Sand Sifting Crabs?! What the heck?

new2salt1

new2salt1

Member
I was quite surprised to stumble upon sand crabs in SWF's inventory! Here's the link:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4
We find these little guys in the sand in New Jersey. During certain months, you can scoop these guys up and use them as striped bass bait! My question:
Does anyone actually use these guys as part of their cuc or as a food staple?
Second, what are the chances I could capture these guys in 50 degree atlantic ocean water and then acclimate them in to my 78-80 degree reef tank?
The summer water temps would be much less stressful I guess, but is anyone interested in these crabs? I will try to get some in the next couple weeks and make a project out of it. I can keep them in one of my little tanks.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by New2Salt1
http:///forum/post/3188052
I was quite surprised to stumble upon sand crabs in SWF's inventory! Here's the link:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4
We find these little guys in the sand in New Jersey. During certain months, you can scoop these guys up and use them as striped bass bait! My question:
Does anyone actually use these guys as part of their cuc or as a food staple?
Second, what are the chances I could capture these guys in 50 degree atlantic ocean water and then acclimate them in to my 78-80 degree reef tank?
The summer water temps would be much less stressful I guess, but is anyone interested in these crabs? I will try to get some in the next couple weeks and make a project out of it. I can keep them in one of my little tanks.

The crabs listed with SWF, I was told don't live very long, and are not very good sand sifters anyway, so I didn't bother to get any...
 
nuro

nuro

Member
these are actual tidal creatures and filter feeders. they bury in the sand and will pop thier little filter paddles up to catch food. see em at the beach all the time, used to catch em when i was a kid and keep them in a bucket for a few hours. theyre pretty cool but failr pointless in an aquarium as its not a very suitable enviroment.
 
nyceltic

nyceltic

Member
I tried two orders of these from SWF. None of them lasted more tha a week. Conditions in the tank were perfect, it's my refugium. So I was hopeful but for me it didn't work out. And I really didn't ever see them move around, just dig, and then a day later they were upside down dead. The next day same thing, and finally after a week all 10 were gone.
 
nuro

nuro

Member
not a good purchase and an irresponsible sell if you ask me. these things are evolutionarliy designed to be tidal dwellers.
 
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