baby(?) crab

[slithytove2]

so i was at the beach today and was on the pier (balboa pier near balboa/new port). some guys lifted a large chunk of sediment (infused with clams and apparently crabs) off a column, near the waterline. after they took the sediment, there was a very small black crab on the cement. i decided to take it home (maybe i should have, or not. but i did)
as according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab , ive derermined that its a "true crab" (a member of the infraorder Brachyura). the shell is about 3/4 inches wide and a little less than 1/2 an inch deep. (i believe it to be a female, as per the previos mentioned site because it is so wide, tho i have nothing to compare it to).
for the moment, it is as i transported it, in a cleaned out 20 oz pepsi bottle on its side with sand at one end so it can be in water or out (as it seems to breath as a mammal, not with gills as a fish). i may put it in something larger tonight. i have now decided that i want to create a true aquatic marine aquarium (3-6 gallons).

i have a couple questions:
what should i do for now (tho most urgent)? is the bottle fine? something else for extremely short time?
what should i do in tho longer run? (tho 3-6 gallon tank). any suggestions for a low cost aquarium that would work to raise a crab? what else should i add? (plants, life, obstacles, et cetera) (as this would seem a larger topic, can u direct me to another thread that would help, either that has specific crab pointers or give me a few to go with the link?)

lastly, it molted on the way home. it has seemed to be rather interested in the old exoskeleton (seemed to be trying to eat it??). should i remove tho old skin, or leave it or what? after the molt, it also seemed to be extremely sensitive to water and would scurry around when it would be splashed. is this normal? it is now sitting in the sand, mostly submerged just below the water, sitting quite calmly. the old skin is up on the sand bank.

thank you for all ur help. sorry for the long post

Christopher

[GaryP]

Christopher,

Check at Wal-Mart (or your local equivalent store). You can get a 5-6 gal. tank that we call a nano for about $35. It'll come with a light and filter. You'll still need some sand and live rock to put in there. Find the nearest saltwater aquarium store (check the phone book) and let them know what you are trying to do. You'll need some saltwater to fill the tank. A brand new 5 gal. bucked from a hardware store (Lowe's or Home Depot) can be used to transport it. Some stores sell saltwater already made up, or you can get the artificial salt mix and add it to water. You'll need a pump to stir it and a hydrometer to check the salinity if you do that. For now, you might be better off buying some water already made up to get yourself started. I like the 6 gal. jugs they have in the camping section like you use to haul drinking water to carry water home from the store.

Crustaceans will often eat their shed carapace (shell). Its their way of recycling the nutrients in the shell.

You might want to find your local club and see if someone there can help get you started. They may have used equipment and someone willing to give you some hands on help that we're not able to. Here is what I found in the SoCal area.

http://www.maslac.org/
http://www.scmas.org/
http://www.sdmas.org/

Good luck to you.

[slithytove2]

i placed it in a large (fresh) plastic wastebasket with the sand in a slope and water not filled over the sand, allowing it to be completely submerged or not in the water at all. (both the sand and water came from the beach.) what should i feed it tho? I will go to a store and purchase a tank as soon as I can.
Thank you
Christopher

[hammondegge]

and so it starts.....today a wastebasket.....generally if the claws are pointy it will be a carnivore, and if the are blunt or flat at the tips an omnivore or herbivore. throw a small chunk of uncooked shrimp in there and see if he likes it. keep the water really clean by exchanging half of it with fresh seawater every few days until you get some fitration started. what's it's name?

[slithytove2]

i wont be able to visit a beach for a while. is there a substitute that would work instead of fresh sea water (the first reply mentioned purchasing sea water in a 5 gallon bucket, anything else?)

im following the tradition of many "uncivilized" african (and possibly native american, tho im not sure) tribes and not naming it till ive had it for 7 days (although im sure it is more than 7 days old).

i tried to get a good picture, but could not do so, sorry. the claws seem to be sharp, tho.

[hammondegge]

your choices are pretty much limited to fresh sea water or synthetic sea water. if you are careful with the feeding you may be able to safely go much longer without water changes or filtration. water movement is important though, mostly to provide oxygenation in your case. it would be best to put it in a little tank with a powerhead. here is a little reading to help.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marineSetUp.htm
good luck to you and pinchy