HCA: Hermit Crab Association

All three have been up from their molts this past week. I went to take them out and I see her empty shell! I dug carefully and slow I CANNOT FIND HER. I have had her over 3 years and she came up looking a gorgeous dark purple and was just playing on the second level yesterday I am at a complete loss! ANY idea's Please!

I had a hermit crab that I didn't see for a whole year! She must have come out at night really late and must have missed her every time. I am sure she is probably just hiding out some where and she will pop up soon (if not eventually!) I wouldn't go digging for her as you might accidently move the sand/substrate around enough that the tunnel she may be in will collapse on her. She sounds like a pretty happy and healthy crab. I am sure one night she will come up to the surface. Other than that, is there any way she might have been able to climb out of the tank?

You don't understand. I found her empty shell in the front of the tank. I had to dig and look for her. I cannot find her. She is without her shell and I am baffled. I just saw her yesterday. She is about golf ball shell and all. I am watching the sand in case I missed her.

If she has ditched her shell then there is something wrong with her. If she has buried herself then let her be. She may be de=stressing and digging her up may make it worse. If and when you see her above the surface and she is still naked then you can move her to an ISO Tank with shells for her to check out.
If you are saying that you dug up the whole entire tank and there is no sign of her whatsoever then yes I am baffled too. The only thing I could think of if she switched shells and escaped the tank. Dumb question but have to checked all the empty shells? I once had a hermit crab change shells and it went into a HUGE shell and was stuffed so far down into it.

Kaleighshermies wrote:If she has ditched her shell then there is something wrong with her. If she has buried herself then let her be. She may be de=stressing and digging her up may make it worse. If and when you see her above the surface and she is still naked then you can move her to an ISO Tank with shells for her to check out.

If she is underground without a shell, you NEED to dig her up and find her. A shell-less crab left without a shell is basically guaranteed to die. They need their shells for survival, not only for protection but their shell holds water and humidity for them so that their abdomens do not dry out.




Is it possible that this crab changed shells without you noticing? Maybe she was attacked. Please fill out an emergency template, it's needed so we can try to help identify and underlying cause.


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Yikes! Thanks, that is good to know! I used to be always told to just leave them alone and let them do their thing. Luckily I never had a crab naked and buried. Good to know for the future though.

I know she did not get out. I went through that sand from top to bottom. All I can figure is she ducked away from me somehow. I have my eyeballs glued on the tank Thanks everyone

She has to be in one of the shells and I just cannot find her. Maybe she is pulled in one just enough that i cannot see her. She was up and playing just yesterday morning at AM.

I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

Any update?

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I think the crab I was seeing was my newest just changing shells. When I dug down I found two shells that could have been hers. I had her for 3 years and she was my very first crab. All 3 are ultra healthy and active. They are fed a lot of good protein. In two months there was nothing but two empty shells. My other two are extremely healthy and playing as usual. I will see if anyone has any they would like to adopt out in my area.Thanks for all the love and support.