Digging down frequently (molting?)

[HermitCrabs8763]

My hermit crab Bella is the smallest of the bunch. She is the most recent one to join. She frequently digs down, and doesn’t come up for a few weeks or a month. However, she never molts. My tank humidity is around 60-80 and the heat is 60 at night and 75-82 at day. The substrate is around 6 inches tall. The top is covered in plastic wrap and they have fresh food and water everyday. Is she nervous or bullied? How do I get her to come up? My two other crabs have a close bond and are always with each other. Is she ok? Is it post-purchase stress? How do I make her happy?

[Renroc]

Hi there, you need to get you humidity up to 80% and the temperature a constant 80F. Conditions lower that this will stress your crabs. The crab that is digging down constantly is seeking warmer more humid conditions


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[HermitCrabs8763]

Ok thanks! I’ve noticed that when I have the heat lamp on, the humidity drops to about 25-40. How do I keep the ministry consistent but still have the lamp on?

[Renroc]

Get a heat mat instead of the lamp. Mats go on the back of the tank above the level of the sub. They have far less impact on the humidity than heat lamps. Also putting bigger pools with airstones attached to a small pump will help raise humidity


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[HermitCrabs8763]

Thanks. I will get those.