HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Spunky wrote:1. I have sand box sand that's all I can afford at the time

GB: That is fine. Many people use just sand. Make sure it is three times deeper than your largest crab, and that it is sand castle consistency. You can moisten it with either dechlorinated freshwater or dechlorinated marine salt water. I personally prefer msw.

2. No but I do have a temperature gauge it read around 72 to 75 degrees f.

GB: Your temp is way too low. They can survive in those temps, but barely. Thriving is a minimum of 80 degrees. Try to get your temperature up. You also need humidity. Hermit crabs have modified gills and need humidity to breathe. This is very important. You can create humidity by having water bowls (tupperware containers) that they crabbies can submerge in/and get out of safely with air bubblers in them, moss pits, glass top for your tank. Eco Earth (ee) will also help retain moister for humidity.
Link on humidity: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 26&t=92544

3. No I've been saving for one though

GB: I'm not sure what the question is - but I think it relates to heat. You need to try to get a heater asap. UTH (under the tank heater) can be purchased, or you can use lights.
Link on lights: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 26&t=92543

4. As of now salt the store was out of fresh other wise I get that or both

GB: All you need is marine salt water. NOT aquarium salt. You need a product called instant ocean. It is used to mimic salt water to have a salt water fish tank. Then, you need to purchase a product called Prime. It is a dechlorinator that removes chlorine, and other harmful toxins from water that can burn the hermit crabs modified gills.
Link on water: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92553

5. Since spunky has a missing claw at this point I've been giving him/her hermit crab meal from tetra fauna some pellets from zoo med and some sort of fruit usually I give it half a grape

GB: Your hermit crab needs fresh foods. Believe it or not, most of the products on the market that are labeled for hermit crabs are NOT safe for them.
Here is a list of safe foods to feed: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92557
Unsafe foods: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92556
Commercial foods: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92555

6. I've had spunky since July 23 2016 it's a purple pincher

GB: PP care sheet: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 51&t=92452
Hermit basic crab care sheet: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 51&t=92457

7.as of now no

8. I think it's a 22gal reptile aquarium with no lid

GB: You need a lid to trap humidity and heat. In the meantime, use plastic wrap or press and seal. Spritz the tank with dechlorinated fresh water to give them some humidity.

9. There are 2 crabs the don't get along with each other so I hav a diver between them spunky is about the size of a ping pong ball and the other one is half the size of spunky

GB: Why do you say they don't get along? You shouldn't have to divide them.

10. I have 3 on both sides

GB: HCA recommends 3-4 shells for each crabbie, but I recommend more. Here is the shell guide: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 24&t=92552

11. No

12. About once a month I replace the sand after going over the glass with a wet paper towel

GB: Not necessary to replace the sand. Just scoop the poop.

13. No

14 no

15 I let spunky and the other out one a day they have a climbing toys in the tank to keep them active.i got spunky at the fair I'm really surprised he's still alive since it was a hot day that day and the tank was filled with at least 20 hermit crabs in a 5gal.

GB: Hermit crabs are prey animals. imho, they shouldn't be handled, but to each's own. I'm glad that you have climbing toys in th there! They love to climb and hide.