HCA: Hermit Crab Association

He's about 4 in deep in to a 12 in cholla...the really nice big kind from the HCP. He's really stuck. I'm not trying to pull him out cuz he'll just go further down. Don't worry, I would never pull hard enough to rip him out of his shell. I've had many crabs get in there a little bit. They seem to love the security of it. This guy is the littlest baby I have (on the measuring circle he's a teeny) & I never thought this would happen. What on earth can I do? Pls help!

Try to very gently push/pull him out while sticking something in the cholla wood in front of him to assure that he doesn't go deeper inside. It may take some time, but he should eventually come out as long as you're gentle.

If you're having a continuing problem, you can put a ziptie through holes at each end of the cholla wood to make sure they don't go inside. You could also opt for shorter pieces. I have two 3 inch pieces inside my tank that they like to hide in and get easily get out of.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that if he is clinging to the holes, you can lightly rub your finger against their legs to get them to let go.

If he can get farther in on his own, then he should be able to come out when he's ready. A truly stuck crab won't be able to move at all. Little crabs will use the cholla as a hiding place, and I've had many inside hang out inside cholla over the years. Keep an eye on him and if he hasn't come out on his own in another day or two, then it's time to be a little concerned about if he got himself into someplace he can't back out of.

wodesorel wrote:If he can get farther in on his own, then he should be able to come out when he's ready.

What Wode said. I've seen a few posts from panicked crabbers thinking their crabs were stuck in cholla or somewhere else, only for the crab to just come strolling out when they're ready to. They can get themselves in and out of surprisingly tight places. Hopefully that's the case this time as well.

I had a crab with his leg stuck in a cholla branch for 3 days before I had to cut him out. The easiest way it to get some needle nose pliers and just work a hole through the cholla.

That's only if he is truly stuck.

Once you get him out, there are options you can use to make your cholla crab safe:

Plastic needle point canvas method for bottoms:



Wood dowel for top:

I jammed a rock in the end of my cholla after watching one of my crabs try to go in. (After it went on it's way.) I decided I didn't want to stress over whether they would get stuck if they climbed in.