What am I doing wrong?

[Sherman12]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Play sand from walmart. 5-4 inches
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? 75 F and around 75-80 % humid

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heating lamp 1 foot above the tank
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)? Yes fresh and salt.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Raisins oats and shrimp 3- 5 days

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
7 gallon tank metal mesh top

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
4
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
no
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
2 months
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Not anymore
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
no

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.)?

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I've been trying my hardest to keep my crabs alive but they just keep passing away. Point out what Im doing wrong and or improve
Here are links to my previous posted to learn more details:
https://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB ... 9&t=116616
https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/p ... 9&t=116700
If you need pictures ask

[wodesorel]

Is the playsand moistened so that it holds its shape when you squeeze it, but not so much that it drips water? The depth should be good for tiny hermits, but it should be three times deeper than your largest crab which can also mean there is not enough.

Your temperature should be good for PPs. You might see more activity if it were higher but 75 is well in the safe zone. Your humidity is also great! If you have not, you might want to check to make sure the humidity gauge is working properly so that you can trust that reading. The gauges can stick in place and not read correctly. There are instructions on calibrating one in the guides section.

What brand of dechlorinator are you using for the water, and what brand of salt for the saltwater?

That diet is extremely lacking!! Check out the food pyramid sticky in Food and Water. They need meats, fats, fruits, and veggies. An improper diet will make them sick and eventually kill them just like with any pet.

A 7 gallon tank is small for hermits, and could only support tiny dime/nickel sized crabs, and even then only a few. Overcrowding larger hermits causes severe stress which harms them, and it also causes them to put off molting because they don't feel safe which will eventually cause death.

How are you cleaning the tank? You should not empty substrate or remove the crabs if they have dug in. Doing so prevents them from molting which again will cause death. Removing poop and cleaning decor is okay at any time and will help with any smells.

[curlysister]

You filled in the template in two different threads. On one, you said 'reptile sand' and in another you said 'play sand'. These aren't the same thing. It would be important to know which one you are using.

I also agree with the questions/ suggestions above from Wodesorel.