HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Thank you. There is a slight smell but it doesn’t smell rotten (I like the smell actually) so I think it’s ok.

What is the smell that indicates bacterial bloom like? My sand has gotten too wet recently and I am trying to decide whether I need to replace all my substrate or can just add dry stuff to it.

I have a 55 gallon tank and while I set it up with 10 to 12 inches of substrate, it has settled since then to more like 8 inches and I would like to add some more. Can I mix it up out of the tank and add it to the top or am I likely to collapse tunnels? Would it be better to empty everything out and...

What kind of shell is egg in? I have a crab with a shell like that that is getting big for it.

I have been reading and have realized I really need to provide my crabs with more animal protein. This is something I struggle with because I am vegetarian so I don't have any meat or fish in the house. I do feed egg and dried insects, and I occasionally buy a shrimp at the store for them, but I rea...

If the two tanks have a similar footprint, the weight would not be that different, would it? I assume that most of what your gaining is the verticals space above the substrate which isn't going to add so much. If you use it as an opertunity to have deeper substrate, that would add more weight.

Thanks for your advice. I will go find some opaque paper and cover this crabby up!

I have a crab that has dug down to molt very close to the edge of the tank where I can kind of see it. What worries me is that there is a 3/4 inch diameter white circle that has formed in the sand there. I don't know what it is. And the little bit of the crab I can see looks like a jumble of legs. I...

I got a big piece when I ordered fron Richard's Shells.

That makes sense, but today was hot and humid everywhere. I guess that's good in terms a crab getting out - the living room felt a bit too much like the crabitat so Skibbereen probably felt right at home.

Ok, don't panic. Clonakilty didn't get out after all and is safe in the crabitat. I was just so worried after finding Skibbereen in the other room. I feel better now and should get back to those chores I was supposed to do instead of looking for a crab...

So when I got up and turned on the lights in my crabitat this morning I noticed that part of my lid had been pulled apart and was plenty open for a crab to clime through. And only 3 of my 5 crabs were visible. I fairly quickly found Skibbereen in the next room, but Clonakilty is still missing. I've ...

I am in Chicago and would be happy to adopt crabs. I don't have a car, but I'm willing to leave my neighborhood if I can get to you via public transit.

I currently have 5 crabs (3 pps and 2 es) in a 55 gallon tank so I have room for a couple more but not a ton.


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That may have been my first post, but I have been lurking and reading for a couple years so I am familiar with the care sheets and such on this site. I don't have everything perfectly set up yet because I've been working on finding a larger tank for this crab, and it would probably be best not to cr...

I know hermits like to have friends and I am planning to get more, but I'm wondering about timing. I adopted a single crab from someone with a 10 gallon tank. This is a very active crab and defiantly needs a larger tank, and in couple weeks I am going to adopt four more crabs in a 55 gallon tank. Is...