Aquarium crabs: features of care and habitat

The content of crabs in captivity is not an easy task, requiring some effort. And before the aquarium crabs appear in the house, you need to think carefully. It should be taken into account the fact that an ordinary fish tank with these crustaceans will not do.

For their life, an aquaterrarium is necessary, where the water surface must vary with land, so that there are different islands and lots of vegetation. At the bottom of the reservoir is placed large sand and pebbles, lay large stones, so that they necessarily protrude out of the water.

Aquarium crabs, these unusual creatures with a variety of bright colors, live not only in the aquatic environment. Some of their time in captivity, they spend on land, where they warm themselves under a specially equipped lamp. However, the distance from the lamp to the crustacean should be monitored. It is better to fix the lamp at such a distance that only slightly warm the sunburning crustacean. The water temperature should not be below 25 degrees, but too warm is not recommended.

High temperatures provoke a frequent moulting in the crustacean, which requires an increased expenditure of vitality. And, if such phenomena occur more often than once in three weeks, the creature can die from exhaustion. After all, to build up a new shell, he needs more mineral salts and nutrients that aquarium crabs just do not have time to accumulate in the right amount.

A beneficial effect on the health of the crustacean will be the addition of sodium chloride to the water at the rate of "one teaspoon per ten liters of liquid", as well as calcium chloride to achieve rigidity of up to three milligrams per liter.

Do not worry because one crab will be bored to live. On the contrary, loneliness for crustaceans is most comfortable. He will not have to fight with other individuals for his plot on which he feeds. If there are several creatures in the aquatorarium, they will need a dwelling for them with an area of at least a thousand square centimeters each.

Aquarium crabs have four pairs of legs on which they walk, and a pair of limbs that have transformed into claws. With these so-called hands, the crayfish collect food and fiercely fight. As a result of wars, some lose their claws, which re-grow.

Krabiki are almost omnivorous. They eat everything they find under their feet and around them. Therefore, as a main food, a sinking granulated fodder for fish is perfect . Animals will gladly take care of bloodworm and pieces of fish, and will not object to boiled carrots and bananas. Small pieces of this food must be decomposed in the aquarium.

Despite the fact that aquarium crabs easily coexist with large fish, they are easily disposed of from snails and frogs.

It should be borne in mind that crabs are virtuoso fugitives, they leave their house at the slightest opportunity. If the aquarium is not closed, then they will necessarily get out of it. They can do this even on wires from a pump or a heating pad.

The content of crabs in the aquarium is not difficult. They can reproduce in conditions of bondage sexually. After a month of laying eggs, the larvae hatch. Fans of these crustaceans cultivate them in large aquariums (200-300 liters), where several pairs of males and females are placed in spring. The number of eggs depends on the species and varies from 100 pieces. At the Crimean crab, up to 300-600 - in the Caucasian species. The female at the beginning has eggs on itself. Soon, larvae emerge from them - megalopia, which for a week stay on the belly of the mother and eat the remains of her food. After the first molt, miniature crabs are obtained, which creep away and begin to lead an adult life.

A person who is interested in aquarium crabs, can buy them from specialists involved in breeding these amazing crustaceans, or in specialized pet stores.