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'Moon Crabs and Other Crabs - Setting Up A Tank' Exotic Pets

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Moon Crabs and Other Crabs - Setting Up A Tank

This forum post has messages dated from 09/27/06 through 08/06/10, please be sure to read all the messages. If you feel it is old or outdated, please follow up with a question or comment and someone may be able to update it, or reply with newer information if you have it.

- Exotic Pets

Forum Post

KateyBate

Moon Crabs and Other Crabs - Setting Up A Tank

We use to have hermit crabs, but they never lived very long, and when we were at the pet shop the other day I saw Moon Crabs. They apparently need some land time and water time. Anyone have tips on the best way to set up this kind of tank?

Jeff

Chi-town

never heard of a moon crab ur best bet is to go with a fiddler or red crab and make it so that u have it where the crabs can climb out of the water tho make sure not to high otherwise they will climb out of the tank lol thats very bad my brother freaked think it was a GIANT spider. also many crabs aere brakish so they will need some salt in the water just got to the pet store and buy saltwater mix then mix just a little salt to alot of water

Feliza

This is a bit new, crabs as pet. Well, I am sorry for being so ignorant about this but I've never seen anyone who takes care of crabs. All I see is people with exotic animals such as iguanas, snakes, but never crabs.

Pat

crabs are sweet and i can sit and watch them for hours. but i would go with a fiddler because ive never had good luck with reds. and fiddlers are alot cooler than herrmit crabs

Marley Mar

I just got 3 moon crabs the other day from a friend myself who was moving. She had these a while and said they are very easy to care for. She did not give them saltwater just fresh and uses that block of reptibedding. She said she fed them frozen/thawed veggie stir fry at night and heat lamp during the day. Hers have survived fine so far but now that they are mine I will be doing more research. We Love them and think they are SO COOL!! They Totally make Awesome Pets and dont need a whole lot of Tank room like other Exotic pets(snakes, Lizards and such)

Karen

"Moon Crabs aka Halloween Crabs"

Common Name: Purple Moon Crab aka Halloween Crab

Scientific Name: Gecarcinus quadratus

Adult Size: 2" to 4" Body Width

Distribution: Costa Rica

Purple Moon crabs may pinch fingers if threatened. DO NOT HANDLE. They can be kept in small colonies.Purple Moon crabs are indigenous to coastal regions.

Captive Environment:

An adult Purple Moon Crab will require at least a 10-gallon aquarium. Suitable substrates for Purple Moon Crabs are reptile bark, sand, and reptile soil mixes. Provide branches or cork bark for climbing and hiding. You should use 6 inches of wet sand as the bottom layer, with a 6 to 12 inch layer of a sand/soil mixture on top of that. Make sure the lid is secure. Moon crabs are very good escape artists.

Temperature:

Provide a temperature range of 78-85"F during the day and in the mid to high 70's�F at night. This is necessary for the crabs metabolism and immune system to function properly. There are several methods for establishing the proper temperature range for your pet. Using spotlights of variable wattage incandescent bulbs on the outside of the enclosure, under tank heaters or any combination of these. When using spotlights for 24 hour heat use red, night bulbs or a ceramic heating element to maintain day / night light cycle. Never place lights inside the enclosure where the crab could come in contact with them and get burned. Use a thermometer to ensure proper temperature range is maintained.

Lighting:

While lighting is not required for purple moon crabs you can use 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness to help it cycle between day and night. You can optionally use full spectrum bulbs but they need to be placed less than 18" from your pet for maximum effect. Glass blocks ultraviolet light, and air circulation, therefore, it should never be used as a top for the enclosure. Using a timer is the best way to ensure that the proper amount of light is received.

Food:

Purple Moon crabs are scavengers. They will eat just about any thing.

Water:

Provide a small shallow bowl for drinking and soaking, and also mist the enclosure every other day for moisture and moderate humidity.

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