Crabs And Shrimps.

[clittermouse]

I'm new here and just had a quick question to ask.

When we move I am getting 2 small tanks for my children and my son would like crabs but he also would like some shrimps. Could they be kept together?
I don't really want to get one tank for crabs and one for shrimp (although this would please my son!) as will already have four tanks in the house!!

 

[Rex740]

I'm new here and just had a quick question to ask.

When we move I am getting 2 small tanks for my children and my son would like crabs but he also would like some shrimps. Could they be kept together?
I don't really want to get one tank for crabs and one for shrimp (although this would please my son!) as will already have four tanks in the house!!

no.
I am guessing you are talking about fiddler crabs, those guys need brackish water and they need land. Anyways, i would think the crabs would eat the shrimp.

 

[nukeonekitty]

I agree with above statement.

 

[LakeyGal]

Before I knew better I did have a Red Claw crab and a fan shrimp in a 180L community tank for a while without obvious issue although I never saw the shrimp, since separating the crab to a more suited home I now see a lot more of him so Shrimpy was evidently unimpressed at sharing!

I would say ultimately not worth it as best case scenario the shrimp will hide away anyway and if its a small tank I would say crab would do away with the shrimp and find a hole to escape through.

Crabs tend to prefer slightly different water conditions too and it's generally only possible to have 1 as I hear they fight quite nastily (just see how many have legs missing in the LFS tanks!)

This is just my opinion from experience and there may be other more qualified views on the topic.

Perhaps you could task your son to do the research on them?

 

[clittermouse]

Before I knew better I did have a Red Claw crab and a fan shrimp in a 180L community tank for a while without obvious issue although I never saw the shrimp, since separating the crab to a more suited home I now see a lot more of him so Shrimpy was evidently unimpressed at sharing!

I would say ultimately not worth it as best case scenario the shrimp will hide away anyway and if its a small tank I would say crab would do away with the shrimp and find a hole to escape through.

Crabs tend to prefer slightly different water conditions too and it's generally only possible to have 1 as I hear they fight quite nastily (just see how many have legs missing in the LFS tanks!)

This is just my opinion from experience and there may be other more qualified views on the topic.

Perhaps you could task your son to do the research on them?

Hi Thanks for all your anwers, i didn't think i would get away with just one tank lol, i have told my son he needs to find out what they eat and what kind of tank the crabs need and the shrimp and what water etc so that should keep him busy untill we move.