HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I'll explain first.
In the first week in April I bought my first hermit crab in Myrtle Beach. I knew nothing and bought one in a painted shell. (He has changed since) soon after I brought him home and started reading up on my little guy. I set up a 10gal and got all temps and conditions perfect for him. That's when I learned Bruce would do better with friends. So I bought 2 more from Petsmart. About two weeks after I had him home Bruce went under and I assumed he was molting. While Bruce was down I found a 40gal tank at Petco so of course I had to upgrade. I set up the new tank and decided that I would transfer my new two to the large tank and leave Bruce molting in ISO. I read that small to medium crabs only take a few weeks to molt. I left Bruce alone all this time whole while until Saturday when I figured he was dead not molting (I blame it on fears of my first molting) So anyway, on Saturday I did slowly dig around where Bruce was. I was on the verge of tears hoping he wasn't dead. Once I found him I discovered Bruce was still alive. I've left him in the ISO tank and have been feeding him high protein and PB and egg shells and lots of shrimp shells. With both waters of course. I know he's been eating some and he's moving around some too. When he's moving he tends just go to food and back to a little hide or a coconut cover. But not sure how much he has been moving beyond this.
Now my husband (who by the way doesn't listen half the time I talk about my crabs) anyway he feels that I've left Bruce in ISO long enough and should put him in the big tank. Now I have 9 other crabs in the big tank but only three are not buried. So here's the question when do I put Bruce into the big tank with the rest? (He was only "dug up" this past Saturday)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Can anyone please help me?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

cathagi wrote:I'll explain first.
In the first week in April I bought my first hermit crab in Myrtle Beach. I knew nothing and bought one in a painted shell. (He has changed since) soon after I brought him home and started reading up on my little guy. I set up a 10gal and got all temps and conditions perfect for him. That's when I learned Bruce would do better with friends. So I bought 2 more from Petsmart. About two weeks after I had him home Bruce went under and I assumed he was molting. While Bruce was down I found a 40gal tank at Petco so of course I had to upgrade. I set up the new tank and decided that I would transfer my new two to the large tank and leave Bruce molting in ISO. I read that small to medium crabs only take a few weeks to molt. I left Bruce alone all this time whole while until Saturday when I figured he was dead not molting (I blame it on fears of my first molting) So anyway, on Saturday I did slowly dig around where Bruce was. I was on the verge of tears hoping he wasn't dead. Once I found him I discovered Bruce was still alive. I've left him in the ISO tank and have been feeding him high protein and PB and egg shells and lots of shrimp shells. With both waters of course. I know he's been eating some and he's moving around some too. When he's moving he tends just go to food and back to a little hide or a coconut cover. But not sure how much he has been moving beyond this.
Now my husband (who by the way doesn't listen half the time I talk about my crabs) anyway he feels that I've left Bruce in ISO long enough and should put him in the big tank. Now I have 9 other crabs in the big tank but only three are not buried. So here's the question when do I put Bruce into the big tank with the rest? (He was only "dug up" this past Saturday)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry that no one answered you sooner! If he's eating and drinking normally and moving around, he should be okay to go back in the main tank. Just give him a quick dip in the main tank's freshwater pool to get rid of any lingering molting/strange smell.

Thanks I'm just so worried. He is my biggest and I worry. I'm honestly hoping that he doesn't become aggressive with the others.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's hard not to worry, but try not to! There's no real reason for him to be aggressive as long as you have good conditions (deep enough substrate, etc) and have lots of shells and a good diet.

Being the biggest there may be a dominance display going on to establish who is the top crab in the tank. Feeler fights, pushing, shoving and in my tank even flipping the other crabs on their back and walking away. Pinching is where it gets dangerous. If pinching in an attempt to hurt that is aggression. Sitting on top of another crab trying to rock them out of their shell is also aggression and means a shell fight may be in progress.

Thanks I'm so relieved. I did just clean my tank and just released my other 3 back into the tank and after she said it should be okay I dipped him and released Bruce too. Lady Sif took off running from him and Natasha ran to a coconut hut. Rocket is still near him but looking good so far.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

does anyone know? when crabs bury themselves to molt do they keep their shells on?

tierneysoleil wrote:does anyone know? when crabs bury themselves to molt do they keep their shells on?

Naked crabs should always be treated as an emergency. Yes, they bury with their shells on.