HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I'm just planning ahead here and am just curious.

I hate to reveal things about myself online, but in the future I will be spending every other week in one house and the other weeks at another. I'm thinking of setting up a tank at each house and carrying them back in forth in a small iso (very breif, no worse than normal handling.) I know this definitly isn't ideal but I'm attached to my little hermies.

So, I'm curious. If one were to start molting, should I dig it up and iso when I switch houses or just let it be and hope it either molts another whole week or that someone will monitor it and feed it when it comes up?

And, knowing the internet, I am going to you guys to be nice. Though every single one of my experiences with this site have been overwhelmingly friendly and helpful, I am aware that these aren't the best conditions for my crabs and some people may react to that. So yes. I know. I'm still not giving uo my crabs. Thanks.

I'm also going to add that other than the every other week change thing that may occur in the future, ny crabs are in what I think are good conditions (6+ inches playsand, humid, warm, fresh and salt water, fresh food, hides, plenty of shells, ect).

If one buries to molt, I would leave it be. You could leave water dishes, and maybe a dish of dehydrated food that won't go bad, in case the crab comes up before you get back to that house?

I don't see any true harm in transporting the crabs between houses, but of course keep an eye on them. My only concern would be long term it might stress them since they're not really able to settle into one tank before having to go back to the other one. I'm also not sure if it would disrupt their molt cycle somehow. Maybe someone with more knowledge can chime in and offer input? I think it can work, if you're careful to keep their stress levels down - if they dig down, don't dig them up; if they seem sluggish/abnormal I wouldn't transport them, etc.

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.

Are you spending whole weeks at a time at each place? Can people at any one of these places be taught how to feed and water the crabs so you can just leave the main tat at one place? Maybe you can make a travel tank just to bring crabs that are above out with you to keep you company when you're at the other house.
Definitely leave molters alone. You should basically never dig anybody up, unless one if them calls out your name to save their life. The crabs will definitely become stressed. You should either find out and take whochever crab seems social/tolerant of the outings, or you should alternate the crab you take so that you aren't constantly stressing each crab.
What size is your tank? How many crabs do you have?


Crabbers unite!!!

I have three crabs in a ten gallon. I can probally teach someone to feed them if nessasary. And yes, it'll be full weeks.

You can just take the whole 10gallon, then. As long as the conditions are maintained, you shoukd have no issues, nor need to take the crabs out. As long as you're careful when moving the tank around the molters won't be disturbed. Just keep the tank night and straight, cushion it against jostling during transport, and whatever else you need to keep things similar at both places.
The best thing would be to just keep it at one place where someone can help you feed and water them.
How far away of a drive are the houses?


Crabbers unite!!!

That might work, if the only possibly issure is that the tank weights over 50lbs because of all the wet playsand. It's like a 15-20 min drive.

I sold a 10gal with 6+ inches of wet sub. A mom and daughter came to pick it up, and the mom carried it out. As long as your pools are emptied ahead of time a parent should be able to help you carry a 10gal each time.
I'm still in favor of leaving it at one place tho. Crabs should generally be left alone, if you want them to live a long time. Maybe you can get an additional pet that will travel better. Maybe a mouse?


Crabbers unite!!!

Thanks, I'll definently consider all that.

You can always go with more cocofiber than playsand to make it lighter. I personally can't move a 10 gallon filled with playsand, but my husband can manage it. A 10 gallon with EE I can toss around pretty easily!

If you do decide to set up two tanks, making sure the humidity and temperature stays stable for the molter is going to be important. Room temperature is not going to cut it while they are under, and the substrate is at risk of drying out. If you can teach someone to care for them at each location so that the basics are covered I do think that would be okay. A lot can happen in a week though, and we've had people leave for vacation and come home to dead crabs in that amount of time due to over or under heating, and loss of moisture - even when they have crab sitters.

Sorry you're going through this. Growing up I had a bunch of friends in this same situation, and I know how much it sucked for them at first. Eventually it will get easier as the kinks get worked out.

Thanks for all the support. I think I'll be moving the "normal" crabs back and forth with two tanks (kept at constant humidity, temperatue, ect), then asking someone to monitor/feed any molters, only because no one wants to lift over 50 lbs back and forth every week, plus the guinea pig and everything else. My crabs seem alright with occasional handling and moving now, so hopefully they don't become too stressed about it all.

Good luck, with everything!!


Crabbers unite!!!