Mendez and Bobo

[erikleeson]

Hello! I have two crabs that I got in October that I am having difficulty determining what speciea they are. I hope I can get a good ID for them

Please excuse the bad photos, it is very hard to hold them and snap a photo at the same time so I just set them down and got some shots.

BOBO













MENDEZ
This guy was a pushover, he would come out of his shell outside of the tank so he came out in the moss pit. He is sort of a whitish light tan but he has a weird purplish big pincer and third walking leg... strange.

[Hermie's rule]

Your in luck! Bobo is an E. I need some clearer pics of Mendez as it looks like he could be a Ruggie.

[ladybug15057]

I agree about BoBo being an E, but I think Mendez is a rug due to the lighter coloring going up the middle of his large pincher. Any way to get a picture of his left rear walking leg? And due to how light in coloring he is, do you see the dark markings under his eyes talks?

[erikleeson]

That'd rule if he was a rug! I've always wanted one. Do they have any special needs? I'll get some photos soon. Yea, I see the black markings on the eye stalks

[ladybug15057]

The dark marks are under the eye stalks, and they normally have the 'band' around the back of their head too: (easier to see on the lighter hermies as he appears to be as opposed to the darker colored rugs.) In the past year or so, they are not found very often but have been bought by a few crabbers in Canada.
If you look closely on his top torso, you should also see 'dots' that almost form a circle.



How many stitch (some call these 'dash') markings does he have on his large pincher?

As for needs... same as the E's and other species. They too like E's and straws seem to also favor the ocean/sea water mixes so important to offer the actual ocean/sea mixes sold specifically for salt water fish tanks and mixed per the instructions.
If I am not mistaken I think I read in another post where your ocean/sea water lasts a couple of weeks? If so you may wish to cut back on how much you mix at a time. Ocean/sea water mixes have been known to turn/sour after awhile. Make sure to keep a close nose on it. It should have no odor to it, just like the day it is mixed.

[erikleeson]

Well I use a rinsed out pepsi bottle but I rinsed it out really good but it smells like pepsi...so I don't know. Today Mendez was in the salt water dish though.

[krabby_katie]

You're so lucky Erik! I love the more rare species.

[ImCrabby]

Definitely an E and a Ruggie. Be sure to offer strong saltwater and temps at least 75 and humidity at least 85.

[erikleeson]

Mendez seems to drink both types of water. He is one of my biggest drinkers that I know of. He also just walks around, he doesn't hide but he doesn't climb either. He like to hide in the shell pile so that he thinks he is an empty shell or something. As I speak he is in the freshwater dish. Does he need a ruggie friend?

[ladybug15057]

I cannot tell if he is in premolt from the pictures. (due to them not being that clear) The strongest the salinity level should be is 1.021-1.024, and does need to be the kind sold specifically for salt water fish tanks... they require (as all species) that form of ocean mix. Humidity percentage should be between 75-78% as with all species. (make sure the humidity gauge is calibrated and reading accurately) The air temp of the tank at 75*F (23.89 C) is ok, but they too need the substrate temp of cool side 71-73* F (21.67-22.78* C) and a warmish side of 78-80* F (25.56-26.67* C) Many of our smaller hermies do go to our extra shells in the tank and climb into them for molting, sort of making a 'plug' in the opening.