HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Well, it finally happened. I think I might have a crab on the run.

I visited the sponge docks in Florida, and bought a ridiculous amount of shells (because they were such a great price)! Get them all boiled and cleaned up, both barnacles and Sig chose two new shells. They were battling it out pretty hard, and were chirping for the first time in a year and a half.

I don't know if I accidentally left a gap when I closed the lid, or if sig somehow was able to push the gap open more...but I've looked all over the tank. Even checked the bottom glass for evidence of tunneling. I still hope he's wel hidden, but just in case...I've left a damp towel next to the heater so he has a nice humid area to draw him in. I can't leave food out, because, the husky girl would nom it.

I've checked under all the furniture, in the furniture and anywhere else I can think of. I'm fortunate that I have a sunken living room, so it would be really hard for him to get out of the area. I'm afraid my husky might find him first and eat him. :-/

Well, I guess all I can do now is cross my fingers and hope!

Are you sure that he didn't just dig down? A lot of my crabs dig down after changing shells.. How big is the crab that you think is missing? It is possible that you just can't see where he tunnelled if he is smaller.


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By sunken livingroom you mean that there is basically a step all around to leave right? They can climb carpet and even wood if enough grip. Don't under estimate them! Look high as well as low because they have been known to climb curtains as well.

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Just another idea to throw out, you could put some flour on the ground when you and your pup go to bed at night and see if there are any tracks in it in the morning so you can figure out where he's going, or something along those lines.

The only time I ever had one go missing I found it under the fridge.

Woohoo! After obsessing about it all day, I have located Sig! In the dadgum tank.

Doing a little spot cleaning and poop scooping, and the sifter hit something. So I brushed the top of the sand away with my finger, and caught sight of the very tip of his shell. He molted not too long ago (the beginning of the year, maybe?) and was down for 3 solid weeks, so I wasn't expecting another one yet. Hopefully he didn't dig down because he was hurt by the other crab.

CupidStunt wrote:Woohoo! After obsessing about it all day, I have located Sig! In the dadgum tank.

Doing a little spot cleaning and poop scooping, and the sifter hit something. So I brushed the top of the sand away with my finger, and caught sight of the very tip of his shell. He molted not too long ago (the beginning of the year, maybe?) and was down for 3 solid weeks, so I wasn't expecting another one yet. Hopefully he didn't dig down because he was hurt by the other crab.

I'm so glad that you found him!


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Yay! Glad you found him! maybe he just wanted to play hide and seek I lost a crab once for a whole day, looked EVERYWHERE but no sign, the next morning my brother got up and started calling me, I went into the living room only to find my crab dining on a cricket under the couch

so glad you found him!!

I was literally just thinking about this today. Thinking how horrible it would be if one of my straws got out while I was at work. My kitten would have a hay day with him, i would be devastated. I was thinking about this, because they keep trying to escape at night time. But when they get too close to the night bulb, they drop into the pool.

The closest I have ever came was with my Straw Bella. I took out this tree decoration and was going to store it. I went over to the garbage can and brushed off all the dirt from the tree. It has a hallow inside about half way up the tree, and when I was shaking the dirt off I heard a huge "clump" into the trash. I thought to myself "wow that was a lot of dirt in there, NO way a crab could fit up there, so couldn't be that". I proceeded with my surface clean and food changes. About a half hour later I heard rustling in the garbage can. I immediately started digging threw the can and there was Bella crawling around. I felt HORRIBLE! I couldn't believe I had just thrown away one of my beautiful babies! I still have no idea how he fit up in that tree, but he did. Now I am super careful and check the bottoms of everything when I take them out of the tank to clean or store.

You guys are so sweet to worry about my little dude. Hes naturally a shy one, and has been digging all over the tank for the last day or two. I just added in some new sand/EE, but I think I'm going to build up one side a little more and see if he truly needs a molt.