HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Ok, how do I keep the sub moist enough while Gary is under?

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You can spray it with a mister or splatter it with a spoon if you need more water.


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Also, sometimes I put a sipping wet sponge on the mesh above the cage and it will drop onto the substrate over time


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TyCoz wrote:Also, sometimes I put a sipping wet sponge on the mesh above the cage and it will drop onto the substrate over time


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sorry I meant sopping wet


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Thank you, I just put substrate in tonight, not even 5 minutes after Gary was digging down. He is inside the hut, but dug under inside. He's completely under, should I move the hut, so the other two can still go inside?

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If the sub is sand castle consistency then it should be fine. It's surprising, but the sub actually holds moisture very well. I wouldn't worry, you are probably good to go


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If he's completely under I would say that it's safe to move the hut


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How do I know it is moist enough? Gary came back up about two hours later. Did that mean it wasn't moist enough? The top of the sub is dry already this morning. I don't have a humidity thermometer yet or anything to keep the moisture up other than my spraying the sand with a spray bottle

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kieagcarm wrote:How do I know it is moist enough? Gary came back up about two hours later. Did that mean it wasn't moist enough? The top of the sub is dry already this morning. I don't have a humidity thermometer yet or anything to keep the moisture up other than my spraying the sand with a spray bottle

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if you stick a skewer or pencil in the sub and pull it out and it leaves a hole without caving in it's perfect


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If it doesnt hold shape when you do the pencil test (assuming no molters are currently down) take everything out of the tank. Then add fresh dechlorinated water to the sub in small increments mixing the sub and water thoroughly, until you get a sandcastle like consistency. You don't want it soupy just to the point where it holds shape when you grab a fist full.

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Hi there, first molt is always anxious. If your sub is sandcastle wet ( stick your finger in/if the tunnel your finger made doesnt collapse, you're good)
I would not drop heavy splashes of water for fear of making substrate unstable. I stay away from sponges, they get moldy really fast.
Your crab may bury and re-emerge several times as he figures out the "best spot". Misting daily is what I did. I have a crab that looks like Casper (grey and completely hairless) but he refuses to molt. He buries but comes up grey. Hes not ready.

Trust your animals.
It is my opinion that moving hides/decor when crabs are dug down, is dangerous. Mist every day w FW and he will dig down and figure it out. Ive had 1 successful molt. Two 35+ days of destressing (no molt) dug down crabs. Make sure your tank levels stay optimal even when crab is down.
Good luck. Ask a million questions. This place is awesome.

CrabMater wrote:Hi there, first molt is always anxious. If your sub is sandcastle wet ( stick your finger in/if the tunnel your finger made doesnt collapse, you're good)
I would not drop heavy splashes of water for fear of making substrate unstable. I stay away from sponges, they get moldy really fast.
Your crab may bury and re-emerge several times as he figures out the "best spot". Misting daily is what I did. I have a crab that looks like Casper (grey and completely hairless) but he refuses to molt. He buries but comes up grey. Hes not ready.

Trust your animals.
It is my opinion that moving hides/decor when crabs are dug down, is dangerous. Mist every day w FW and he will dig down and figure it out. Ive had 1 successful molt. Two 35+ days of destressing (no molt) dug down crabs. Make sure your tank levels stay optimal even when crab is down.
Good luck. Ask a million questions. This place is awesome.

If they stay down so long, how can you tell if they molted or not

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kieagcarm wrote: If they stay down so long, how can you tell if they molted or not

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Typically when they come up from a molt, they'll have sharper "toenails" and hairier legs. Coloration and size are factors too but less noticeable.

I just want to clarify that moving hides and such around with molters down is totally fine as long as you are not packing the sand down. I actually like to rearrange when most are down, it makes it easier with less crabbies in the way!

Also, OVER misting can eventually flood the tank to!

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