HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So my story is sort of long..

About 3 weeks ago I purchased 2 hermit crabs..I had done some research but mostly received faulty information..I purchased calci-sand thinking I was doing a good thing..also I only had them in a 2.5 gallon tank..

After learning that what I was doing was wrong I set out to get the right equipment..before I could move them however (which was the next day!) One of the little crabs had died..(he didnt look too well to begin with) and the other had buried himself..So I waited..I went back to petco and got a replacement crab..who in turn buried himself as well..

In the meantime I set up my 10 gallon tank..also I purchased 2 more crabs from my local pet store as the ones from petco seemed so lethargic and uncared for (missing limbs etc.) and the ones from the other store were so bright in comparison I didnt realize how ashy the other two had looked..

Well my 2.5 gallon tank wasnt keeping temp/humidity and since i live in a cold climate I was very concerned..I ended up needing to dig them up (I know huge no no) but 60 degrees is no temp for a little crabby. Both of the sad ashy crabs were still alive and walking around once I brought them up..I placed them with the other crabs in the well heated, well humidified tank..

One of the tinys dug himself promptly back down but the other little guy just sort of hung out on the surface..he seemed weak to begin with..and I believe that he is missing two limbs? has drug his front claw as a result of it..and has gel ones forming..I dug him a fairly deep hole and placed him inside (did not cover him though)

I'm not sure what to do for him now? should I cover him? Should I leave him be? is there anything that I can do to help him?

Ah yes-sounds like a classic case of PPS. For the crabby you dug the hole for place a hidey or a cut off 2 liter over him with some food and leave him be. Offer honey and cuttlebone. This is probably the hardest part of crabbing-waiting. Keep us updated on the little guys.

I've heard people refer to "PPS" but i'm not acutally sure what it is?

See the drop-down menu on the right-hand side of the scree that's titled "Crab Care FAQ"? --->
Click on that and you'll see "PPS Info"
It refers to "Post Purchase Stress". In a nut shell, these little guys go through a lot before we get them, and even though they make it as far as our tanks, it's just too much for them.

Thank you! I will look into it for sure!