Moon Crab care?

[Linds]

I saw these guys for the first time, at the last reptile expo. They looked too cool! I've punched them in to a search engine and came up pretty dry for info... does anyone know of any good caresheets, or have any personal experience with them?

[susan]

Common Name: Purple Moon Crab
Scientific Name: Gecarcinus quadratus
Adult Size: 2" to 4" Body Width
Distribution: Costa Rica

Purple Moon crabs may pinch fingers if threatened. DO NOT HANDLE. They can be kept in small colonies.Purple Moon crabs are indigenous to coastal regions.
Captive Environment:
An adult Purple Moon Crab will require at least a 10-gallon aquarium. Suitable substrates for Purple Moon Crabs are reptile bark, sand, and reptile soil mixes. Provide branches or cork bark for climbing and hiding. You should use 6 inches of wet sand as the bottom layer, with a 6 to 12 inch layer of a sand/soil mixture on top of that. Make sure the lid is secure. Moon crabs are very good escape artists.
Temperature:
Provide a temperature range of 78-85"F during the day and in the mid to high 70's°F at night. This is necessary for the crabs metabolism and immune system to function properly. There are several methods for establishing the proper temperature range for your pet. Using spotlights of variable wattage incandescent bulbs on the outside of the enclosure, under tank heaters or any combination of these. When using spotlights for 24 hour heat use red, night bulbs or a ceramic heating element to maintain day / night light cycle. Never place lights inside the enclosure where the crab could come in contact with them and get burned. Use a thermometer to ensure proper temperature range is maintained.
Lighting:
While lighting is not required for purple moon crabs you can use 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness to help it cycle between day and night. You can optionally use full spectrum bulbs but they need to be placed less than 18" from your pet for maximum effect. Glass blocks ultraviolet light, and air circulation, therefore, it should never be used as a top for the enclosure. Using a timer is the best way to ensure that the proper amount of light is received.
Food:
Purple Moon crabs are scavengers. They will eat just about any thing.
Water:
Provide a small shallow bowl for drinking and soaking, and also mist the enclosure every other day for moisture and moderate humidity.

hope that helps

[Removed_2815]

In case anyone is wondering where that was plagiarized from ---> link

[Removed_2815]

Hi Linds,
Apparently they are also known as Halloween Land Crabs, so that may aid in a search for care sheets. Here's some information I found:
http://www.easyinsects.co.uk/landcrabs/halloween-crabs/
Here's a post from arachnoboards with some info (and a link to the original care sheet):
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=32968
Cheers,
Ryan

[susan]

i did not say i wrote that , i found it online and pasted for the original question

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by susan
i did not say i wrote that , i found it online and pasted for the original question

Not to make too big a deal out of it, but it constitutes plagiarism in its most simplest form - you posted someone else's information without any credit. It's simply unfair to the person who composed this. You posted on a public forum under the name "Susan", hence any information is supposed to be your original thoughts and ideas; unless otherwise stated. I have had copyright violated personally, and it sure pissed me off; if it wasn't a big deal then it wouldn't be an illegal offense.
I know most people on here would tell me to chill out, but I feel strongly about it - I hate turning a blind eye.
Best regards,
Ryan

[Pirranha]

I had some that lived for several years in a 6' long tank with sand as a substrate and a few rubbermaids with water for them to keep hydrated in,and a rock or something to help them get in and out.They like to dig,and liked kiwi as a treat.
I was surprised they didnt use the water more.
i didnt have any special temps and the tank was on the floor in a basement suite.I didnt notice any preference to use the heat light i had setup for them,but it helped show them off a bit.

[SaIiLdVaEnR]

Originally posted by RMBolton
Not to make too big a deal out of it, but it constitutes plagiarism in its most simplest form - you posted someone else's information without any credit. It's simply unfair to the person who composed this. You posted on a public forum under the name "Susan", hence any information is supposed to be your original thoughts and ideas; unless otherwise stated. I have had copyright violated personally, and it sure pissed me off; if it wasn't a big deal then it wouldn't be an illegal offense.
I know most people on here would tell me to chill out, but I feel strongly about it - I hate turning a blind eye.
Best regards,
Ryan

Hear Hear!

*raises glass*

Aidan

[susan]

my mistake, does this mean we cannot post jokes on joke forum without original writer/teller name?

[SaIiLdVaEnR]

If you know the writer or teller, why not? more often than not spoken jokes have no distinct author which we could definitively say originated from.

What Ryan is saying is that you putting that up without giving references to the writer is exactly like handing in an essay you found on the net. These are the serious aspects of it, you and I both know that the joke forum is a little less morally obliging that taking information and passing it off as your own.

Aidan

[susan]

if you honestly beleive that i pasted that on this forum to get credit as my own your a fool, i read the question, looked it up and pasted the answer to help linds.
and honestly maybe i should not be on here if you really feel this way
thank you

[Removed_2815]

Originally posted by susan

and honestly maybe i should not be on here if you really feel this way

Don't be silly Of course you should be on here, I never intended any malice. I just thought the original work deserved accreditation, so I posted the link. You already acknowledged your mistake; Aidan's no fool; I meant no ill-will.... end of story.
Best,
Ryan

[Linds]

Thank you both Ryan and Susan for the info! Seems fairly easy. I would've thought 10 gallon would be too small for them, as if memroy serves, they are a fair size?

Susan,
Just next time post the link or source, just helps keep the site out of trouble

[susan]

ok thank you