HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Did my crab come up from a molt too early?

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
EcoEarth and reptile sand (soon to get playsand) about 6 inches deep
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
Yes, in the back, usaully read temp at 75 and humidity at 80
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
a under tank heat pad and a60 watt day and a 60 watt night that alternate
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
fesh and salt water (zoo med hermit crab fresh and salt conditioners)
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
every two days, a mixture of dryed meat, sea life, vegetables, seeds, popcorn, egg shells, dried berries, etc.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
about 4 months, a PP
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
yes, just came up
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
a 20 gallon with a glass lid
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
8 crabs, all PPs, ranging from a small medium to a small large
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
5 to 6 extra shells
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
no
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
every day I do a cleanup and take out any old moss, hay or food, and fix anything knocked over or fallen down
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
no
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
yes, some extra sand, and 3 more crabs
15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
no
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
One of my hermit crabs, Philip, went down to molt about a month ago. He is a medium PP, and I got him around November. During mid molt, I added some more sand to the crabitat, a 20 gallon tank which he shares with 7 other PP crabs (3 of which are new and he hasn't met yet!) I was careful to avoid the spot he was molting, and stayed a good 3 inches from him when fixing the substrate (It was mostly EcoEarth, and was not holding enough moisture) I was worried for him and another molting crab (she came up fine!) that they did not have enough moisture. It's been about 2 or so weeks, and today I carefully brushed off the dirt on top off him, and he moved! I quickly covered him up lightly with dirt, and went back to refilling food dishes and cleaning up the tank. While doing this, I noticed the dirt over him quiver, and out pops Philip! Worried I prompted him to emerge and that his exoskeleton wasn't fully hardened yet, I placed him in a large tuperware container with lots of healthy food, some new shells (he refuses to change out of a horrible painted one) and a container of fresh water large enough for him to safetly sit in. It isn't permanent, but I wanted to watch him for an hour or so to make sure he really is ready for the big tank. I do let my crabs molt in the main crabitat, but I closely monitor when they go down, where they go down, and such. This is my 3rd successful molt. Is it possible I prompted him to come up early? he looks ok, but i'm not sure. For a half hour he was running around, but just buried down a bit. Any help or tips?

Does he look pink? Un-hardened PP crabs will usually look a pale pink. I personally would put him back in the main tank and monitor him. Chances are that if hes not hardened up he will re-bury himself.


Off topic: 8 hermit in a 20 gallon long to me seems a bit too much. I would honestly not exceed more than five, with the exception of maybe six smalls, and definitely wouldn't go bigger than a large medium- a small large in a 20 gallon--- but this is just kind've what I go by.

I did end up putting him back in the main tank, and he had gotten a small bath and some food for himself previously. While he does have a pinky color, he did have similar coloring before the molt, so I think it's just his natural coloring. He seemed fine in the tank, and I watched him carefully upon meeting the new crabs for the first time, and seeing the old ones again. They seemed friendly; just some feeler touches and such. He was chirping happily and climbing around this morning, and had changed into a beautiful white snail shell. I do agree that 8 crabs is probably the max for the tank, but I am not exactly sure on the measurements as it is one we had previously, but I think it might be 29. I do have a 15 gallon with a heat pad and over tank lighting,so if the crab addiction continues or I rescue any crabs, I will use that also until I can get a larger tank.