eatyourpeas Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 One shall never, ever, go internet shopping when the brain has been seriously crippled by poor quality air and excessive heat! Last night, in the fog of my misfiring synapses I succumbed to the enticing little eyes looking at me from the screen and pushed the "add to cart" button. Worse, I went through the whole checkout process unfazed by the sheer act that this is the most expensive critter I will ever possess! Three Vampire crabs are on the way! So, of course I do not have a tank for them. Yet. I will be transforming the 6 gal. bookshelf into a paludarium, so today is frantic transformation of the tank, especially newly required lids that I have to build since they are escape artists. Will be moving the baby and most adult cherry shrimps into the Pygmy corydoras tank, and rescape the tank a bit. I should credit @Patrick_G for getting me into thinking about these crabs again. Photos coming once it gets lighter and I document the mess. 😁 3 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 14, 2021 Author Share Posted August 14, 2021 (edited) Who could resist those eyes! Edited August 17, 2021 by eatyourpeas 10 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 14, 2021 Author Share Posted August 14, 2021 This is the tank that will become their home. Planning on lowering the water level, leaving most of the plants except the Hornwort, and I know the Duckweed will stay despite my efforts to remove it. It has a canister filter which I will leave, but will adjust the height of the in and out hoses. The nice thing about doing this is I do not need to wait for cycling! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Duck Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 On 8/14/2021 at 8:27 AM, eatyourpeas said: Who could resist those eyes! You know they come in purple, too, right? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlyGenusCaps Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 On 8/14/2021 at 8:19 AM, eatyourpeas said: Last night, in the fog of my misfiring synapses I succumbed to the enticing little eyes looking at me from the screen and pushed the "add to cart" button. Worse, I went through the whole checkout process I'm quite glad to hear others can succumb to this sort of impulse shopping as well! This is how I ended up with my amphipods, which have yet to yield enough critters to feed to my fish, which was the plan. 🙄 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griznatch Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 LOL, I sympathize with your plight, I have come so close to ordering a couple of those little guys. Literally been in the cart to check out and had to stop myself. I'll have to live vicariously through your adventure 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 I’m eager to to see how this turns out! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 14, 2021 Author Share Posted August 14, 2021 On 8/14/2021 at 8:34 AM, Odd Duck said: You know they come in purple, too, right? Yes, but I decided I wanted the yellow claws. 😉 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 14, 2021 Author Share Posted August 14, 2021 (edited) And so it begins! Collected a couple of moss clumps from outside and let them soak in tank water for a bit: Time to drain the tank and scoop as many shrimp as I could to move them to their new home. Not everyone bought into the idea, so the ones who didn't, stayed. As far as I got with the existing set-up. Lids now have a silicon gasket all around to prevent escapes. The spray bar is aimed at the wood in two different angles to provide moisture. Mist/fog maker should be here tomorrow. After a quick trip to my LFS and I was lucky they had some wood. Woot! The left side is still a bit empty but I will find either a rock or more wood for that space. The shrimp are loving the new wood! New babies too! Edited August 14, 2021 by eatyourpeas 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 14, 2021 Author Share Posted August 14, 2021 On 8/14/2021 at 9:09 AM, OnlyGenusCaps said: I'm quite glad to hear others can succumb to this sort of impulse shopping as well! This is how I ended up with my amphipods, which have yet to yield enough critters to feed to my fish, which was the plan. Well, let's just keep being each other's bad influence! Still puzzled as to why you can't get the pods to breed like crazy. 😵 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlyGenusCaps Posted August 15, 2021 Share Posted August 15, 2021 On 8/14/2021 at 3:22 PM, eatyourpeas said: Well, let's just keep being each other's bad influence! Deal! 😈 On 8/14/2021 at 3:22 PM, eatyourpeas said: Still puzzled as to why you can't get the pods to breed like crazy. Because I am not good at life. Or, perhaps because I didn't plan for them, and so dumped them in a new setup, with no cycle, and no filter, tried to do enough water changes to make up for it, and fed them the wrong stuff for a week. Hard to say. My money is on the life thing though. 😝 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted August 15, 2021 Share Posted August 15, 2021 (edited) It’s looking good so far! The Moss ball looks huge in this tank. Edited August 15, 2021 by Patrick_G 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 15, 2021 Author Share Posted August 15, 2021 On 8/14/2021 at 6:51 PM, OnlyGenusCaps said: Because I am not good at life. Or, perhaps because I didn't plan for them, and so dumped them in a new setup, with no cycle, and no filter, tried to do enough water changes to make up for it, and fed them the wrong stuff for a week. Hard to say. My money is on the life thing though. Algae and an airstone should work. Mine don't have either, but they live outside and I feed them al the hornwort and duckweed I pull out every week. They are picky abut temperature and don't seem to like it too warm. I think you lost your money, your other life vessels are doing great! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 15, 2021 Author Share Posted August 15, 2021 (edited) On 8/14/2021 at 7:12 PM, Patrick_G said: It’s looking good so far! The Moss ball looks huge in this tank. Thank you!😀 It is a large-ish Marimo ball in a small-ish tank. It has reached about 2.5" in diameter and I have had it for about 1.5 years. I can't wait to get the new wood to finish their home. I am still scavenging plants and bits from the other tanks, making me feel like I am a crab already! Edited August 15, 2021 by eatyourpeas 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 15, 2021 Author Share Posted August 15, 2021 (edited) After lots of inspiration from Giambattista Piranesi, H.R. Giger, Roger Dean and M. C. Escher, we have a home for the crabs! There is only wood. I decided to forgo rocks entirely and put my trusted little Dremel to work, creating lots of caves and hideaways. The moss seems to be waking up from its scorched slumber and is already showing little green bits. The mister is simply kooky, what a great invention! Edited August 16, 2021 by eatyourpeas Fixed typos. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 16, 2021 Author Share Posted August 16, 2021 (edited) Some interesting tidbits. I let the mister run all night to make sure the wood was completely soaked. This raised the temperature in the tank by 4F, which is not ideal, but can be better managed during the cold months. The good news is that everything looks pretty wonderful and ready to welcome the crabs! Some of the moss is waking up nicely! The shrimp are doing great and the tannins have done a great job with the water. I just love blackwater! Edited August 16, 2021 by eatyourpeas 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 18, 2021 Author Share Posted August 18, 2021 (edited) They arrived safe and sound! Morgana was the first one out of the bag! Went out to explore the wood and water, and ate some. I love how the tannins in the water change their coloring! Then came Gomez, quite curious! Morticia was the last to venture into the tank, and only after I left. She is a shy one. Here she is under water behind the Marimo ball. Edited September 21, 2021 by eatyourpeas 8 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griznatch Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 Awesome names and very cool little crabs! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 18, 2021 Author Share Posted August 18, 2021 On 8/18/2021 at 1:57 PM, Griznatch said: Awesome names and very cool little crabs! They are awesome little bits. Getting comfortable already. The shrimp don't know what to make of them. 🤪 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott P. Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 Nice crabs, love the names. Sounds like the Adams family in there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crabby Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 Oh my gosh they’re amazing. They look like such cute little critters! Please keep us updated! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 18, 2021 Author Share Posted August 18, 2021 @Scott P. Apparently they may be related to the Addams Family, but the poorer version. These are renters, not homeowners. See letter below. @Crabby Thank you. They are. Here is an update: - Dear Tank Management, We would like to address a serious situation with our new dwelling. It has Duckweed. We do not like this herb in any way or form. Does not taste good. It sticks to our bodies after a swim, or even worse, after a relaxing spa session at the bubble-maker. We are spending too much picking it off our carapace and body parts. Just because the shrimp tenants like it, this does not mean everyone else does. Please dispose of this horrible garden choice as soon as possible. Respectfully yours, The Addams and Aunt Morgana. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlyGenusCaps Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 On 8/18/2021 at 6:35 PM, eatyourpeas said: It has Duckweed. We do not like this herb in any way or form. I'm pleased to hear you have selected crabs of discerning taste and refinement! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted August 19, 2021 Author Share Posted August 19, 2021 On 8/18/2021 at 5:44 PM, OnlyGenusCaps said: I'm pleased to hear you have selected crabs of discerning taste and refinement! They just graduated from the @OnlyGenusCaps school of proper behavior. With honors! 🤪 Tweezers at the ready to try to remove as much duckweed as I can tomorrow! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 @eatyourpeasa regular men’s comb works great. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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