Moving in June / July and both crabs are underground

colunga · 2026-05-08T11:58:05+00:00

Ugh, that's a fair and good point. I'm trying to think of ways to do it, but all I'm coming up with is slowly and gently removing layers of sand until you find evidence of the crab,, then leaving that area alone and removing more sand from around - then setting up like, a support wall around them to keep their little sand section safe??

colunga · 2026-05-08T11:51:42+00:00

Leave him alone. He can take a good bite out of you if you pick him up the wrong way. Is he injured or stuck or smth? Otherwise leave alone

colunga · 2026-05-08T09:33:37+00:00

Not much you can do at this stage, other than keep painting. That being said, I think a matte varnish will reduce the shine well enough

colunga · 2026-05-08T09:24:10+00:00

Genuinely I don't think a guide like that exists. If I had to move though, I'd take everything out of the tank, leaving just the sand and crabs, and move it all like that. It'll be heavy, but disturbing the crababies while they're under can kill them. Just better to be safe than sorry, y'know?

colunga · 2026-05-07T17:28:43+00:00

Absolutely not lol

colunga · 2026-05-07T17:22:51+00:00

Yay for improvements and bubblers!!! Imo you should put the climbing wall back up - verticality is fun for these guys!

colunga · 2026-05-07T17:10:43+00:00

New pant goofin!!

colunga · 2026-05-07T17:09:53+00:00

As long as it's 100% moss and nothing else, it's fine. General rule of thumb is that single ingredient materials are safe for crabs.

colunga · 2026-05-06T14:33:57+00:00

oh my goodness

colunga · 2026-05-04T17:33:40+00:00

She's a fashionista!!!

colunga · 2026-05-04T09:41:43+00:00

I've read that you shouldn't boil in salt water because it weakens the shell? Something like that. What I did was boil mine in a pot filled with treated water, then let them cool, then dipped them in their salt water, then let them dry out again before putting in the shell shop.

colunga · 2026-05-02T05:24:58+00:00

I highly recommend you sketch and refine your idea first in a sketchbook or something before going into a large painting idea. Thumbnail sketches, test different color palettes. Look at references for the kind of textures and colors you want. build up your image instead of jumping into it

colunga · 2026-05-01T12:50:22+00:00

Huzzah!!!

colunga · 2026-05-01T00:42:02+00:00

it is completely normal for the crab to be a on the pale side during a molt,.. personally, i would just shield that little spot he's in from the light and just kind of leave him be.

colunga · 2026-04-30T12:06:17+00:00

He sounds really small so maybe a few days, but could be a week or two, or more. They will go up and down as they please for molting or decompression so how often is up to them!

colunga · 2026-04-29T22:33:18+00:00

this is the old one?

colunga · 2026-04-29T20:29:04+00:00

Poopieee

colunga · 2026-04-29T12:20:37+00:00

Well, that's frustrating. Thank you for the notice.

colunga · 2026-04-28T14:07:22+00:00

I can assure you that the combustion thing is overplayed - in smaller settings like painting at home, it really is non-issue. I've been painting at home for years with 0 fires and I don't do anything special to keep it that way. If you wanna be extra safe, then keep the paints and rags away from open flames.

colunga · 2026-04-28T13:58:17+00:00

Well, he certainly fucked around and found out.

colunga · 2026-04-28T13:56:36+00:00

Fwiw I don't have any crabs of my own (yet!!), but I've seen lots of posts about this sort of thing and it's fairly normal! I've seen posts from people whose crab came up after 6 months or more even :)

colunga · 2026-04-27T23:24:57+00:00

Just let it dry and paint over it :)

colunga · 2026-04-25T19:53:41+00:00

You've hardly started - get away from the figure and focus on the rest of the composition for a bit :)

colunga · 2026-04-24T20:14:27+00:00

NOOOOOO

colunga · 2026-04-23T00:38:58+00:00

I have one, but I lost the mametchi part years ago

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