Mike’s Fish Tank – Fiddler Crabs

Many people ask me about fidler crabs. Fiddler crabs are found along sea beaches and brackish inter-tidal mud flats, lagoons and swamps.

Like all crabs, fiddler crabs shed their shells as they grow. If they have lost legs or claws during their present growth cycle, a new one will be present when they molt. If the large fiddle claw is lost, males will develop one on the opposite side after their next molt.

Fiddler crabs live rather brief lives of no more than two years (up to three years in captivity). Male fiddler crabs use the major claw to perform a waving display as a form of female courtship. Male versus male competition also occurs as a fighting with the major claws. If a male loses his larger claw, the smaller one will begin to grow larger and the lost claw will regenerate into a new (small) claw.

The fiddler crabs do best when given a place to get out of the water. I usually have them in a tank of part water, part land. Or I have a large floating plant they can crawl onto.

All crabs are scavengers and will eat most any fish food, I throw in some small shrimp pellets as these sink and the fiddlers can actually hold them in their claw and eat them.

Another type of crab found in aquariums is the red crabs. They do not have 1 big claw but rather 2 small claws which are kind of purple in color. Housing the 2 types together may result in fighting.

Pets A Plenty is located in the Blockbuster Video Plaza, Rte 281 Cortland, 753-9213. Open 7 days a week. We now have a website. www.petsaplety.biz. check it out. I post care sheets, coupons, new animal arrivals, contests and more. Any questions, email me at friskyy@hotmail.com

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