All three down for over three months now

[Alien00]

It's now been over three months since we last saw a hermit above ground. I'm normally not the one to worry when they dig down but now I am. I've had one guy since July 2014, and two since November of 2014. They've all molted successfully at least five times each and all have at least doubled in size if not more.

In early November (2015) they all dug down and not a peep since from any of them—No sand moved, no food moved, nothing. Two are mediums and one is small.

I've had a bad feeling for the past month or so. Only a few things I can think of:

• Maybe the water I mixed for them this time didn't kill all of the chlorine. I made it just like normal - I boil a big pot (which isn't probably needed but I always do anyways. Let it cool for a couple of hours, then add the drops needed from the dechlorinator. Since all three are nowhere to be found maybe it was the water.

• Could be that the UTH (taped along the back like normal) went out one night - power hasn't gone out and temps have been fine (80-83) so don't think this is it. Humidity is always above 70 - closer to 75 and I calibrated the gauge just to make sure a couple of weeks ago.

• Maybe they caught some sort of infection or bacteria.

I know some of you will say three months is nothing but I've kept molting notes on each one of these guys since I've had them and none have ever been over 6 weeks. We're going on 13-14 weeks now.

I don't know what to do - plus we're moving at the end of the month.

I hate to say it but if they don't come up by end of Feb I may have to do some digging. I realize that if they aren't dead that it could kill them but my gut is telling me something happened and they didn't make it.

[megmaholm]

Always go with your gut. As someone who just dug today and found 2 naked crabs in need of help, I'll never tell anyone not to follow their instincts.

Can you run through your tank conditions? Questions are here: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=46102 You can just copy and paste it.

I doubt it was your water - the boiling probably wasn't even needed if you were adding the right amount of dechlorinator.

If your UTH went out overnight, as long as the tank didn't drop below 70ish for extended periods of time it shouldn't hurt them, especially since they've been underground. It takes quite a while for sand to change temperatures.

And infection/bacteria would be really rare so I wouldn't assume that, either.

It would be odd for all the crabs to pass away, and if that IS the case the answer may not be easily discovered. I would worry too if it had been 3 months for crabs that size, but obviously it isn't unheard of. Don't write them off yet!

[DragonsFly]

I'll put my two cents in for the other side, not to dig.

In my experience (about 6 years' worth, multiple crabs), molts get longer and longer. Also, my long-established crabs regularly spend the entire winter underground. I don't know if the molts just happen to coincide with the winter season, or if they in fact sense the winter and just sort of "hibernate" (even though neither winter nor hibernation is a natural thing for them--"hunker down" might be a better term).

Yes, two or three months, for crabs that you have had for a while, that have molted more than once, and that have "doubled in size" (although I don't see what size they are now in your post--maybe I missed it?), especially during the winter, is probably just fine. I have one I have not seen for almost a year now, but since I read that at least one member here had a jumbo that came up just fine after 18 months, I've decided I'm NOT going to worry about him until at least next fall.

Best wishes, whatever you decide to do.

[Persia352]

I agree. We have to remember as they get bigger molts will be longer. All three of mine have been down since the week before Christmas and all of them have had successful molts with me over the past 3 years. We also have to remember just because they dig down they also may sit for a few weeks just to feel safe. Not all pre-molt is above ground. I would wait awhile HTH Love T

[wodesorel]

Always go with your gut. As someone who just dug today and found 2 naked crabs in need of help, I'll never tell anyone not to follow their instincts.

Same here. I've rescued many crabs in trouble just because there was a little twinge saying something was very wrong. Time spent down should not be the deciding factor though! It's hard not to worry, but if it's just them being gone a long time, I put it off until they hit the 4 month mark.