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Fishtank adventure

DogStar5988

Up all night
So as much as I hate to say it I am a bit of an impulse buyer, when I get something in my head I just have to have it. And my newest impulse buy was a fishtank because I have wanted one for quite some time and I really miss having fish. So I went to Wal-Mart and bought a kit that came with a 14 gal tank, filter, heater, hood, and lights for about $60. I set it all up and let it run for 24 hours before I looked at any fish (although now I read it should have been more like a few weeks). Luckily the guy at the pet store was very knowledgeable and stopped me from buying all the fish I wanted and only let me get a few for now. Anyway I bought I fiddler crab because they looked cool and they had them in a normal fish tank with no access to land so I thought it would be ok. Wrong, I bought the thing and then did some research and found out that they have to have a way of getting out of the water or they'll die within a month or two. I guess that should teach me a lesson of jumping into buying an animal (even a very small one) without doing my research. So now I had this fiddler crab slowly dieing in my tank and if I returned him he would slowly die at the pet store. Luckily I was able to build a little wooden ladder type thing with a spot on top for him to stand on and get out of the water. What a hassle. :punch: Sorry for the long rant I just needed to vent a little. :spinner:
 
Well it's good ya got him a little something that he can rest on..good luck with your future buys :0)
 
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/home.php
Not a forum. but very useful IMO.
I've just given away my 4 foot fishtank and equipment because I finally lost the last of my shoal of geriatric black neons to old age. Shame the 'knowledgable guy' at your petstore sold you a crab without the right set-up. And, to be honest, shame you bought an animal without finding out at least its basic needs. Just from vague memories of nature programs, aren't fiddlers from mangrove swamps? So would need access to water and land? And brackish water?
Here's a link to a caresheet, but I wouldn't know how accurate it is.
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/rarespecies/a/fiddlercrabs.htm
 
I had a fiddler once. kept him with mollys, both liked the semi-brackish water. funny thing is, I gave the fiddler a place to climb out of the water with a little bit of decoration to walk on.. he didnt want to be outta the water there, instead he would climb the filter intake tube and sit just inside the filter ontop of the media. silly little guy, when you walked by he would slide out of the filter where the water came back into the tank. like he had his own little waterslide. sadly one day i found him upside down in the tank. I guess they just cant live forever.
 
I know, I knew there was a lot to learn about keeping fish but I guess I didn't think it was such a science. But its all working out so far, I'll do my best to keep my aquatic animals happy and healthy. ;)

---Kenny
 
Yeah, I've been a member of Aquahobby for a number of years now - good forum.

It's a little late now, but you should've done a fishless cycle. On that Aquahobby website, look for the article about the nitrogen cycle and fishless cycling. Also, a 14 gallon is a small aquarium, so be very cautious about what you put in there. Most fish sold for aquariums need more room than a 14 gallon can provide, so research any fish you decide you want and plan for their adult size, not their current size.
 
Here is a picture of the tank, the fiddler crab now spends about 50% of his time on the floating wood waving his claws around at his reflection. :grin01:
 

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What about one of those turtle things? The little patches of land that are a ramp down into the water and you use the suction cups to hang them above water level?

Since I'm no good at using my words :

9761266010C.jpg

Nabbed from petco
 
Interesting....I will have to keep my eye out for one of those! The wood in the tank is really starting to look slimey so that would work better. Thanks ;)
 
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