[alli'smommy]

I used to use playsand from Lowe's and they seemed perfectly happy. But I switched a few months back to all EE just to try it and they absolutely LOVE it! All crabs are different though, so just see what yours like! As stated above, get a caddy with NO metal hooks. I got mine from Walmart in the bathroom hardware section (with toilet seats and stuff not towels). It's a corner one with big suction cups. I put moss in them (from Vickums store-Hiawatha moss). They LOVE it! I always have at least 2 in each caddy!! Also make sure you have a CocoHut or something for them to hide in--a few actually, depending on how many crabs you are getting! When shopping for crabs, as HermitPaws said, make sure they have all their legs and try to make the employee let you hold them to see if they are active. Make sure they come out of their shell and check you out. I have never lost one that said "hi" to me in the store to PPS. (don't get me wrong, I have lost my share, but the social ones are more healthy, usually!) Also try to get some Cholla wood or grapevine wood from the petstore for them to climb on. I also use fake vines from the craft dept. at Walmart.
Good luck--glad you are giving it another shot!!!!