King Crab Woes

[The Really Real El Guapo]

I just got these 2 "king crabs" from my LFS they are about 2 inches across and a freshwater. Unfortunately the highly educated experts at my LFS aka petland, have no idea what to feed them or how to take care of them. Any suggestions?

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

Try meaty foods, like silversides.

someone else had the same problem with the same crab.

 

[T-Hbrand]

hey that was me and guess what it was the same crabs.

Welcome NEW MFKer

 

[srikamaraja]

Until you nail down the species of crab, try keeping them with a little bit of coral rock in their tank to keep the pH up, perhaps adding a table spoon of marine salt per 5 gallons. Sadly, very few 'true' freshwater crabs enter the hobby.

 

[The Really Real El Guapo]

Do they have any special needs when it comes to food?

 

[black_sun]

Crabs are generally omnivores, so until you have an ID on the species try a mix of foods that include vegetable and meat matter.

By any chance, do your crabs look like this?:

Or this?:

 

[T-Hbrand]

nannasmom wrote:
I would caution us all to remember when feeding these foods that the phosphorous can have an ill effect on your water quality and may cause an algae bloom if the levels of phosphorous become too high.


Calciumhosphorus Ratio -- Vegetables

14.5:1 -- Collards
7.5:1 -- Spinach, Mustard
4.5:1 -- Turnip Greens
4.3:1 -- Lambsquarters
3.2:1 -- Dill Weed
3.0:1 -- Beet Greens
2.8:1 -- Dandelion Greens
2.8:1 -- Chinese Cabbage (pak-choi)
2.7:1 -- Lettuce, LooseLeaf
2.4:1 -- Mustard Greens
2.4:1 -- Parsley
2.4:1 -- Kale
2.1:1 -- Chicory Greens
2.0:1 -- Spinach
2.0:1 -- Watercress
2.0:1 -- Cabbage
1.9:1 -- Endive
1.6:1 -- Celery
1.5:1 -- Purslane
1.4:1 -- Cilantro
1.4:1 -- Lettuce, Butterhead (Boston, Bibb)
1.3:1 -- Okra
1.1:1 -- Swiss Chard
1.1:1 -- Turnip
1.1:1 -- Chard, Swiss
1.0:1 -- Squash (winter, all varieties)
1.0:1 -- Green Beans
0.8:1 -- Lettuce, Romaine
0.8:1 -- Sweet Potato
0.8:1 -- Rutabaga
0.7:1 -- Broccoli
0.7:1 -- Cucumber (with skin)
0.6:1 -- Carrots
0.6:1 -- Squash (summer, all varieties)
0.6:1 -- Carrots, Baby
0.6:1 -- Brussels Sprouts
0.5:1 -- Cauliflower
0.5:1 -- Kohlrabi
0.5:1 -- Pumpkin
0.5:1 -- Alfalfa Sprouts
0.5:1 -- Parsnips
0.5:1 -- Peppers,Green
0.5:1 -- Peppers,Red
0.4:1 -- Sweet Potato Leaves
0.4:1 -- Beets
0.4:1 -- Asparagus
0.2:1 -- Tomato
.02:1 -- Corn, White

Calciumhosphorus Ratio -- Fruits

4.8:1 -- Papaya
2.9:1 -- Orange
1.8:1 -- Lime
1.8:1 -- Raspberries
1.6:1 -- Lemon (no peel)
1.5:1 -- Blackberries
1.5:1 -- Grapefruit, White
1.2:1 -- Grapefruit, Pink and Red
1.2:1 -- Tangerine
1.0:1 -- Pineapple
1.0:1 -- Pear
1.0:1 -- Apple (with Skin)
0.9:1 -- Mango
0.9:1 -- Watermelon
0.8:1 -- Cherries, Sweet
0.8:1 -- Grapes
0.8:1 -- Cranberries
0.7:1 -- Casaba Melon
0.7:1 -- Apricots
0.7:1 -- Kiwi
0.7:1 -- Strawberries
0.6:1 -- Cantaloupe
0.6:1 -- Honeydew Melon
0.6:1 -- Blueberries
0.5:1 -- Persimmon, Japanese
0.5:1 -- Raisins, Seedless
0.4:1 -- Peach
0.4:1 -- Plum
0.3:1 -- Nectarine
0.3:1 -- Banana

you need calcium for the shell

 

[Ransom]

Crabs are generally omnivores, so until you have an ID on the species try a mix of foods that include vegetable and meat matter.

By any chance, do your crabs look like this?:

Or this?:

WHAT IS THE CRAB IN THE 2ND PIC I HAVE JUST BOUGHT TODAY?

 

[black_sun]

They're (the pet stores) calling it either a "king crab" or "mosaic crab". What species specifically, it's never been listed. I posted up the pics though because they're being successfully kept in the same conditions as Red Thai Crabs/Red Claw Crabs, which might have given the OP some insight into the care of whatever he purchased, if that was it.

 

[The Really Real El Guapo]

Yeah. I bought the crabs in the second pic and the pet store called them "king crabs" How exactly do you care for them then?