Mary Allen
If you are looking for new aquarium inhabitants, you should think about crabs in the aquarium. Crabs can be great aquarium inhabitants and are a rare sight that won’t let you go again anytime soon. Find out what you should know about this topic here.
The Mangrove Crab
So that we can give a concrete example of how to set up such an aquarium, we picked out the mangrove crab. This species of crab lives amphibiously, which means that it also needs sufficient land to live. This combination is what makes keeping crabs in the aquarium so interesting. In addition, it is exciting to watch, and due to its uncomplicated food and care, it is also suitable for beginners.
However, it is important that the pool is large enough and adequately ventilated. But caution is advised here: crabs are real breakout artists, the smallest unsecured area may be enough. But you can easily cover holes with sponges so that they are air-permeable. This is how the air comes in and out, but not a crab. If a crab does get away, a shallow bowl should be set up in a sheltered place. The crab will smell the water and go there when it gets too dry.
Crabs in the aquarium: setup is important
It is important to emphasize here that there is a land part and a water part. Of course, the water part is larger, but the importance of the land part should not be underestimated.
In the water
You should cover the substrate with sand, which you can also mix with coarser and finer gravel. On this ground, you can then build hiding places and elevations with larger stones. It is important that the crabs find enough burrows and places to hide. This is important for the formation of territories and gives weaker animals enough chances to avoid the other. Of course, you can also work with plants; Hornwort, waterweed, pond liver moss, and Java fern are particularly suitable. Moss balls are also always welcome. In addition, you can use pottery shards or other decorative materials.
On land
There are different ways to design the land part. It is important that the crab can reach him stress-free. So you need enough transitions such as mangrove roots, cork tubes, or plants protruding into the water. Mangrove roots are particularly popular because the crab can graze on them and thus absorb nutrients. The land part is strewn with potting soil. This can also be mixed with terrarium mulch. The substrate should be deep enough, as crabs love to dig and create real tunnel systems. It is important that nothing from the soil gets into the water. The best thing to do is to separate them spatially with a barrier (which the crab must of course be able to negotiate). Up here you can now design again: plants e.g. ivy, climbing figs or sedge grass, stones, there are almost no limits to your creativity.
Technology and care
As already mentioned, crabs are not too difficult to keep in the aquarium, but constant living conditions are very important for them. In any case, an internal filter is required to keep the water clean, and a variable heater should heat the water to approx. 23 ° C. After all, the crabs originally come from South America.
Regarding the water values: The carbon hardness should be between 6 and 8, the pH value around 7. It is important to note that crabs absolutely cannot tolerate copper, lead, pesticides, or the like. So test the water regularly and watch the crabs see if they are behaving normally.
The crabs do not need special lighting in the aquarium, they generally feel more comfortable in the dark: So create enough shady places of retreat. The maintenance of such a tank is no more complex than with a normal aquarium, it only has to be cleaned: This includes rejecting the sludge and emptying the filter. Now all that’s missing is feeding the crabs and your own crab aquarium is ready.
A note at the end: These ideas were now specifically geared towards the mangrove crab, but of course you can only pick out suggestions. Simply inform about your dream crab and see what you can take over.