So I've had this 3g tank sitting around for a while and thought, "what about a fiddler crab biotope?" Did some Googling and came across references for mangroves. Recall seeing some possibly fake/real mangrove roots at local stores and think I can pull it off.

This is the tank I have



Don't plan on using any form of filtration, I'll have a turkey baster for water changes and have to mix my own brackish water.

But before I drop a single dollar on anything, are there any other crabs that are semi-terrestrial/aquatic that live in marine water? I have plenty of marine water to go around, mixing brackish water wouldn't be preferred.

Small sketch of what I have in mind:

I think fiddler crabs can live in full salt water?
but if I were you I'd look into vampire crabs. They look way more interesting than fiddlers plus they are freshwater.
I can't get them over here so the the shoes on the other foot this time:D

Vampire/ Carnival Crabs are EXCELLENT climbers. With that chunk of drift wood you have in your drawing they'll easily climb out of the tank. In the wild they are known to climb trees. Some people on the crustacean German websites have even noted seeing baby vampire crabs climb bare glass!

go with fiddlers

Check our Konoluna's tank threads
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...amp;mode=linear

That is the coolest tank I've ever seen.

I might very well do something like this instead. Would allow me to use a HOB filter at least.

also i think fiddlers cant be completely submerged, they need a part where they can get out of water, like a terrarium

^ Thats right about the fiddlers. You can assume that that is true for pretty much any brackish crab.

that tank is awsome! plus the crabs are cool and they are californian too

I don't recall seeing such crabs before, at least at the sandy beaches I frequent. Will take a peak around Redondo thru Manhattan Beaches, but they're generally sandy. I'd imagine those fellers at rocky shores. They would be perfect though, marine, local (ie free if I can find em), and beautiful.

Oh there are tons of little shore crabs swarming on rocks in any of the beach cities. You might take a trip to the jetty in newport beach and grab some.

I googled mapped the Redondo thru Manhattan Beach area and found a couple jetties I could look at. One I remember seeing when I ate at a local Joe's Crab Shack. Wouldn't recommend that Joe's Crab Shack...

Yeah any jetty in the beach cities will work.