Random thoughts :3

     Woke up to a cloudy sky this morning but Chloe seems to like it. More active than when I usually see her walking about in the daytime, she is just moving all over the tank which is a good thing because she was rather still last night. Choosing to stay on top of the bridge for hours and making me nervously check the levels every ten minutes to see if something was wrong. I did give the fresh food a break, only giving her two different hermit crab pellets I bought from the pet store so maybe that was it. With the mold scare, though, I'm trying to fight any new growth and the reasons that it appeared to begin with.

     I will be adding some apple pieces and either organic peanut butter or a small piece of tuna to her bowl later so she will have fresh food tonight. I think that leaving the food in for the suggested 24 hours is what lead to my crabitat growing mold so from now on I will only leave it for the night and replace it in the morning. Also, I will be doing more frequent cleans. The sand needs to move around more to prevent growth and possibly add dry calcium sand as well to remain excessive wetness while adding something good for her health. I'm actually debating on putting half and half substrate so it's more like it would be in the wild for her. Placing the saltwater on the side with the sand and the fresh food/water with the soil/coconut bedding. I may wait until fall comes around as I am worried that it may make the mold grow faster.  

     Anyway, back to what I wanted to talk about: After I went to bed, she must have moved around a bit; the fake plant I had added after her climbing episode last time (Read it here: Over protective mom?) fell throughout the night. I put it back up, adding a few more hooks to keep it in place, and she ran over to me as if so excited I was fixing her toy. Maybe it's a sign she's used to me? I hope so~!  ^---^

   

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~

    

Dropping Legs

     I woke this morning to one of Louis' little legs laying in the sand. After my mini heart attack and checking the others to make sure they hadn't fought I searched up "Strawberry Crab dropping legs" on Google.com. There I came across a Q&A site where it stated that all crabs can do this and do when either stressed from transport or the levels in the crabitat aren't ideal. 

     Because I had put Strawberry crabs in the search I also came across a different site stating that they like very high humidity and a stable eighty degrees in their tank while their cousins(PP Crabs) can take lower levels. I have moved their location in my bedroom and have saran wrapped their whole lid, placing the heat lamp on top. Also, saltwater is very important for strawberry crabs. I added another water dish too containing saltwater that is deep enough that all the crabs can submerge themselves if they like and with the light lever of stones they will be able to remove themselves safely.  Now with three water dishes the humidity is staying at a great, I think the saran wrap is helping nicely as well. Hopefully little Louis will relax before the day is done and enjoy the high temperature and humidity of his new home.

     

Poor Louis :(

     P.S. Louis has yet to change his shell and as far as I know Prada and Chloe have yet to see him face to face. Chloe remains underneath the driftwood however when I peek under it she is awake and alert. Prada is having a blast inside her hut, moving the play sand around how she likes it. 

     I have bought a little tree for them to climb on and added it to tank after removing the soap dish. I remembered the tank at the mall where I bought Louis had one so hopefully it helps him settle. I will take a picture of the new crabitat set up sometime soon. 

     I also picked up shrimp from the pet store, its for turtles and comes in a little can. I hope they like it :) I haven't placed it into their food bowl yet but I will tonight. 

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~

Play sand review & new tank setup

     After replacing the calcium sand with the play sand and watching the levels on humidity for the pass few hours I have to say it's working ^--^ The hydrometer is staying at the perfect 70%  or higher level and my crabs seem to really like the switch which makes it all the better. Chloe is moving around, as always, and Prada is investigating as well. I am currently trying to catch a picture of her with my phone lol. She's so shy and keeps running from me.

Prada

     Here is the only one she let me take before she went missing under the bridge. Oh, and after getting a much better look at both Prada and Chloe together, yes, Prada is indeed bigger then Chloe although not by much. I think I might how been seeing a few signs that she is looking for a new shell - or as my sister likes to call them, apartments lol. Since she hasn't changed yet I'm wondering if I should add more - maybe even larger ones?

     I also wanted to mention I gave them organic peanut butter and they really seem to like that as well. However I believe Chloe's favorite snake is that wood she likes to hang around. So I'm starting to notice what they like which is great. Prada prefers raisins, boiled eggs, bananas, and peanut butter. Chloe likes all that plus the seaweed I buy from my Chinese supermarket and, of course, the wood/bark she stays under. I haven't seen either of them eat the apple I put in nor the carrots but maybe they did and I never noticed.

new tank setup w/ play sand

     Besides the change in sand I also added a fake plant for them to climb on. I didn't get the chance to go to the pet store and buy the drift wood so I used what I had. I have already spotted Chloe hanging on it the night she discovered the soap dish and thought I might it more exciting if I added more. Hopefully Prada can get some fun out of it too.

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~