Fiddler Crab

[fatheadminnow]

My friend just got a fiddler crab and he is wondering what it eats? I told him Algae wafers, is this true? Also, what else do they eat, what do you guys feed them?

Second question? He also wants to know how long these crabs can live out of water?

Also, do these crabs require brackish water? Will they survive in fresh water?

Thanks!

-FHM

 

[Curiosity101]

I just did a little bit of reading, I've never kept them, so this is only what I've read.

But they will apparently eat detritus and algae/plants.
I saw algae wafers, crab pellets and various bits of plant matter as suitable food.

 

[raptorrex]

My friend just got a fiddler crab and he is wondering what it eats?  I told him Algae wafers, is this true?  Also, what else do they eat, what do you guys feed them?

Second question?  He also wants to know how long these crabs can live out of water?

Also, do these crabs require brackish water?  Will they survive in fresh water?

Thanks!

-FHM

ok:


1, yes. plus any veg matter (a bit ripe helps). also some bloodworm pellets. and most eat flake too.

2, 1-5 years. most are killed by their keepers.

3, Yes, and NO.

4, they need land too.

hope this helps.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Thanks guys!

So, they can live 1-5 year out of water? Or just 1-5 years in general?

Also, could you elaborate a but further on the brackish water part? As you said they do not need brackish water? Right now he has them in his tank that is not brackish, it is fresh water. So, I just want to know for sure that he can have them in just fresh water.

Thanks!

-FHM

 

[raptorrex]

Thanks guys!  

So, they can live 1-5 year out of water?  Or just 1-5 years in general?

Also, could you elaborate a but further on the brackish water part?  As you said they do not need brackish water?  Right now he has them in his tank that is not brackish, it is fresh water.  So, I just want to know for sure that he can have them in just fresh water.

Thanks!

-FHM

they cant actually live without water. conversely, for the most part, they don't live in water either. they need permanent access to Brackish water as i said, though you seemed to miss that lol. i also said the cant live in freshwater. your question 3

Also, do these crabs require brackish water?  Will they survive in fresh water?

my answer 3

3, Yes, and NO.

if you have the critter in fresh water, how long it lives is academic. NOT TOO LONG, being the best i can do. you will also find crabs in brackish, don't run off quite as much as those kept in fresh.

if you are looking seriously about keeping these guys. you need a tank split 50-50 land water, better still 70-30 land water. the water needs to be, roughly, 5ppm mix with Marine salt. you need a sand an decorated area on the land. you will also need a "heat" lamp.

think of a critter that's a cross between a reptile and a fish. that's pretty much how crabs should be kept.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Thank you for your reply!

So, the crab needs brackish water to survive, around 5 ppm of marine salt. How will I determine this?

The crab also needs at least 50% land and 50% water in the tank, and a heat lamp.

Thank you!

-FHM

 

[raptorrex]

Thank you for your reply!

So, the crab needs brackish water to survive, around 5 ppm of marine salt.  How will I determine this?

The crab also needs at least 50% land and 50% water in the tank, and a heat lamp.

Thank you!

-FHM

oops that's PPT not PPM.       so 5 grams of salt per litre, is 5 PPT.

but for further help try this brac calc 


the link is to something from our Member nmonks. somewhat of an authority on the subject of fish.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Thanks again!

-FHM