New to Hermit Crabs

[kimmiern8]

So we re-homed a hermit crab that the previous owner has had for over a year. He is an only hermit crab in a 10 gallon tank and has all the right things in it. We have a heat lamp and I spray for humidity 2x a day. He was out for 2 days and since last Saturday, we literally don't see him. I don't even think he's coming out for food at night. I assume he is molting? The previous owner said it had been a while since he molted last. I haven't heard or have seen him since the 18th. I do not smell any foul odor from the tank indicating he is dead. It's really hard to just leave him alone because I want to know he is ok but I know if he is molting, it would be deadly to disturb him. Is it normal for them to not come out at all, even to eat during molting?

[avocadocrabbies]

So we re-homed a hermit crab that the previous owner has had for over a year. He is an only hermit crab in a 10 gallon tank and has all the right things in it. We have a heat lamp and I spray for humidity 2x a day. He was out for 2 days and since last Saturday, we literally don't see him. I don't even think he's coming out for food at night. I assume he is molting? The previous owner said it had been a while since he molted last. I haven't heard or have seen him since the 18th. I do not smell any foul odor from the tank indicating he is dead. It's really hard to just leave him alone because I want to know he is ok but I know if he is molting, it would be deadly to disturb him. Is it normal for them to not come out at all, even to eat during molting?

Your crab is just being a crab he is probably molting, and crabs don't usually come aboveground to eat while molting. He could just be buried (my crabs love to bury themselves for days for fun and they don't eat or drink during these times). How deep is your substrate? And also, do you have a humidity gauge and fresh/salterwater pools at submerging depth?

Long story short: hermit crabs love to hide, your guy is probably just burying himself or going for a molt.

[curlysister]

As Avocado said, they don't need anything while they are buried. Resist the temptation to dig or to check on them when they are under. Just keep tank conditions optimal, and keep a bit of food and the water out as usual - so that it's there when the crab does surface.

[kimmiern8]

He's got 3-4 inches of substrate. The humidity gauge is coming tomorrow in the mail. And he does have a fresh water dish and a salt water dish. The salt water dish is pretty shallow. Should it be deeper? I will resist checking on him in hopes he will resurface in a couple of weeks. Like I said, I don't smell anything that would indicate a rotting hermit crab. I know his substrate needs to be changed. The previous owner said it was due but now I can't if he's molting.

[kimmiern8]

Your crab is just being a crab he is probably molting, and crabs don't usually come aboveground to eat while molting. He could just be buried (my crabs love to bury themselves for days for fun and they don't eat or drink during these times). How deep is your substrate? And also, do you have a humidity gauge and fresh/salterwater pools at submerging depth?

Long story short: hermit crabs love to hide, your guy is probably just burying himself or going for a molt.

He's got 3-4 inches of substrate. The humidity gauge is coming tomorrow in the mail. And he does have a fresh water dish and a salt water dish. The salt water dish is pretty shallow. Should it be deeper? I will resist checking on him in hopes he will resurface in a couple of weeks. Like I said, I don't smell anything that would indicate a rotting hermit crab. I know his substrate needs to be changed. The previous owner said it was due but now I can't if he's molting.

[avocadocrabbies]

He's got 3-4 inches of substrate. The humidity gauge is coming tomorrow in the mail. And he does have a fresh water dish and a salt water dish. The salt water dish is pretty shallow. Should it be deeper? I will resist checking on him in hopes he will resurface in a couple of weeks. Like I said, I don't smell anything that would indicate a rotting hermit crab. I know his substrate needs to be changed. The previous owner said it was due but now I can't if he's molting.

definitely install that humidity gauge as fast as possible- and to raise the humidity levels, I'd recommend getting some sphagnum moss and spraying it daily (totally helps with humidity). The substrate should be at least six inches, playsand and EE mixed, but I wouldn't worry about it until your crab resurfaces. For the salt water dish, yes, it shouldn't be shallow. It needs to be deep enough so that your hermit crab could walk into it and fully submerge himself (along with a way to climb out, like a plastic plant or some craft mesh.

As long as there's no smell, I wouldn't worry. Unless you crab stays buried for a year- then I would worry. But crabs can take many months to molt, so I think he just wants some space. (Also, you don't have to change crab substrate. As long as there is no flooding or a mold outbreak, you can theoretically use the same substrate until your crab dies.

[Links]

I’ve heard someone on here say you can add sand while a crab is buried. Just put it in but don’t pack it down at all.And for some reason it was recommended just to do one inch at a time but I don’t know how long between adding another inch.

Edit: replaced molting with buried. Also want to add that I wouldn’t add sub directly over a crab or a hole it made just Incase because im not experienced


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[Hermielover121]

Hi I wouldn’t worry about him he will probably come up in a few days and if he does not he is probably molting. If you really want to can can add a little bit of sand and eco earth but not a lot. You really don’t even have to because you can just do it once he comes up. Also since you are new here is a few questions for you??
.Do you have a lid on the tank it will save you a lot of trouble?

.What are you using for the water( Salt water mixture brand and water Declorenater) to make sure it’s safe?

.And were the conditions of the previous owner good, OK, bad etc.

I thought I’d ask you those questions that a lot of beginner crab owners have! It will save you a lot of time

[Crabby7Crabber]

I’ve heard someone on here say you can add sand while a crab is buried. Just put it in but don’t pack it down at all.And for some reason it was recommended just to do one inch at a time but I don’t know how long between adding another inch.

Edit: replaced molting with buried. Also want to add that I wouldn’t add sub directly over a crab or a hole it made just Incase because im not experienced


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I think it was like, 1 inch every 24 hours or something?

[JoeHermits]

I think it was like, 1 inch every 24 hours or something?

Correct.


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[Crabby7Crabber]

Correct.


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Aw yeah B) I'll be an expert in no time

[kimmiern8]

Hi I wouldn’t worry about him he will probably come up in a few days and if he does not he is probably molting. If you really want to can can add a little bit of sand and eco earth but not a lot. You really don’t even have to because you can just do it once he comes up. Also since you are new here is a few questions for you??
.Do you have a lid on the tank it will save you a lot of trouble?

.What are you using for the water( Salt water mixture brand and water Declorenater) to make sure it’s safe?

.And were the conditions of the previous owner good, OK, bad etc.

I thought I’d ask you those questions that a lot of beginner crab owners have! It will save you a lot of time

Yes the previous owners did all of that and we have continued to do so. I think he is molting but our humidity is an issue. I have the gauge in there now and it seems our house is very dry.

[kimmiern8]

definitely install that humidity gauge as fast as possible- and to raise the humidity levels, I'd recommend getting some sphagnum moss and spraying it daily (totally helps with humidity). The substrate should be at least six inches, playsand and EE mixed, but I wouldn't worry about it until your crab resurfaces. For the salt water dish, yes, it shouldn't be shallow. It needs to be deep enough so that your hermit crab could walk into it and fully submerge himself (along with a way to climb out, like a plastic plant or some craft mesh.

As long as there's no smell, I wouldn't worry. Unless you crab stays buried for a year- then I would worry. But crabs can take many months to molt, so I think he just wants some space. (Also, you don't have to change crab substrate. As long as there is no flooding or a mold outbreak, you can theoretically use the same substrate until your crab dies.

Thanks for the advice. It just sucks that we saw him and now he's gone! And I wanted to get him a friend. I installed the humidity gauge and it seems our house is very dry. I think I will have to get some of that moss. I can't seem to spray the tank enough to keep it at least 70% humid.

So really, you don't have to change the substrate 3x a year? That would be wonderful.

And would the smell of a dead crab be really bad? Like I would know it right? Even if he was buried under the sand?

[avocadocrabbies]

Thanks for the advice. It just sucks that we saw him and now he's gone! And I wanted to get him a friend. I installed the humidity gauge and it seems our house is very dry. I think I will have to get some of that moss. I can't seem to spray the tank enough to keep it at least 70% humid.

So really, you don't have to change the substrate 3x a year? That would be wonderful.

And would the smell of a dead crab be really bad? Like I would know it right? Even if he was buried under the sand?

I actually found that spraying the tank doesn't help much, sometimes it does more harm than good because constantly opening the tank lets out the humidity. The moss only needs spraying every other day, and it works really well! \

If nothing goes wrong with your substrate, you technically never need to! (Most people do end up changing it like once a year though, due to unforeseen problems.) Also, if there is a ton of poop right where you can get it, then yes, I'd scoop it out, but a lot of people don't spot clean- and poop eventually decomposes and becomes one with the eco earth

Yes, dead crabs smell if they are on the surface. It kind of smells like fish or shrimp at a seafood buffet. If they die underground, the smell may take awhile to come to the surface- sometimes there never is a smell. The first sign is that they are buried for a very long time and don't resurface, which is why it's kind of hard to tell. Some people have miracle stories of crabs coming up after a year, but more than 8-9 months means they have probably passed and you should start digging.

About getting him a friend, totally recommend! Crabs should have at least one tank mate, if not two or three. They are super sociable I would try the adoption pages in an attempt to stay away from supporting the pet store industry.

[kimmiern8]

I actually found that spraying the tank doesn't help much, sometimes it does more harm than good because constantly opening the tank lets out the humidity. The moss only needs spraying every other day, and it works really well! \

If nothing goes wrong with your substrate, you technically never need to! (Most people do end up changing it like once a year though, due to unforeseen problems.) Also, if there is a ton of poop right where you can get it, then yes, I'd scoop it out, but a lot of people don't spot clean- and poop eventually decomposes and becomes one with the eco earth

Yes, dead crabs smell if they are on the surface. It kind of smells like fish or shrimp at a seafood buffet. If they die underground, the smell may take awhile to come to the surface- sometimes there never is a smell. The first sign is that they are buried for a very long time and don't resurface, which is why it's kind of hard to tell. Some people have miracle stories of crabs coming up after a year, but more than 8-9 months means they have probably passed and you should start digging.

About getting him a friend, totally recommend! Crabs should have at least one tank mate, if not two or three. They are super sociable I would try the adoption pages in an attempt to stay away from supporting the pet store industry.

Can I get a friend if he's molting?