HCA: Hermit Crab Association

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Hermit Soil by Zoo Med. Its about 6 inces deep all around

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. They read around 85° F for temp and the humidity fluctuates but I try to keep it around 75-80.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
A heating pad at the back of 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)?
Fresh and salt water. Both are bought pre mixed.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Zoo Med Hermit Crab food, Zoo Med Hermit Crab fruit salad, Wardley Hermit Crab shrimp. All is replaced every other day.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
4 months and 2 purple pinchers

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
No molts for either but one may be molting now

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
10 gallon glass tank with plastic wrap over the cover for humidity

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 crabs and they each fit in the palm of your hand

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
About 10

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
Not that I know of

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Spraying fresh water along the sides of the tank and remoistening the soil

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?
A fake plant thats been in the crabitat before but recently been put back in

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.
I woke up this morning to find one of my crab's shells empty. Ive checked the other shells that are visible and he isnt in them. I know he is in the tank because theres no way for him to get out. The second crab has been burried for the past couple of weeks. I dont know if the naked crab is actually naked or has a new shell since he is buried somewhere.

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Sometimes crabs hide really deep in shells. You might want to check them again. I would recommend to get a water conditioner for tap or spring water called prime or aqueon tap water solution, and instant ocean salt for saltwater. I’ve seen premixed waters and I don’t think they are recommended.- you should probably look for the crab and if it definitely isn’t in any of the shells look a little closer in the tank. Hope this helps!

Oliviet#1 wrote: ↑

Sun May 12, 2019 9:58 am

Sometimes crabs hide really deep in shells. You might want to check them again. I would recommend to get a water conditioner for tap or spring water called prime or aqueon tap water solution, and instant ocean salt for saltwater. I’ve seen premixed waters and I don’t think they are recommended.- you should probably look for the crab and if it definitely isn’t in any of the shells look a little closer in the tank. Hope this helps!

I checked the shells again and hes definitely not in any shells at the top of the soil. I also checked under the food and water dishes and hes not there either

I don’t know if you should do this but you could search for shells that might be in the sand if there is any

The question is whether he would have buried himself while naked - if a crab would NOT do that, I would not dig, as you risk harming your other crab who is under. If a crab CAN bury itself while naked, then MAYBE you should dig. A crab needs to be in a shell. I would wait til someone with more naked crab experience than I have, will chime in!
Here is my advice as to a few things that can be improved in your tank.

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Hermit Soil by Zoo Med. Its about 6 inces deep all around
Curly - Zoo Med Hermit Soil is all EE. Many of us use a mixture of playsand and EE (usually a 5 to 1 ratio of sand to EE). Not only is it cheaper, but it holds it's shape well when moist. It needs to be at least 3 times as deep as your largest crab, or 6 inches deep, whichever is deeper.

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. They read around 85° F for temp and the humidity fluctuates but I try to keep it around 75-80.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
A heating pad at the back of 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)?
Fresh and salt water. Both are bought pre mixed.
Curly - As stated, it would be much better to use tap water treated with a dechlorinator such as Prime for both fresh and salt water. Marine salt such as Instant Ocean is what crabs need. Unfortunately, most products that are marketed as being for crabs, aren't actually safe or appropriate.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Zoo Med Hermit Crab food, Zoo Med Hermit Crab fruit salad, Wardley Hermit Crab shrimp. All is replaced every other day.
Curly - Commercial food is not considered safe. Please read through the section on nutrition in the care sheets for more info. Crabs need a varied diet, and need protein and calcium daily.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
4 months and 2 purple pinchers

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
No molts for either but one may be molting now

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
10 gallon glass tank with plastic wrap over the cover for humidity

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 crabs and they each fit in the palm of your hand

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
About 10

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
Not that I know of

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Spraying fresh water along the sides of the tank and remoistening the soil

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?
A fake plant thats been in the crabitat before but recently been put back in

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

Are all your shells accounted for? Is it possible it switched shells then buried?