New Keeper Questions-missing crab, humidity and pool problems

[DandyMandi]

Hi all, I have been reading on here and watching YouTube videos for a little over a month before I brought my new crabs home earlier this week.

Over that time, I started setting up my 10gallon aquarium with EcoEarth/sand mix 6-7” deep, a fresh and saltwater pool (Prime and Instant Ocean) and various hides. There is a coconut hide covered with sand so only the opening shows, bridges, cholla wood and cork wood and a moss pit with Sphagnum moss. There is also an Indian almond leaf in there for them to much on and 17 different shells. Some of these shells are just decorative since I learned that hermit crabs don’t seem to like many of the “pet store shells”. I have had better luck with the ones sold in bags of mixed shell decorations. I have an 8 watt heater adhered to the side of the tank and a hygrometer/thermometer duo attached to the opposite end. The lid is a metal mesh, but I covered the interior with Saran Wrap to keep the humidity in since I was having some problems with that.

My first concern is, now I have the opposite problem of too much humidity! It’s always showing over 100%. I open the lid and vent for a little while when I get home to let some of the humidity out but it’s still about 80% after I close the top again. I usually leave it open for about an hour, until the crabs start moving around. Is it okay? Should I take some moss or wood out? I don’t want to stress them out too much by taking hiding places or rearranging too much since I’ve only had them about a week.

My second concern is that although I have the two pools I have not seen any of the three crabs get in them. I built little plastic ramps to get in and out but I couldn’t find any craft mesh like I’ve seen recommended. I plan to try a different craft store after the holidays but I’m really stressing about it. I saw one crab, Shelly, attempt to go into the freshwater pool by climbing down the side without the ramp but then she just turned around and left. I do have flat shells and pebbles in the bottom of the plastic Tupperware dish and the ramp buried under those and then shoved into the substrate on the other side.

My third concern, and why I am especially nervous to re-do the pools, is that since the day I brought the crabs home the slightly larger one, Herman, has disappeared. I haven’t seen him since the first night. He doesn’t come out to eat, I haven’t seen him in any of the hides(though I don’t move them or anything) and I never see him climbing at night. I do get up frequently in the night and turn a little night-light on so I can watch them but Herman is never out. How long should I let him be missing before I look for him? I assume he just buried himself but after learning about PPS I’m scared he’s just died in there or something.

The other two crabs are very active with great appetites and I regularly see them climbing around on the wood or bridges. I’ve even been lucky enough to see them swap shells a couple times!

Thank you for any advice you have! I’m probably worrying for nothing, I have seen several posts on here of peoples crabs disappearing for months then suddenly re-emerging but so soon to purchase as well? Anyway, thank you for the insights!

[DandyMandi]

Oh, and here is a picture of the crabitat! The first picture is before the crabs were added so there wasn’t a bridge to the pools yet or shells or the “extras”.

The second is what it looks like now. There is some hard water staining on the glass which I planned to try and clean with vinegar once everyone is settled in.

All the crabs are small, in 1/2” opening shells and all three are purple pinchers.






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[DragonsFly]

Some replies interspersed in the following-- look for the ***************************'s

Hi all, I have been reading on here and watching YouTube videos for a little over a month before I brought my new crabs home earlier this week.

Over that time, I started setting up my 10gallon aquarium with EcoEarth/sand mix 6-7” deep, a fresh and saltwater pool (Prime and Instant Ocean) and various hides. There is a coconut hide covered with sand so only the opening shows, bridges, cholla wood and cork wood and a moss pit with Sphagnum moss. There is also an Indian almond leaf in there for them to much on and 17 different shells. Some of these shells are just decorative since I learned that hermit crabs don’t seem to like many of the “pet store shells”. I have had better luck with the ones sold in bags of mixed shell decorations. I have an 8 watt heater adhered to the side of the tank and a hygrometer/thermometer duo attached to the opposite end. The lid is a metal mesh, but I covered the interior with Saran Wrap to keep the humidity in since I was having some problems with that.

My first concern is, now I have the opposite problem of too much humidity! It’s always showing over 100%. I open the lid and vent for a little while when I get home to let some of the humidity out but it’s still about 80% after I close the top again. I usually leave it open for about an hour, until the crabs start moving around. Is it okay? Should I take some moss or wood out? I don’t want to stress them out too much by taking hiding places or rearranging too much since I’ve only had them about a week.

*******It sounds like you can uncover part of your lid for a while, until your humidity equalizes. Anything between 75 and 85 percent humidity is fine for PP's. Did you calibrate your gauge, to make sure it is reading accurately? It's a good idea to have more than one gauge in the tank, also, as temp and humidity can vary from place to place even in a small tank.*************

My second concern is that although I have the two pools I have not seen any of the three crabs get in them. I built little plastic ramps to get in and out but I couldn’t find any craft mesh like I’ve seen recommended. I plan to try a different craft store after the holidays but I’m really stressing about it. I saw one crab, Shelly, attempt to go into the freshwater pool by climbing down the side without the ramp but then she just turned around and left. I do have flat shells and pebbles in the bottom of the plastic Tupperware dish and the ramp buried under those and then shoved into the substrate on the other side.

***************Some people see their crabs in their pools often; others almost never. If you are providing proper water sources, of good size and depth, with appropriate "climb-out" possibilities, that's all you can do. *********************

My third concern, and why I am especially nervous to re-do the pools, is that since the day I brought the crabs home the slightly larger one, Herman, has disappeared. I haven’t seen him since the first night. He doesn’t come out to eat, I haven’t seen him in any of the hides(though I don’t move them or anything) and I never see him climbing at night. I do get up frequently in the night and turn a little night-light on so I can watch them but Herman is never out. How long should I let him be missing before I look for him? I assume he just buried himself but after learning about PPS I’m scared he’s just died in there or something.

**********************If he needed to molt right away, that could be what is happening. "How long should you wait"--I would wait as long as it takes. Disturbing a molting crab can result in death. If he did already die, then digging him up won't help, right? If he is down molting, you can just rejoice when he finally does come back up. **********************

The other two crabs are very active with great appetites and I regularly see them climbing around on the wood or bridges. I’ve even been lucky enough to see them swap shells a couple times!

****************Excellent! Enjoy them, then, and let them and you just get on with life! **************************

Thank you for any advice you have! I’m probably worrying for nothing, I have seen several posts on here of peoples crabs disappearing for months then suddenly re-emerging but so soon to purchase as well? Anyway, thank you for the insights!

************************Yes, he may be down just "de-stressing," but he may also have needed to molt to try to repair injury or illness from the horrific treatment they receive in being abused into captivity. Best wishes for you all, and that Herman does emerge someday. In the meantime, two is a fine number to get on with. *************************