New to crabby life?

[FishyLove6283]

Hi guys!
I just recently set up a 20 Gallon tank and fell in love with the fiddler crab at my LFS. The ones in the tank at the store didn't have anywhere to get air, but of course my scatter brain didn't think to ask if they needed that until I was home googling fiddler crabs and staring at a poor crab trying to climb up the air tube): I panicked and quickly put a plastic plant in the aquarium that reached up to the top of the tank, and luckily she figured it out and went straight to the top. She's been up there ever since and I can tell she's been eating, but after this experience, I worry about her constantly. I'm worried that she might not be able to climb up and down the plant! So I need to ask, should I just take the poor thing back because my tank isn't adequate for her? Or is this set up alright? The last thing I would want to do is keep her here if it's not safe for her): thanks for your time!

 

[Scottyhorse]

You could get some rocks like lava rocks and make an island for her. Also aren't fiddler crabs brackish?

 

[FishyLove6283]

That's a good idea, do you think an island would take up too much room at all? And I've definitely heard that and I asked the saleswoman at the fish store and she said these guys didn't need Brackish water. I was a little hesitant with her answer so I googled it and grew frustrated quickly because there is so much controversy on the subject/:

 

[jwh0818]

Here ya go. Check these out for your little buddy,

Bio-Dome

 

[FishyLove6283]

Here ya go. Check these out for your little buddy,

Bio-Dome

.... You have seriously just blown my mind. Haha that is the coolest thing I have EVER seen!!! Thanks so much

 

[jwh0818]

.... You have seriously just blown my mind. Haha that is the coolest thing I have EVER seen!!! Thanks so much

No problem! There are DIY ways with jars but those are really neat and not priced too bad

 

[Scottyhorse]

Argh, totally forgot to link that!!! Thanks jhw

 

[jwh0818]

Argh, totally forgot to link that!!! Thanks jwh

Not a problem. I had to do a google search to even remember what they are called

 

[FishyLove6283]

Yeah I was shocked when I saw the price! Thank you guys so much so does anybody have any decision on Brackish or not? I've heard people claim they don't need brackish but I've also heard that they died a couple months later... But I feel like brackish would be so hard to figure out/:

 

[Scottyhorse]

Brackish is easy, it's about 1/2 saltwater and 1/2 freshwater

 

[jwh0818]

For brackish you will need a refractometer to measure the salinity and you would need marine salt to achieve brackish. I'm not sure of the exact salinity but it's somewhere in the 1.005 range. I don't know which test kit you use to test the water ether. My guess is a sw test kit

 

[FishyLove6283]

Brackish is easy, it's about 1/2 saltwater and 1/2 freshwater

Would it affect my other fish? I know this might be a dense question but do you just mix aquarium salt in water or do you have to buy specific salt water? Haha

 

[jwh0818]

Would it affect my other fish? I know this might be a dense question but do you just mix aquarium salt in water or do you have to buy specific salt water? Haha

Read up at my last post. What other fish do you have?

 

[FishyLove6283]

Read up at my last post. What other fish do you have?

Yeah, I'm sorry I was posting that as you posted yours haha. I have five baby tiger barbs, two bottom feeders, and a yoyo loach.

 

[jwh0818]

No they won't survive the transition

 

[FishyLove6283]

No they won't survive the transition

Ugh, That's what it was afraid of): so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place, should I just return the crab?

 

[jwh0818]

Either return him or pick up a 5 to 10g tank and go from there. Make a crabitat!

 

[FishyLove6283]

Either return him or pick up a 5 to 10g tank and go from there. Make a crabitat!

You are seriously blowing my mind AGAIN! I just realized I already have a 5 gallon tank that I could turn into a crabitat!! Haha thank you so so much!!!

 

[jwh0818]

No problem! I don't know squat about brackish so you may wanna do some research or post in the brackish section with a title like " need help with ins and outs of starting brackish"

 

[FishyLove6283]

Great idea! Thank you again