HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Thank-you for the prompt replies!

Hi All, I haven't been too active on this site before, however, I finally have something to ask! I must sound like a horrible crab owner to not change the water everyday, but it was this odd occasion I left it for several days until the scheduled re-décor. When I went to change out the water this mo...

Thanks for the hint guys, I will have to see what I can do about this.

Had a quick glance in at the crabs (who had their moon-glo bulb on) where I saw Gilly checking out a new shell. Sal (who was brought home with her 3yrs ago) walks up and gets a claw very purposefully shoved in his face for the curiosity. A quick scuffle occurs, before my gigantic crab Cadet plods up...

Hi all, I have a bad feeling that this won't work. So before I go on a spiel I will post this

OK, great. Thanks so much everyone for all your help - I know this can bit a bit of a repetitive topic if I can figure out photos I'll be sure to attach some.

Thanks very much for all your replies, they have all given varying ideas. However, I still have a few questions. 1. May I ask why a lot of people opt for Tupperware? I agree that if you get the stronger stuff it may be harder to crack, but after a while - especially with the UVB/A lights that some o...

That makes sense to have it on the base when using filtered pools Kellie, thanks for your response. I forgot to ask also, what have people found works best with pools for encouragement? I'm planning for a larger salt water pool: glass, rectangular, aerated, a ramp with rocks attached to it (don't kn...

Hi all, I had a question about the substrate in water bowls, which may be obvious to some but I'm very confused! I've seen nice big, deep pools where people have rocks, gravel, wood etc. at the base so that the crabs have something to grip, and I was wondering if these were siliconed on, or if they ...

I'm guessing in this situation you would need to raise the temp slowly (because that's quite a lot of heat to add!). But unless you have a thermostat, I'm not sure how you would do this... OR you could wait until the majority of crabs were up OR (this may need double checking), you could assume that...

Wow! Awesome, thanks guys for all the replies. I didn't realise how many people this had happened to, I'd never heard of it.

I have Aussies, and they go CRAZY for snail shells. Not necessarily the ones you are discussing though. I have 5/10 crabs in different types of snail shells. However, I do know the type you are talking about, and I found tons of dead ones at the local petstore a while ago. They were quite happy for ...

Hi all, I though I would report on a very weird behaviour one of my crabs displays when handled. Sal moulted, and came up with absolutely gorgeous dark brown colouring - my first big change in colour. After a few days a being up, I picked him up by his shell to take a look, holding him just above th...

I would say for the coco fibre, you can buy it also at the hardware store in solid bricks that expand (designed as a growing matter for plants), but *make sure* to get the type that is organic with no added fertilisers/pesticides etc. this is what I use: http://www.bunnings.com.au/brunnings-90l-coir...

I have those pangs of guilt, too, Bonk. Every time I buy pretty shells or see bins and bins of them in a store I think that for every well dressed hermit crab, there's a mollusk who was killed for the shell he built piece-by-piece with his own body. The fancier shells we all love to offer our babie...