why aren’t my hermit crabs molting

k8.chrysanthemum · Post by **k8.chrysanthemum** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:23 pm

so i got my first hermit crab a few days after christmas in 2020 and then the second one mid-january and the first one was under the dirt for 2 weeks and came up the day i brought home the new one and they both haven’t molted since they’re pretty active mostly at night sometimes they’ll make a surprise appearance during the day but very rarely.. i don’t give them pellets i always give them fresh foods like strawberries, blueberries, almonds (etc) their temperature stays 72-80° and i’m constantly making sure their tank has enough humidity i even planted chia seeds to help with the humidity. also my new one has switch shells atleast twice already and the older one is still in the shell he was in when i got him. i just wanna make sure they’re ok so can someone let me know pleaseee

Post by **curlysister** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:25 pm

What is the range of your humidity?
What type and how deep is your substrate?
How large are your crabs?

HermieBingo · Post by **HermieBingo** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:34 pm

There is no need to worry, each hermit crab runs on his/her own time table. Just keep taking good care of them. And never stop researching about them...

Also, my hermit crabs dig for like 2 to 4 weeks then randomly show up. I don’t think they are molting, they are just playing around! Lol

And they could be coming up in the night too...

A few quick questions: How deep is your sub? How many shells do you keep in the tank? How big is the tank?

HermieBingo · Post by **HermieBingo** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:37 pm

Oh, and also my crab Charlotte LOVES to switch shells. I think she has switched shells at least 30 times since I got her September 2020... :crabbigsmile:

So... ya, some crabs switch shells a lot...

k8.chrysanthemum · Post by **k8.chrysanthemum** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:42 pm

thank you guys for responding so fast! my humidity stays around 80% and idk if this explains size very well but their shell openings are an inch wide. also i know this is bad but i have a 10 gallon tank for right now i’ve been looking for a 20 gallon but i literally can’t find one anywhere

k8.chrysanthemum · Post by **k8.chrysanthemum** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:43 pm

oh and my substrate is 6”

k8.chrysanthemum · Post by **k8.chrysanthemum** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:44 pm

ahh i keep seeing more questions, i have 6 shells in the tank some smaller cus i heard they like smaller shells for molting and i have a couple big ones and some that are the same as their current shells

k8.chrysanthemum · Post by **k8.chrysanthemum** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:45 pm

my substrate is coconut fiber and a little bit of play sand cus i’ve also heard that mixes well with the coconut for them

HermieBingo · Post by **HermieBingo** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:49 pm

It sounds like you have good conditions. By the way a ten gallon isn’t too bad, but I would get a 20 if you can afford it...

I would just be patient with your crabs, if they need to molt, they will molt.

HermieBingo · Post by **HermieBingo** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:55 pm

Btw I was bored and found some tanks: (idk your price range) (random....?)

29 gallon $34.99: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostor ... -29-gallon

20 gallon $32.98:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/AquaCulture- ... /237263837

I am bored...........

k8.chrysanthemum · Post by **k8.chrysanthemum** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 8:18 pm

omg thank you so much for looking at the tanks!!

Post by **curlysister** » Mon Jul 05, 2021 10:00 pm

Your conditions sound good, no immediate reason I can see why they wouldn't molt. I had my two in a ten gallon for the first two or three years I had them.

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

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