HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Okay, so the little guy survived. I had a spare 10 gal that I never set up. So I got a heater. I made up Sand:EE 5:1. Sandcastle consistency with DCWater. I also added a plastic cover to keep in humidity. Right now about 74% (and ticking up). Moss and moved him over. I put several shells in that I thought he might like and shoved one down into the sand. I also added a heating pad to the top of the tank to help bring up the heat. Gave honey and fresh grapes. I put him near the heater under a hut. FW and SW. Now Im going to leave him alone. Anything else I should do/not do?




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Just curious - have you tried re-shelling him again?

And putting a bit of shelter over him so it's darker & he feels less exposed would likely be the best course to lower his stress levels... is he in the little house?

Good luck with him... I think I'm starting to get attached to the little guy. I really hope he beats the odds.

What's his name?

Sent from my C5215 using Tapatalk

I have not, actually I am a little freaked out on how to hold him and uncurl him to get him into a shell without harming him. I can give subcutaneous fluids to a dog or insulin shots but this has me stumped. I dont want to hurt him. If any of you are near me in Neenah WI, please let me know! I just need to see someone do it once and then I'll be okay.

He is actually under a wood half dome close to the left side of the tank right near the heater. I put him near the heater, is that okay? The temp of the tank is at 77*. The humidity is showing at 99% but thats because I misted earlier. It is probably about 80%


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I would offer calcium and protein instead of the grapes. Good luck!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Cuttlebone was in the tank. I added a teaspoon of tuna fish.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Bomshelter wrote:I have not, actually I am a little freaked out on how to hold him and uncurl him to get him into a shell without harming him. I can give subcutaneous fluids to a dog or insulin shots but this has me stumped. I dont want to hurt him. If any of you are near me in Neenah WI, please let me know! I just need to see someone do it once and then I'll be okay.

He is actually under a wood half dome close to the left side of the tank right near the heater. I put him near the heater, is that okay? The temp of the tank is at 77*. The humidity is showing at 99% but thats because I misted earlier. It is probably about 80%


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

ISO looks good! I think u have a good point Bomshelter. Reshelling a hermit crab is something I would definitely like to watch as well. I have never seen it done and grateful that I have not needed to do it with any of our guys. But I am a visual learner and to watch en experienced crabber do this, it would be extremely helpful. Good luck and hope he pulls through !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just curious, how did U move him into the ISO tank?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I spent about an hour & a half looking for just such a video... haven't found anything yet.

I'll be honest, without a shell he will not make it much longer. You aren't going to hurt him any more than he already is, going without a shell will dehydrate him. The shell keeps their abdomen moist. Rinse a shell that is as light as possible, with a big enough opening size (some find slightly large works best for reshelling.) You just pick him up right behind the head, at the base of the legs and carefully rinse him, gently uncurl his abdomen and slide him in. He should settle into the shell. If he seems to be "coming out" tap him on the head gently and he should shy back into it. I'm going to assume the reason there are no videos of an actual reshelling is that people want to get crabs reshelled asap, and taking time to film aren't really what they're focused on. haha Otherwise, offer lots of protein and calcium. Egg shell, raw pork, fresh coconut, unfiltered honey, etc.. are all good things to offer. After getting him reshelled only time will tell...Hoping he pulls through for you, good luck!!

Okay! I did it! But when I unfurled his abdomen, at the very end it seemed dry. He is even more lethargic than before. But I put some DCW in the shell before I put him in, so hopefully that helps. I put him on the plate with a bit of water to rinse him off but didnt get much. As of right now, he is shelled. He did move away from the heater last night underneath a hut. So I know he can move but didnt see him eat much. This shell is a very lightweight one so hopefully that will work for him.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Good luck!! Now it's just waiting.

Great job!!! Sounds like u got everything right on for him. Now just to wait and see what he does. Prayers that he pulls through all of this successfully!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I will continue to pray for him!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you to everyone for the push and suggestions. Not sure if he will make it. But I now know what to do if it happens again. I gave him raw ground pork. I dont think he is eating


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk