Fiddler crabs

[mhsrunner]

I know this is predominately a snake forum (obviously), but if anyone knows the answer to my question then whee...im going to be getting some fiddler crabs cause im a cool guy like that but i havent kept them since i was 4...do any of yall know the best thing to feed them? thanks

[NicoleRussell]

Fiddler crabs are scavengers, eating what they find on the ocean floor--food that tends to settle. In captivity they should be fed sinking food-- fish food meant for scavengers like shrimp pellets, or any other food designed to sink....also good for supplementing is freeze dried plankton and shrimp.
If you get your set up up and going--please post some pics--I really love crustaceans.

[mhsrunner]

Ive been reading about using saltwater, which i dont remember using before. instead of spending money on instant ocean is it possible just to mix in some of the aquarium salt i use for sick fish? i dont think its meant for use with saltwater aquariums but sould it be ok for the crabs, or should i use something used to actualy make aquarium salt water?

[NicoleRussell]

Get a hydrometer and add enough salt to the water to attain a specific gravity of around 1.005 - 1.010. Hydrometers are pretty cheap and can be found at any pet store. The package of aquarium salt have instructions for producing brackish water conditions. Are you using that Dr. somethingor other (been a while) sea salt?

[Freakkboy]

I had some "freshwater" fiddlers in a tank with my corys and loaches. They were really cool to watch. I only used about a tablespoon of non-iodized salt per ten gallons of water. I heard it helps the respiration for most freshwater fish. Always check on what you are keeping though. I fed frozen spirulina, and sinking pellets. They also eat the poop and whatnot on the floor, and the eggs of any fish that are spawning!
My fiddlers lived for about a year and a half, then, when my plants had grown pretty tall, they climbed out of the tank...... Funny, they dont live too long around cats???

[Jem_Scout]

Mine escaped too..I was bummed ....