HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Remove the spider and problem solved. I've had resident spiders in my tanks before that I had a heck of a time eradicating because they laid eggs.

Also, I've grown Gerber Daisies and I know from experience that they are bug magnets. I only grow organic and mine never looked that whole or intact. You'd need a TON of pesticides to keep all the bugs off of them.

Here's a link from the ASPCA on Gerber Daisy safety around dogs, cats, and horses (safe for all):

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-po ... rber-daisy

When I make salt water, I pour the salt in first add a few inches of hot tap water and stir it really well. I then add the rest of the tap water in cold and keep stirring. When done, I add the conditioner. The conditioner works instantly so no need to wait. Sometimes I even mix up my salt water with...

I take the decor out of my tank maybe 1-2 times a year so I can stir up the substrate. Other than that, I don't change things around much at all.

I'm very hands off. I only remove the crabs when I'm doing the sub maintenance, otherwise I don't touch them at all ever.

Ask your friends or neighbors for one!

I would get rid of the calcium sand completely and replace it with a 50lb bag of play sand from Lowe's, Home Depot or the like. 1 50lb bag of play sand and 1-2 bricks of Eco Earth should give you at least 6" of substrate, if not more. Most of us have been in your position and it sucks, but you are d...

I'm picking up a 125 gallon next month with the crabs, including 3 species of exotics and all of the supplies....for cost the cost of driving up there and getting them. She even offered to let me stay overnight in her house. So, good things do happen to nice people!! Congrats on you huge new upgrade...

If the tank is empty, pour it all in and stir it up with your clean hands. That's what I've always done. Be sure the water is de-chlorinated.

For future reference: I bought a bunch of coconut shells from a party/wedding website and they were like $1.00 each. They came in rough, smooth and between. They are meant to be used as food and drink vessels as well as candle holders and bras (!); so all were safe. Good on you for the repurposing o...

Most people heat the tank and not their entire house! To do this you use a stick on heater on the side of the tank, above the substrate.

I can't stand the fake plastic smell that comes with using artificial decor--so I don't use it. My only plastic items and the pools and the gauges.

I'm adopting a bunch of exotics from a soon-to-be-former-crabber next month. I think she said there are 2-3 straws, 1 viola, 1 ruggie and 2-3 e's, plus some PP's. I don't remember. I'm not doing the adoption for the exotics. I'm taking on the entire tank and will like them equally.

GB--It really works!

Original Poster--the perfect shell in your opinion might not be the perfect shell in the crab's opinion. I wouldn't totally disregard the behavior as not a shell fight.

I agree with GB on almost everything she says in this post and others, except that I've been using Dawn dish soap for about 9 years without apparent ill effect. I wash everything that I wash (mostly food and water bowls) with Dawn every week. I also pop them into the dishwasher fairly often. The sec...