A Crab With A Loach

[JawsA10]

can a freshwater crab go with a weather loach in a 55g? and can a freshwater crab stay submerged or does it have to breath?

 

[Tommy Gunnz]

can a freshwater crab go with a weather loach in a 55g? and can a freshwater crab stay submerged or does it have to breath?

My sister has a hex tank with a couple of blood parrots, a common pleco and a 'lobster' (I think it is a crayfish, but the lfs SWEARS it is a lobster). Anyways, my point is that the 'lobster' was fine with the pleco for a long time until one day the 'lobster' just grabbed on to the pleco and wouldnt let go. The pleco did live for a while after the incident because my sister was lucky enough to be watching at the time, but it later died, most likely from the stress or wounds.

So I would tend to be leery about keeping those two bottom dwellers together, however, I do not know for sure. In fact, I thought most crabs were either salt water or brackish water, even if they are labeled 'freshwater'.

Just wanted to let you know about this experience, and I am sorry if I am wrong about this. I do like idea of keeping a crab since it would be something different or odd to see in a tank, but both my tanks have quite a few bottom dwellers in them and I wouldnt want to risk them.

 

[Araxen]

Crabs do need to come up for air every once in a awhile and like to "sunbathe" too. I have a red crab with a betta and they seem to get along. The crab is deathly afraid of my betta. My Betta corned him one day and I haven't had to worry about him or the crab.

I have him in a 5 gallon eclipse tank with my betta and if he needs air he just climbs up on top of my internal filter and he has no way of getting out of the tank. That's another thing crabs are very very good escape artists make sure to the crab doesn't have a way to get out of the tank. If there's the slightest little nook he'll find it and turn into a cat/dog toy.

Most crabs like salt also so that's another thing to consider. My Betta doesn't care about salt in his tank so it works out. I have about 3 teaspoons of aquarium salt in my 5 gallon.

I don't about a Loach and a Crab. I know Loaches eat snails for the most part and I'm unsure if the crab would become a Loach snack eventually(if he would catch him while he molts) or maybe even the other way around.

 

[dizzied]

There are virtually no freshwater crabs in the aquarium trade, the ones labelled as "freshwater" by stores are actually brackish.

They need SEA salt, not aquarium salt.

 

[JawsA10]

this crab is tiny, and in the 55 can he swim up to get to a turtle dock? o ya does he absolutely need air or does he just prefer it?

 

[dizzied]

Crabs can't swim.

What kind of crab is it anyways? Chances are it's not freshwater.

 

[JawsA10]

fiddler i think, but before i bought it it was in a tank with no place for it to get air

 

[dizzied]

It's definitely brackish. Just because the LFS keeps in it bad condition doesn't mean you should.

 

[JawsA10]

aww crap! i dont know where to put it! my dragon goby is is in brackish but it cant get out anywhere, my newt is just prey for it, and my 55 has animals that can harm it and he cant get out! he will just have to go in with the other fishes in the 55 which is a loach, pleco and peacock eel. and just breath underwater . i dont know wut else to do!

 

[ImperfectFaerie]

I don't want to be the one beating thier head on the wall, but seriously after the mudskipper incident WHY would you purchase another living creature without being educated on it's needs? Why not research it BEFORE you get it and if you can give it a healthy environment- THEN purchase it? The only advice I have is if you don't have anywhere to put it, then take it back to the LFS and then educate yourself on the topic and get another one when you are ready to give it a good home.

 

[dizzied]

I agree with ImperfectFaerie, though either way, the fiddler is doomed.

 

[JawsA10]

i did have a lot of education on the crab but nothing with its need to have oxygen, ok? yes i did research before i bought it. i think thats a good idea, take it back. after all its all i can do.

 

[ImperfectFaerie]

Probably your best option, maybe research a little more and set up/cycle a more ideal environment for one and then bring him back home?

 

[dizzied]

If your LFS also keeps them submerged in freshwater, it won't live either way. The best you could get out of this is a refund.

But if you really did your research, then you should've already known that the fiddler needs brackish water and dry land. Those are two most common pieces of information you'll find for it.

 

[ImperfectFaerie]

Right there with you Dizzied- if ANY research was done, this thread would be non-existant.