I've got crabs...not sure what kind..please help!

Oh someone please help me....My hubby just came home from the Gulf of Mexico and he brought me crabs. They are in a shell like a hermit, but they are salt water crestations. Could these be soft shells? Can I make salt water? These things are so funny, I want them to live and PetsMart doesn't do salt water. They have "hairy legs" that hold on rather than claws. I have a cam and can do pics. Anyone got a clue? Please help me!

[krazy4birds]

Sorry I can't help you there...I've never had crabs (LMBO) Sorry could not resist that...But honestly the only crabs I have ever seen are my grandchildrens Hermit Crab and he is so cute. I hope someone can help you soon though because it sounds like they need more care than a Hermit. Good Luck to you MysticalMoon....

[horsefeather]

OMG! Krazy that was the first thing i thought when i read the thread title. you are hilarious!

mystical--do you live near a zoo or aquarium? perhaps you could call them to find out what kind of crabs they are. they sound interesting. and also if they can tell you where to get saltwater or even how to make it.

OMG Judy.. ROFLMBO!!.. glad you said it and not me LOL. I was going to suggest hubby take the crabs back to who he got them from!.

Hi MysticalMoon and welcome

Please dont mind us... we're a bunch of looney pet lovers here

Here's some info I found.. good luck:

Crabs -- There are three common types of crabs. The
blue crab is found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Dungeness crabs inhabit the Pacific. The king crab lives
in the chilly waters off the Alaskan coast. The stone
crabs and the tanner crabs are not as well-known, but are
becoming increasingly popular. A common misconception
concerns the soft-shelled crab. They are not a separate
species. Soft- shelled crabs are blue crabs who have
molted and the new shell has not had time to harden.
http://www.enter.net/~jtmaru/seafood/shelfish.html


Crab info:

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/rares...ddlercrabs.htm

http://www.earthsky.com/scienceqs/browsefaq.php?f=107

[Lano]

Cool I never knew that about soft-shelled crabs! I really thought that they were a different species all along...

[Lano]

Btw, what's the joke?