HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Both of our boys are underground now, went down about a week apart. Now I'm curious... do I keep changing food and water every day? Never had a tank with everyone molting at the same time before.

I change mine every other day, I think a lot of others do too. If they’re not eating I think you’d be ok going a few days, as long as it’s not overly yucky. They pick at dead rotting stuff in the wild so it can’t be too bad. Someone with more experience than me would be able to tell you for sure though.


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I put in dry foods only while both crabs are down, and change it out a couple times a week when it gets moldy. I also change out the water a couple of times a week.

They are both still underground. Definitely haven't passed away as there is no overly fishy smell. Its been awhile though, so my 4 y/o is starting to get impatient. He keeps asking me to get him another hermit crab... now I am seriously thinking about getting a 20g tank for Christmas as an upgrade so he can have more that two crabs and doesn't have to go through this again.

bandaidstealer wrote:They are both still underground. Definitely haven't passed away as there is no overly fishy smell. Its been awhile though, so my 4 y/o is starting to get impatient. He keeps asking me to get him another hermit crab... now I am seriously thinking about getting a 20g tank for Christmas as an upgrade so he can have more that two crabs and doesn't have to go through this again.

When I had four in a 20 gallon I still had times where all four were down. Waiting is an inevitable part of crabbing that drives the best of us up the wall.

bandaidstealer wrote:They are both still underground. Definitely haven't passed away as there is no overly fishy smell. Its been awhile though, so my 4 y/o is starting to get impatient. He keeps asking me to get him another hermit crab... now I am seriously thinking about getting a 20g tank for Christmas as an upgrade so he can have more that two crabs and doesn't have to go through this again.

And keep in mind they can stay buried for a couple of months or more. They could be coming out at night. For the most part they're nocturnal. I actually have cameras in my tanks so I can watch their nighttime antics.