Crab Air Bubble home DIY

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mattheuw1

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 18, 2008
86
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Pewaukee, WI
I have always wanted to put some inverts in my tank. I wanted to get a fiddler or a red thai crab but they require land. So my friend came up with this idea.

1.Get some sort of clear glass bowl with an opening in it for the crab to walk in.
2.Push it straight into the water leaving a huge air pocket in it.
3.connect an air pump to the back of the bowl so it is not too visible
4.stack up rocks or a pile of sand inside of the bowl so the crab has some dry land.

Voilla! You have made a crab home with a permanent air pocket. I have never tried it and am going to attempt to. Has anyone attempted something like this? Do you think it would be too humid in the air pocket? Do you think there will be too much pressure for the crab to enjoy? My buddy says they make contraptions like this? Anyone heard of it? My friend made this because no matter how he sealed his tank, the crab still got out. So this will prevent him from leaving the bottom of the tank? Opinions?

Please get back to me with ideas and opinions. I want to try it but I am still looking for the correct piece of glass.

idea.JPG
 
That's awesome and if it works I want to try! One thing tho, you know whenever you try that with a cup, bowl etc like in a pool or tank or whatever? It always like flys up, so I'd be interested to figure out how you'll make it stay down?
 
Abuley,

i was just thinking the same thing. how will you keep it down? the air pocket will make it fly up.
 
i wouldn't trust it. a pile of rocks on it. and how about with the air stone it still lifts the rocks go up with it, fly off and crack the bottom of your tank.

hmmmmmmmmmm.

i might be over thinking this tho.
 
the only problem is the pump putting to much air in air pocket and having it shoot up. you could drill a hole in the top and have some tubing that goes out of the water and lets air in but wont over fill it. and to keep it down you can silicon it to a flat rock so it wont fly.
 
I'm not talking about a plastic clear bowl. I am talking about a GLASS bowl. An air pocket is not going to make it fly up. Especially because the opening for the crab to walk in will let the excess bubbles out. I don't think a whole in the top is necessary. The idea might need some modifications to make it work flawlessly. That's why I posted to this forum, for the opinions and the brainstorming.

I tested the idea using a glass cup. Push it into the water and empty half the air out. run a air tube through the gravel below the cup. The cup actually holds air perfect, but the air has no where to go so it seaps out the bottom of the cup, which is fine because I will have an entrance right there. The entrance to the bowl will allow excess air to bubble out. The idea is golden and tested. But I want to know if it will have any negative affect on the crab. My friend had a crab kit that he swears was the same thing. So it looks like my idea may be patented but the DIY will work perfect if you have the right piece of glass. You could make it work with plastic as well if you build a slate structure around the plastic, but you won't be able to see your crab drying off, and you wouldn't be able to see if water is seaping into your invention. I would still recommend getting a tree that goes out of the water for the crab to tan just in case your pump stopped or something. Great feedback....keep it coming!
 
it will still float have you ever washed dishes and set a bowl plastic or glass upside down with air in it it floats
 
You can adjust how much air is in the bowl by how high the door is positioned. I will make something...most likely out of plastic for now, considering that it will not be easy to find the shape of pyrex glass I am looking for. I am just going to put a big rock on top of a plastic clear bowl. I will prove you all wrong soon, just wait.

If anyone has any additional tips to make this contraption, please share.
 
mattheuw1;2154460; said:
You can adjust how much air is in the bowl by how high the door is positioned. I will make something...most likely out of plastic for now, considering that it will not be easy to find the shape of pyrex glass I am looking for. I am just going to put a big rock on top of a plastic clear bowl. I will prove you all wrong soon, just wait.

If anyone has any additional tips to make this contraption, please share.
Click to expand...

i was saying a hole with the tubing going into it not just a random hole if that got mixed up. and you have a great idea though maybe ill make one myself. not as a contest or anything but just to see if it would work and to compare notes. it would be cool to have crabs walking around the aquarium. and a tip would be a platform for the crabs on the inside of the bowl or whatever incase the water levle is a little high in there
 
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