HCA: Hermit Crab Association

A few months ago I switched from a screened lid to a folding glass aquarium lid, so that the crabitat would stay humid enough while we were away (I'd normally mist it a few times a day). After a while I noticed lots of fast-moving little white insects, especially around the food. I read the info on ...

Thanks, CallaLily. Good idea. I checked and there doesn't seem to be a leak, though the last water dish had one. No substrate-wicking that I can see.

Caught my two crabbies at the watering hole this morning. It was full last night, now it is down to half full. Do crabs do this before molting? I've never noticed it before, but there have been other pre-molt signs (shell fashion-shows, digging, restlessness), and it is about that time. Not sure how...

P.S. My two crabs seem much happier now, too. Glad to be out of that stink, I think!

Thanks, guys! I think I'm just going to add it to the garden soil I've been meaning to make for my tomatoes. Crab poop compost!

Just cleaned out my tank and replaced the substrate because it was too wet (probably water dish leak) and had a sulfury/rotten egg smell (hydrogen sulfide?). Should I toss the old substrate? Or is this kind of smell normal? I'd never noticed it before. Crabs seem happier in their freshly cleaned hom...

Update: after a night of separation, they seem to be getting on well again. Maybe they missed each other? Fingers crossed peace has returned for good.

KellyCrabbieLove, I tried to copy a photo into my post but it didn't work. Sorry, but I've never done this before and I'm not exactly the most computer savvy person in the world! ;) They are about a half inch apart in size, so big guy's current shell opening is 1.75 inches across and little guy's is...

Thanks, KellyCrabbieLove. I went back and checked on them after typing my post and found the big guy (BG) on top of the little guy (LG) in the water dish, holding onto LG's shell and turning it back and forth (maybe trying to wedge his claws into LG's shell?). I took them out and put them into the d...

One of my PPs climbed across the screen tank lid upside down to the corner nearest the door to the bathroom (crabitat location) and meticulously cut his way through the tough screen with his big claw. He'd made a sizable hole by the time I noticed it!

My larger PP is on top of the smaller one's shell, apparently trying to pull the small guy out, and I can hear "chirping". Yesterday I saw them having a bit of a claw fight. Nothing new going on in the crabitat, aside from last month's refreshing of substrate and addition of moss and salt water imme...

Thanks, y'all! I've left one of the plants in there and they seem to be ignoring it mostly, along with the sphagnum moss I got. I even took out the plant and gave it a good sniff (I am always smelling things, need to quit, LOL!) and it seems to be less smelly. I'll add the other, more stinky one nex...

How can you tell if a fake (plastic) plant is safe for crabs? I understand they are sensitive to chemicals, and the mini aquarium plants I got yesterday at Petsmart have a chemical/plastic smell to them that didn't fade after washing in warm, unscented soapy water. They are labeled safe and non-toxi...

Just wondering if there are any fake plants to avoid. I bought a couple of them from Petsmart today and they say they are "safe and non-toxic", but they have what I consider a strong plastic smell, even after washing with soap and warm water. They are aquarium plants. Also got some ZooMed terrarium ...

Thanks, KellyCrabbieLove! Good to have confirmation.