At times, crabs need to shed their exoskeletons; during and after such a feat they require a safe place to rest and harden off. A special tank made for this purpose will help to ensure they remain calm and secure.
Things You'll Need
- Aquarium
- Aquarium cover
- Thermometer
- Bleach
- Water
- Sand
- Rocks
- Low light live plants
- Clay flowerpot
- Submersible filter
- Aquarium sealant
Instructions
Create a Crab Shedding Tank
Clean the empty aquarium with a solution of 50% bleach to 50% water and allow the bleach solution to soak for twenty minutes. Now fill the aquarium with water and allow it to sit for at least twenty-four hours. This allows a person to check for possible leaky seals.
If no leaks are present, drain the tank and continue. Clean all decorations and watertight areas of the filter with bleach water. Rinse well and allow them to dry thoroughly. Once all instruments and decorations are disinfected, it is time to set the shedding tank up.
Add one to two inches of clean sand to the aquarium allowing it to slope slightly towards the front of the tank. Arrange all plants until an aesthetically pleasing look has been made.
Keep in mind that this tank is for crabs to shed their exoskeletons so grouping plants in bunches will allow the animal many places to hide until its new shell has hardened. Crabs are notably shy during this process as they are at their most vulnerable. Place the clay flowerpot on its side in a secluded area of the tank.
Add an island to the tank. The addition of exposed land is important for crabs that require time out of the water. An exposed rock or island of sand and wood is ideal for partially aquatic crabs.
To create an island stack rocks securely to shore up sand and pebbles. Aquarium sealant may be used to make the structure sturdier. Allow sealant to dry for as long as the instructions say before adding them to the tank. Make the island large and deep enough that the crab can bury itself in the sand if needed. Do not make the sand so deep that tunnels created by busy body crabs can collapse and trap them.
Slowly add three to six inches of water to the tank. Place the filter and heater in an area where they will receive good water flow. Avoid blocking them with plants or decorations. Let the tank run for two to three weeks to cycle. Crabs need a cycled tank just as fish do.
Add the crabs to the tank. Keep an eye on them while they are molting. Do not poke or hold them, as they will stress out easily during this stage.
In the case of hermit crabs, the tank should not be full of water. Dampen the sand with just enough water to make the substrate moist but not soggy. Keep the aquarium dark until it is time to place the crabs back into their normal enclosures.