HCA: Hermit Crab Association

My hermit crab has been surface molting, and has eaten most of his exoskeleton, and has began moving around the 2L isolation bottle I have now. I read on The Crab Street Journal that when they start moving around you should move them to an isolation tank.
I have a tank and extra play sand I could use for this purpose, but I’m not sure if that would stress him out too much was . Don’t wanna lose another crab
If someone could help me out, I’d be very grateful.


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First off, I am no expert!! But I had a flood and had to dig two crabbies up. I put them in ISO until they were up moving around. As soon as they were up I gave them a dip in the pool and put them back in the main tank.

You’re already isolating the crab in the bottle. If the crab is up, moving around, eating and hardened, you can place it in the freshwater dish to rinse off any remnants of the molting scent and let it do it’s thing.


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If your crab surface molted, there is likely something not right in the tank. If you would like us to help you trouble shoot, fill in the emergency template and post it.

curlysister wrote:If your crab surface molted, there is likely something not right in the tank. If you would like us to help you trouble shoot, fill in the emergency template and post it.

He’d been showing signs of molting, and I was adding more substrate to the tank. The time I added it just happened to be he time he grew weak and lethargic. I’m assuming he surface molted because he didn’t have enough time to bury himself.


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soilentgringa wrote:You’re already isolating the crab in the bottle. If the crab is up, moving around, eating and hardened, you can place it in the freshwater dish to rinse off any remnants of the molting scent and let it do it’s thing.

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He still has a bit of exoskeleton left to eat and hasn’t moved around all that much, but he did obviously move to the other side of the tank. I made a divider to split the tank in half, covered up the light on the side he was on and lifted the bottle over him in case he’d need more room. I put a towel over his half so he’d have darkness. I’m hoping he’s gonna do fine.

I found the other thread where you filled in the Emergency template. Pinchers and Shells gave some really good suggestions for a few things that could be improved, not just the substrate. Did your hygrometer/ thermometer arrive yet?

curlysister wrote:I found the other thread where you filled in the Emergency template. Pinchers and Shells gave some really good suggestions for a few things that could be improved, not just the substrate. Did your hygrometer/ thermometer arrive yet?

No, not yet. I’m still needing to order one in fact, quite ashamed to admit it.


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It's important to know what the temperature and humidity are.
The dechlorinator and marine salt (Instant Ocean) are also an important improvement.

curlysister wrote:It's important to know what the temperature and humidity are.
The dechlorinator and marine salt (Instant Ocean) are also an important improvement.

My crab began roaming around so I went ahead and let him out. He lost his big pincher sadly during the molt, and I’m looking for an acurite thermometer/hygrometer gauge, but not too sure what to get, or how to install one in the tank.


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MercifulRabbit wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 05, 2019 5:22 pm

My crab began roaming around so I went ahead and let him out. He lost his big pincher sadly during the molt, and I’m looking for an acurite thermometer/hygrometer gauge, but not too sure what to get, or how to install one in the tank.


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Acurite is the brand. Check lowes. Or amazon. They're about $10-12. I velcro mine inside the tank. Others put theirs on differently.

Hermiesguardian wrote:
Acurite is the brand. Check lowes. Or amazon. They're about $10-12. I velcro mine inside the tank. Others put theirs on differently.

I’ve been looking on amazon at the moment just to know what I’ll be looking for when I do go out and get one, and wasn’t too sure how I’d set it up in the tank. Thanks!


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MercifulRabbit wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:30 pm

I’ve been looking on amazon at the moment just to know what I’ll be looking for when I do go out and get one, and wasn’t too sure how I’d set it up in the tank. Thanks!


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You're welcome!