Local Fiddler Crabs for N. Wennerae?

finkjor123 · 06/27/2011, 09:19 PM

Hi,

I will soon be setting up a 14 gallon N. Wennerae mantis shrimp/ damselfish tank, and I had a few questions. I live in the Safety Harbor/ Clearwater area within a five minute drive and 2 minute kayak paddle from mangroves and unlimited Fiddler crab supply, and I was wondering if
1. Are these crabs safe to feed to the mantis nutritionally wise? Chemicals/ pollution?

2. Will these fiddlers be safe enough to feed to a small mantis, or should I wait till it is larger? Dont want my mantis losing a fight... I'm assuming the damsel fish should be able to avoid the claw? (I know the mantis might eventually kill the damsel)

Thanks, and if not safe for the mantis, what should I feed it other than krill?

slosht · 06/27/2011, 09:26 PM

My N. Wennerae loved those tiny blue leg hermits and limpets. Any type of smaller snail will do too.

finkjor123 · 06/27/2011, 09:41 PM

thanks for the response but I am really interested in whether or not I have a free source of food for the mantis in the fiddler crabs- anyone that knows if they are safe please post

jason2459 · 06/28/2011, 01:08 AM

Depending on the size of the crab and the size of the mantis it should be fine. Yes pollutants are always a concern. Smaller the tank and the fewer the water changes the more of a concern it is. To help mitigate you can make sure to do at least a 10% weekly water change and run GAC. Running a poly filter could provide even more protection from heavy metals and the color changes on the pad could help tell you what kinds.

Your damsel may get cramped in the 14g and I would actually be more concerned of the mantis loosing an eye once the damsel matures.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

JothamTheSlayer · 06/28/2011, 06:38 AM

I haven't a clue where those places are, humor me.

I used to feed mine crabs from the bay near me.

schudini · 06/28/2011, 08:41 AM

Hi from the Tampa Bay Area.

I have fed my wennerae fiddler crabs that I collected from the tarpon springs (possibly higher pollution) and Weeki Wachee (lower pollution) areas. Neither seemed to make a difference.

If you are worried about the big claw, just catch the females (with two little claws). Just make sure they aren't carrying eggs. Sized to your mantis, or a little smaller.

Feed only 1 per week. The mantis may kill more than it can eat if you put too many in there and it feels that it's space is threatened. Also, it tends to be a little messy, so plan on doing a water change the day after it eats (to vacuum up crab particles before they start to rot and make ammonia).

Also, I have heard that fiddler crabs cannot/do not like to stay submerged 100% of the time, so don't plan on storing a bunch of extras in your tank.

When I did this, I brought along a small to medium container with a seal-able lid (poke some small holes), collected about 5 of them, collected some sand (about 3-4 inches in the bottom of the container) and a little water. They live in this "bio-dome" until they are ready to be food. I put some dry fish food (pellets or flakes) in the container to feed them every couple of days. They dig holes in the sand just like in nature and you can keep them for a month (as long as they don't get too hot, starve, or run out of water or air).

Easy way to feed your mantis is to pick out a crab from the bio-dome with chopsticks (to avoid the pinch). Avoid lifting by the legs, just pick up at the hard center section. Then rinse in a little fresh water to remove excess sand (and any funky bacteria living in the sand) and plop into the mantis tank during the daytime. I usually wave the mantis food around in front of the tank to get it's attention first and indicate it's "dinner time". Once the crab is in the tank, a couple of whacks and the shows over.

Feeding video...

(sorry for the quality, used a webcam) Action stops after about 3 minutes.

Hope this info helps.

FLMantis · 06/28/2011, 10:33 AM

I buy fiddler crabs from the bait store all the time. I just rinse them first and throw them in the tank.

I have 3 N. Wennerae, and they have no problem destroying the fiddler crabs.

finkjor123 · 06/28/2011, 11:04 PM

thank you for the responses
@schudini- in the video, i saw the skull deco and i kinda like it, does the mantis use it to hide at all or is it just for show? wondering if I can place liverock in an arch around a skull like that...would look pretty sick

finkjor123 · 06/28/2011, 11:05 PM

and i will try to collect some smaller female crabs then. damn... really want to get this tank going soon....

schudini · 06/29/2011, 03:32 PM

Yes, the mantis likes to get in the skull, look out the jaw and watch me work on the computer. When you look in the tank, the mantis appears to be a tongue in the T-rex mouth. It sometimes freaks people out.

06/27/2011, 09:19 PM	#1
finkjor123 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 42	Local Fiddler Crabs for N. Wennerae? Hi, I will soon be setting up a 14 gallon N. Wennerae mantis shrimp/ damselfish tank, and I had a few questions. I live in the Safety Harbor/ Clearwater area within a five minute drive and 2 minute kayak paddle from mangroves and unlimited Fiddler crab supply, and I was wondering if 1. Are these crabs safe to feed to the mantis nutritionally wise? Chemicals/ pollution? 2. Will these fiddlers be safe enough to feed to a small mantis, or should I wait till it is larger? Dont want my mantis losing a fight... I'm assuming the damsel fish should be able to avoid the claw? (I know the mantis might eventually kill the damsel) Thanks, and if not safe for the mantis, what should I feed it other than krill?

06/28/2011, 01:08 AM	#4
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Depending on the size of the crab and the size of the mantis it should be fine. Yes pollutants are always a concern. Smaller the tank and the fewer the water changes the more of a concern it is. To help mitigate you can make sure to do at least a 10% weekly water change and run GAC. Running a poly filter could provide even more protection from heavy metals and the color changes on the pad could help tell you what kinds. Your damsel may get cramped in the 14g and I would actually be more concerned of the mantis loosing an eye once the damsel matures. Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

06/28/2011, 08:41 AM	#6
schudini Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: In the Land of Mary Posts: 2,001	Hi from the Tampa Bay Area. I have fed my wennerae fiddler crabs that I collected from the tarpon springs (possibly higher pollution) and Weeki Wachee (lower pollution) areas. Neither seemed to make a difference. If you are worried about the big claw, just catch the females (with two little claws). Just make sure they aren't carrying eggs. Sized to your mantis, or a little smaller. Feed only 1 per week. The mantis may kill more than it can eat if you put too many in there and it feels that it's space is threatened. Also, it tends to be a little messy, so plan on doing a water change the day after it eats (to vacuum up crab particles before they start to rot and make ammonia). Also, I have heard that fiddler crabs cannot/do not like to stay submerged 100% of the time, so don't plan on storing a bunch of extras in your tank. When I did this, I brought along a small to medium container with a seal-able lid (poke some small holes), collected about 5 of them, collected some sand (about 3-4 inches in the bottom of the container) and a little water. They live in this "bio-dome" until they are ready to be food. I put some dry fish food (pellets or flakes) in the container to feed them every couple of days. They dig holes in the sand just like in nature and you can keep them for a month (as long as they don't get too hot, starve, or run out of water or air). Easy way to feed your mantis is to pick out a crab from the bio-dome with chopsticks (to avoid the pinch). Avoid lifting by the legs, just pick up at the hard center section. Then rinse in a little fresh water to remove excess sand (and any funky bacteria living in the sand) and plop into the mantis tank during the daytime. I usually wave the mantis food around in front of the tank to get it's attention first and indicate it's "dinner time". Once the crab is in the tank, a couple of whacks and the shows over. Feeding video... (sorry for the quality, used a webcam) Action stops after about 3 minutes. Hope this info helps. __________________ If man's reach exceeds his grasp, we should be careful, lest we reach our own destruction. Current Tank Info: New tanks in the works. DIY Aquarium Vac (click my homepage)

06/29/2011, 03:32 PM	#10
schudini Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: In the Land of Mary Posts: 2,001	Yes, the mantis likes to get in the skull, look out the jaw and watch me work on the computer. When you look in the tank, the mantis appears to be a tongue in the T-rex mouth. It sometimes freaks people out. __________________ If man's reach exceeds his grasp, we should be careful, lest we reach our own destruction. Current Tank Info: New tanks in the works. DIY Aquarium Vac (click my homepage)

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06/27/2011, 09:26 PM	#2
slosht Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: clinton twp Posts: 175	My N. Wennerae loved those tiny blue leg hermits and limpets. Any type of smaller snail will do too.

06/27/2011, 09:41 PM	#3
finkjor123 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 42	thanks for the response but I am really interested in whether or not I have a free source of food for the mantis in the fiddler crabs- anyone that knows if they are safe please post

06/28/2011, 06:38 AM	#5
JothamTheSlayer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 271	I haven't a clue where those places are, humor me. I used to feed mine crabs from the bay near me.

06/28/2011, 10:33 AM	#7
FLMantis Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 361	I buy fiddler crabs from the bait store all the time. I just rinse them first and throw them in the tank. I have 3 N. Wennerae, and they have no problem destroying the fiddler crabs.

06/28/2011, 11:04 PM	#8
finkjor123 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 42	thank you for the responses @schudini- in the video, i saw the skull deco and i kinda like it, does the mantis use it to hide at all or is it just for show? wondering if I can place liverock in an arch around a skull like that...would look pretty sick

06/28/2011, 11:05 PM	#9
finkjor123 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 42	and i will try to collect some smaller female crabs then. damn... really want to get this tank going soon....