HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Okay, is there something special to do with molting E's? Whenever one of my PPs molts they do just perfectly fine, but my last E (because the rest died during or after molting) is acting very strange. I was just wondering if they need any extra care because in the tank the temperature is at the right level and so is the humidity according to the humidity gauge. Also there bedding id moist too. I really want to keep him alive! I feel bad about all the other deaths of my E's.

What substrate are you using, and did you get all of them from the same store? Do you supply them with salt water, and if you do, what brand?

Yes I am using this forest bedding mixed with sand, I use "Hydrate" saltwater for them and sometimes I use Zoo Med saltwater conditioner. I got them all from the same place but I forgot the name.

Those salt water mixes are not strong enough. It needs to be Marine salt water, it contains minerals and such that those salt mixes do not.

Switch to either Oceanic or Instant Ocean, that should help. If you're still having trouble after the salt switch, I'd recommend getting them somewhere else.

i have been working with people trying to help them to keep Compressus. I can give you some things that have helped. First off switch your substrate to Sand or 5 parts sand to 1 part Eco earth or less. Up the amount of calcium in the diet by adding mineral suplaments coral calcium crushed oyster shell and cuttle bone. Get a good mineral rich marine grade salt to make your salt water and add about a tablespoonfull extra per quart more then the directions say when making the water. Compresses like perlatus both hang closer to the edge of the shore and need more salt in the diet. I would also make sure when you first make your substrate that you mix it with salt water or mix in sea salt to the mix. I also mix in some crushed oyster shell to the substrate mix.
Make sure all shells do not have collapsed turbos or broken out spirals on the inside of the shell. They like the shells that way but it make it so that the tail grows in a way that it becomes fatter then normal and then it doesnt fit properly into other shells and can become cut then infected killing the crab.
This has worked for me and others. Best of luck, Suebee

Okay, I will make the switch asap. Just one question . . . I buy most of my supplies at PetSmart and they don't sell the other types of saltwater. At what store or online store can you buy them at? Also thanks for the info!

Instant Ocean is usually available at Petsmart- Yes thank you dabeau1. Its in a blue box near the fish area. or you can go to petco on line http://www.petco.com/Shop/SearchResults ... arium+salt Instant ocean is a good one. Make sure you use your declorinator with your salt water mix too.

Actually, Ecuadorians can thrive on many different types of substrate. I know someone who keeps hers on straight sand and she's never lost a single Ecuadorian. Personally, I keep my Ecuadorians on 100% coco fiber substrate and I've had great results. I've been keeping Ecuadorians for over three years and I've only lost one in all that time. She was a pity purchase who was deformed when I bought her.

I agree that salt may be your problem here. Ecuadorians really need a good, reliable source of salt water. Unfortunately, the salt water products they make for hermit crabs just don't measure up to the salt water mixes made for fish. I've been using Oceanic for years with great results for all my species.

Thanks for the info!

Your welcome hermitcrabs604

sugarselections wrote:Actually, Ecuadorians can thrive on many different types of substrate. I know someone who keeps hers on straight sand and she's never lost a single Ecuadorian. Personally, I keep my Ecuadorians on 100% coco fiber substrate and I've had great results. I've been keeping Ecuadorians for over three years and I've only lost one in all that time. She was a pity purchase who was deformed when I bought her.

I agree that salt may be your problem here. Ecuadorians really need a good, reliable source of salt water. Unfortunately, the salt water products they make for hermit crabs just don't measure up to the salt water mixes made for fish. I've been using Oceanic for years with great results for all my species.

I second this. I've tried varying substrates with no ill effects towards my E's. In fact I've had an E for nearly 3 years before he died of being dug up while molting. He had lived in complete eco earth for nearly half a year and nothing happened.

So far I've had no molting deaths with my E's. *crosses fingers* I have the 5:1 sand:EE mixed with salt water, I have the calcium available in cuttlebone form, and I use Instant Ocean from Petsmart. The E's definitely like their salt water; I always catch them around the salt water pool. I haven't tried adding the extra salt like Suebee suggests though.

Adding extra salt isn't necessary. They regulate the salt content of their shell water by mixing salt and fresh water. They can manage just fine with regular strength salt water.

Yeah thanks for the info everyone but guess what since there is ice all over NC I can't go to PetSmart just yet. Sadly, Omega (my last E) died just a day ago. All my other crabbies are fine. If I ever decide to get another E I will have better things for them. Like I said before I will look for the instant ocean at PetSmart and buy it as soon as I can. RIP Omega and all the other crabbies that I lost.