HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I was not telling you you can’t breed your crabs. I’m just saying it’s very difficult and only a handful of people have been able to achieve it.


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Hermit crabs don’t hibernate. They can go into a similar state if the temperature and humidity is too low and stays that way for long periods of time. That can be very dangerous for them and it can kill them. Also, hermit crabs will breed in captivity but only if conditions are ideal. Only a handful...

I agree that they’re safe to use. I can’t tell them it’s safe either. The other group doesn’t care. It’s like “Those are pine. They’re not safe. Take them out of the tank.” But I think you take that risk when you join these Facebook hermit crab talk pages. The admins in charge can tell you to remove...

The Land Hermit Crab Owner’s society says no to half pine hides when people here have been using them with no issues. Their issue with it is that it gives off fumes in a sealed tank and the crabs will eat the bark. But if you use half pine log hides in a crabitat, will it give off fumes that could p...

This forum recommends 3-5 shells per crab. PP’s prefer turbos. Some prefer loose fitting shells while others like shells that fit just right. Mine prefer loose shells, where they can withdraw all the way in. An admin can correct me if I’m wrong but that’s about 5 shells for three crabs. 15 shells to...

What type of sand do you have in your tank? A surface molt is usually a sign that conditions are not ideal and it’s considered an emergency. Crabs will usually bury underground, shell and all and this forum advises against checking on your crab once it’s underground. It’s strongly recommended to lea...

This forum strongly advises against digging for your crabs. They can be down for weeks or even months, but that depends on the size of the crab. It took my biggest crab 6 weeks to begin the shedding process. Yours may just be de-stressing since it’s new. You have a good substrate depth but just be p...

You can put it on the back or side. But people will tell you to never put it underneath for hermit crabs. I like to think of hermit crabs as obligate burrowers when they need to molt and because they tunnel, there are concerns the molter could end up on top of the heater and bake to death. People do...

Yeah, I tend to see the signs when my crabs are preparing to molt:

- Cloudy eyes
- Excessive eating and drinking
- Time spent in the water ponds
- Digging all over the place
- Declining activity

But I let my crabs molt in the tank. I don’t isolate.

Me too, Curly. I don’t plan on getting any more until my two are too big for their 20 Gallon tank. Buckbeak just switched into one of the apple murex shells I bought from Richard’s that has 1 1/8” opening. I’m thinking 1 1/4” opening is the next size up. The Mexican turbo he was in was getting a lit...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190214/de0dd48a3f8429e92c7f503eb2890e93.jpg Here is the size difference between Buckbeak and Violet. Buckbeak I believe is borderline large, while Violet is a medium sized crab. By the way, the shell Buckbeak is in has a 1 1/8” opening. Sent from my iPhone using T...

I just recently got a set of apple murex shells from Deltona Seashells and after boiling them in Prime treated water, only one of my crabs took one of the new shells and that was Buckbeak. He moved out of the Mexican turbo and he never went back to it. Violet has yet to show interest in changing she...

I have just two in a 20 Gallon and I do not plan on getting more until I can get a bigger tank.


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Yeah, there is a Walmart close to where I live. Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll just pick up some honey locally.

The thing is, one of the other groups I’m in, the Land Hermit Crab Owner’s Society, says it’s recommended as a treat only and that it’s not a healing food. I’ve wanted to buy some from GotButterflies to have on hand just in case one of my guys needs a quick boost.