Can a crab get stuck in a pumpkin-house ornament?
Can a crab get trapped in a pumpkin-house ornament? See which openings are risky, how to pick or seal a safe piece, and how to free a stuck crab.
Critters
24 articles
The $10 Vampire Crab: A Bad Halloween Impulse Buy
Vampire crabs make tempting Halloween impulse buys at $10, but they need a land-heavy paludarium to survive—not a traditional fish tank.
Snail Eggs in the Aquarium: What the Clusters Are and What to Do
Tell snail eggs apart by species (nerite dots, mystery snail clutches, ramshorn and bladder jelly) and decide whether to scrape, keep, or hatch them.
Dwarf Crayfish (CPO) Care: The Small Crayfish That Leaves Fish Alone
CPO dwarf crayfish care: size, temperature, safe tank mates, molting, breeding, how much flow they like, and the states where you can't buy them.
Fiddler Crabs Need Brackish Water, and Why Most "Freshwater Crab" Setups Fail Them
Fiddler crabs are often sold as freshwater pets, but they slowly die in fresh water. What they really need: brackish water, a big land area, marine salt and a hydrometer. Plus the…
Ramshorn Snails: Pest or Helper?
Ramshorn snails show up uninvited on new plants, then multiply. Why that's usually a sign of overfeeding, what they actually do for your tank, and how to keep the population in check…
Musk Turtles in a Riparium: Size, Setup, and the 4-Inch Sales Rule
Musk turtles stay small, walk the bottom instead of swimming, and can live for decades. What they need in a riparium, what they'll eat, the federal 4-inch rule, and the salmonella precautions.
Mystery Snail Care: Size, Colors, and How to Keep Them in a River Tank
Mystery snails grow to about 2 inches, come in gold, blue, black and ivory, and lay egg clutches above the waterline. How to keep them healthy, what they need in a river…
Ghost Shrimp: Cheap Feeder or Keeper?
Ghost shrimp are sold by the bag as fish food, but they make great see-through scavengers. How to keep them alive, what they eat, who they can live with, and the look-alike…
Fire-Bellied Toads in a Riparium: Care and Setup
Fire-bellied toads are hardy, active and spend half their time in the water, which makes them a natural fit for a riparium. Setup, food, tankmates and the one thing to know about…
Nerite Snails: Care Guide
Nerite snails are algae-eating machines that won't overrun your tank. Care, water needs, tankmates, the white eggs they leave behind, and why they climb out.
Can Crayfish Live With Fish?
Crayfish are fascinating and full of personality, but they're opportunistic predators and escape artists. When they can share a tank with fish, when they can't, and how to set them up.