialist forum but I’m not getting anywhere and I don’t want to get the crabs until the set up is right so thought I’d appeal to the MN collective and pray someone else has crabs (not that kind that would be a different thread 😂)

In the picture the water hasn’t settled which is has now and the ammonia and nitrates and chlorine are all good. There’s a small filter under the platform and the water is heated to 22 degrees

Thank you !!

Why could he just not want a bloody x box or something? 😩

This wasn’t what I was expecting... I thought it was going to be about some new type of std

I blame the wine

It had been a difficult few weeks of conversations - what does DS want for his birthday “he wants to get crabs”. “Oh did I tell you we are getting crabs?” And so on 🤣🤣

Get advice from an exotic pet centre. If you don’t do your research properly your crabs will die. Unreasonable to start buying the equipment before you’ve researched properly

I don't think I'd have acquiesced to this if I didn't know how to look after them to be honest, or gone ahead if the place I was buying them from didn't provide proper instructions on terrarium and care or some aftercare.

www.fishkeepingworld.com/rainbow-crab/

Lots of detailed information at the above link, which suggests that they cannot be kept together anyway due to aggression and will 'fight to the death' within their own species. It does look as though they could drown if they can't easily get out of that as well as do an a lot of damage to your DS if he puts a hand in the wrong place, given how much faffing that seems to suggest the tank maintenance requires.

@ForTheLoveOfCatFood

This wasn’t what I was expecting... I thought it was going to be about some new type of std

I blame the wine

🤣🤣🤣

I also thought STD rather than aggressive crustaceans. Looking at the link a PP posted, a single crab would be a good plan (or perhaps a nice fruits de mer and an Xbox instead).

The aquatics shop assured me they were “easier than goldfish” and sold me a set up “perfect” for them. It’s only on googling I’ve realised it’s not and had to spend more money on different substrate, filters and heating etc.

DS knows he won’t be able to touch them. I’ve read all the factsheets but was just hoping there might be a MNer with practical experiences of them who could give some advice. Waiting for a couple of reptile type places to call me back too. DS is desperate to get them as there’s been a delay whilst I’ve ordered more (correct) stuff but I’m not getting them until I k ow the set up is suitable.

If anyone has kept them some practical tips and advice would be much appreciated!

I used to keep various tropical creatures, and I’m pretty sure all crabs you have to keep singularly because they can be right evil little things to each other!!! So it might be a case of only having one crab

One is fine. I’ve read two is ok if they are male and female rather than two males but happy to have just the one. I just don’t want to kill the poor thing ☹️ I’m so annoyed with the aquatics place. I would not have agreed but they told me all sorts about them being really easy to keep and this tank they sold me being right and it’s just not true but I trusted them as experts!

Don’t know anything about crabs but a quick google tells you that fiddler crabs are the easiest to keep and best for a new owner.

Hmmm thank you I’ll look into those - I didn’t think he will mind or notice what type of crabs they are.

Dd(18) has crabs, though not rainbows, (and snails and other creatures).

Apparently the rainbows grow upto 8 inch in leg span so need plenty of space. They need plenty of protein (fish flakes, shrimp pellets, bloodworms are some examples) to prevent cannibalism.

Each crab needs an individual hide as they can be territorial. They need calcium to aid malting (cuttlefish bone, oyster shell grit).

She has recommended looking at www.reptileforums.co.uk and www.fishlore.com as some people on there can be helpful with crabs.

Thank you so much Krampus i will check that out now. I have cuttlefish for them (or it). Really useful on the food - thank you so much

My husband kept some years ago. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone, they are difficult to keep. The problems come when they moult (shed their shell) Once the old shell comes off they are soft and vulnerable until to new shell hardens off. They used to attack one another, it was quite upsetting.
They also used to drag food onto the dry areas of their tank, and as they need a heat lamp we'd often return home to the odour of gently warmed through squid (or whatever they'd been eating that day)
Cleaning the tank was a full time job (despite having a water filter) and they stank!
Was quietly relieved when the last one died, never to be replaced!

Krampus
Dd(18) has crabs

(Scuttles sideways, off to my hole in the sand)

Thank you @Leeds3. 😱 I’m now completely put off and even more annoyed by aquatics mans “expert” assurance that they are an easier pet than a goldfish.

Going to ring some some reptile places and ask about fiddler crabs in the hope they might be less murdery and difficult

I know nothing about crabs (snigger) but goldfish aren’t an easy pet. I made the mistake of thinking they were because when I was growing up (70/80s) it was just stick one in a bowl, feed it and clean it out every so often. That’s not the right way to care for them properly though and to actually give them a decent life is a lot of work.

I don’t think any tank dwelling fish/crustaceans/reptiles are actually easy pets. They require specialist knowledge and equipment, I know it sounds nuts but in a way my dog is an easier pet than the goldfish were.

www.fishkeepingworld.com/rainbow-crab/

I think fiddler crabs need a marine environment, so your set up for land crabs wouldn't be suitable.

I don’t have experience with crabs, but I know about keeping fish, and petshops are notorious for not giving correct care information.

Try joining a facebook group for aquatic species. All the experts on there will be falling over themselves to help you.
(Be prepared to be told that you maybwell be told you need a palatial tank the size of a car! I’m probably exaggerating but pet forums can be v.idealistic! Use your own judgement and research to distinquish what is reasonable and what is OTT).

Fishlore is a good active forum.

Thanks everyone

Just had a really good chat with a reptile type place and they have recommended Vampire crabs as they are freshwater, easy to care for and peaceful. Been through the tank set up and they say it now sounds right so three are on their way and hopefully the "expert" advice this time is sound - it seems to match everything I can read on forums and the internet.

I do second the PP who said goldfish are not easy. We have some. I spend a lot of time cleaning filters,changing and testing water and clearing algae and buying new airstones and things. Still - they seem to be thriving so fingers crossed the Vampire crabs (to be called Colonel, Coconut and Karen ;/ ) do too.

Vampire crabs look cool

Anyone else think it’s ironic that vampire crabs are friendlier than rainbow crabs, when the names would suggest otherwise

I really do applaud you for all the research, I remember when I used to keep my tropical friends the amount of people who didn’t were shocking. But then so was the advice at a lot of the fish places, saying you could mix x and y fish, when x had a long tail and y nipped anything with a long tail!!

I know 😂. Peaceful little Vampires versus the mean and aggressive rainbows 🌈 Very strange!

Quite excited for them arriving now I feel confident they will get the right set up and care (and not hack each other to bits traumatising DS)

Thanks to everyone for the advice!