HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I have had my crabs for six months they live in a 29 gallon tall tank they had six inches of substrate. (Eco Earth) Before I got my crabbies I spent hours a day on here planning for my babies. I have a salt water and a fresh water pool both are Made from Tupperware from the kitchen both are at least two and a half inches deep with rocks at the bottom and a plastic net on the side so they can get out. But no one will get inside them. I've seen pictures of people's crabs inside their pools so I thought that was regular behavior. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I have seen the crabs dip their claws in them but nothing more. What I'm asking us should I be worried. Should I change anything.

Thank you!

Some crabs like to "swim" more than others. Now, with uncycled dishes, I don't see mine submerge very often. But back when I had larger, cycled pools I saw them submerge fairly regularly. As long as they have ways in and out and the option to submerge if they choose, no worries.

Now what is a cycled pool?

With larger pools, you can cycle them the way you would a fish tank. I'm horrible with explaining it so I grabbed this link real quick to share with you http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm. Sorry for any confusion.

Oh thank you that explained it. In the mean time should I maybe get a more shallow water situation maybe.

I'd leave the dishes that they can submerge in if they choose, making sure they have easy ways in and out. It's important to give them the option.

Okay thank you. You're amazing!

Some folks see more pool action when they add bubblers but, frankly, pool usage really seems to be a matter of personal choice, crab by crab. I put in deeper pools (about the depth of yours, ditto rocks/shells at the bottom, plastic mesh ramp) in my 29g last month and have seen a bit more intentional water activity, aside from frequent falling into the pools from the overhanging vines. My pools also have plastic plants in them and there is a large sturdy plastic plant between the two pools -- I often notice a few crabs climbing across the pools using the plants, dunking in, pulling up and moving on to the next pool to do the same (none of them use the nifty plastic mesh ramps).