HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? mix of sand and ecoearth 7in on deep side, maybe 5 on shallow side (was waiting to add more on shallow side until all 3 crabs were above ground)


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, located on the backside of tank, 79.5 F and 85% humidity

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? A UTH duct taped on the back adn one side, above the substraste on the glass, with a silver carshield over them for insulation.


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. Not sure of the name of the freshwater treated, but using instant ocean for salt.


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? Green sand, oyster/crab/egg shell, ground minerals: replaced when it looks low. Plant stuff such as dandelion leaves, clover, chia/flax seed, bee pollen, apple powder, coconut, moss, fresh viggies if I have them before seasoning. Protein stuff: mini dried shrimp, dried rolly polly (don't remember name), egg, some mixed protein from crab street jounrnal and another crab food shop i can't recal right now: every 3 days or so. organic baby food/honey given once a week or so for a treat.


6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? This specific crab I have had since end of november (new to being a crab owner) Don't know his previous conditions, I got it from a student (I'm a teacher). It's a purple pincher.


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? Currently? It went down for the first time around January 30th and is still dug down.


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? It's a 40 gallon tank, mesh lid but covered with suran wrap to keep humidity in.


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? Normally 3 crabs, but the two who were up I just took home today, so the crab that is down is in the tank byhimself now.


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I probably have 20 shells in there for the 3 diff crabs. Maybe 10 that this crab would fit into.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? None


12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I haven't had to clean the tank very much. I just pick any food up that fell out of the food bowl.


13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? no sponges


14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? no, nothing added since December when i redid their crabitat-they must of been happy since two dug down in january =)


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.)? I don't think so. I don't handle them (except to move my two into a new tank that I took home today).


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I am a teacher, and I have the 40 gal at school - too heavy to move, and even if I could I wouldn't want to risk collapsing the cave for the molter. My school is planning to make an announcement soon (tomorrow most likely) about it being closed in order to help stop the spread of coronavirus. If/when my school closes, there is a chance that they would disable my electronic key to get into the school - which means I couldn't be here to check on the crab adn see if he's come up/replace food and water. The school says it could be UP TO 4 WEEKS of being locked out. This crab is my biggest one - he's sitting in shells that are at least 1 inch opening. So I thought about just leaving food out and checking on him every few days - but I might be locked out of the building for a month! I know the protein I feed molds over in about 3 days and the other food probably wouldn't even last that long. Plus, if/when they do close the school - they will probably deep clean and I don't know what that consists of - possibly using disinfectant fog or other chemicals. I know I could seal the tank for that - but again, I could be locked out and not able to get in to completely seal the tank (there's only a few cm gap, but still chemicals would get it. I have posted on the HCA facebook and have been getting some information there, but now it's crunch time. Tomorrow is when the announcement will most likely be made - I'm hoping that when I come in in the AM he's above ground walking around! But I doubt it. And I truly know we aren't supposed to dig for them, I promise, but at this point, I don't think I can leave him here with the chance that I couldn't check on him for up to a month? Any advice is welcome. I have read so far to have an isolation tank ready (I have a 10 gal I can put him in). Make a divot in the sand, place the exoskeleton in the divot, then put crab on top of it, and cover him with a ceramic bowl, then I just wait for him to dig out of the bowl? Will he dig under to get out of the bowl or will I need to check on him? If I end up digging him up/taking him home - then I am going to seal the tank up with black garbage bags and duct tape so that whatever they clean with won't get into the tank at school while he's home with me. Please understand that I know we aren't supposed to dig, but I don't think i have an option. I even asked my building principal about getting in over the closer - he said that if we are locked out there's no way to get that approved. I can't see the bottom of the tank and he's not against the sides, so I don't know where he is buried. Thank you all in advance for your advice.


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Hello, hopefully everything will work out for you. It sounds like you have a good grasp on crab care! I believe I would do the same thing and prepare to dig and transport him home since you are unsure of the time frame. It's a difficult decision to make, but due to the "unforeseen circumstances" I believe it is a your best decision. A few days water and foods would be fine. If they fumigate it's hard to say what could really happen.

Anyway, here is a post ciaraalston posted when she was moving and had to dig up six crabs. It should really help you with what you need to do while digging! She didn't have any issues so hopefully her technique will work for you! viewtopic.php?f=27&t=118837

If he is mid molt when you find him keep him in a small isolation container inside your temporary tank with his exo. Also allow him to have a hide and small caps of fresh and salt water in there too. Once he finishes his exo keep him in the iso for a few days to fully harden and offer him small plenty of different foods. He will be inactive and groggy after shedding while his new exo hardens. Once he starts becoming active and climbing around after a few days he can be placed back with his buddies.

I would do the same thing with covering the tank with a garbage bag and seal it with duct tape. I would also leave a nice note asking to not disturb the crabitat. Before reintroducing them to the tank I would see if anything was sprayed or cleaned around the tank just to be safe.

Good Luck!

You posted on FB earlier? I'm Rachel, and gave the advice to dig in the event of an emergency. You'll be fine! I think he will be, too. I know we say to never do it, but this is the kind of situation where you have no other choice.

I would suggest for the digging, to start at one end of the tank and carefully dig a trench to the bottom, and then scrape your way across the tank from there. That way you'll feel the molting cave give way the moment you touch it, and know when to stop and excavate around the crab.

wodesorel wrote:You posted on FB earlier? I'm Rachel, and gave the advice to dig in the event of an emergency. You'll be fine! I think he will be, too. I know we say to never do it, but this is the kind of situation where you have no other choice.

I would suggest for the digging, to start at one end of the tank and carefully dig a trench to the bottom, and then scrape your way across the tank from there. That way you'll feel the molting cave give way the moment you touch it, and know when to stop and excavate around the crab.

Thank you! yes I posted on Facebook earlier to get some info there as well.

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Motörcrab wrote:Hello, hopefully everything will work out for you. It sounds like you have a good grasp on crab care! I believe I would do the same thing and prepare to dig and transport him home since you are unsure of the time frame. It's a difficult decision to make, but due to the "unforeseen circumstances" I believe it is a your best decision. A few days water and foods would be fine. If they fumigate it's hard to say what could really happen.

Anyway, here is a post ciaraalston posted when she was moving and had to dig up six crabs. It should really help you with what you need to do while digging! She didn't have any issues so hopefully her technique will work for you! viewtopic.php?f=27&t=118837

If he is mid molt when you find him keep him in a small isolation container inside your temporary tank with his exo. Also allow him to have a hide and small caps of fresh and salt water in there too. Once he finishes his exo keep him in the iso for a few days to fully harden and offer him small plenty of different foods. He will be inactive and groggy after shedding while his new exo hardens. Once he starts becoming active and climbing around after a few days he can be placed back with his buddies.

I would do the same thing with covering the tank with a garbage bag and seal it with duct tape. I would also leave a nice note asking to not disturb the crabitat. Before reintroducing them to the tank I would see if anything was sprayed or cleaned around the tank just to be safe.

Good Luck!

Thank you! I will take a look at that post also. I really wish I could avoid this, but feel it's best for him.

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The one and only time I had to dig up a crab was when I had a flood. I was so stressed and anxious about it - even though I knew I needed to do it to possibly save her life. I had to come on the forum to get some moral support and good vibes so I had the courage to actually do it. I will be sending those vibes your way - you got this!

curlysister wrote:The one and only time I had to dig up a crab was when I had a flood. I was so stressed and anxious about it - even though I knew I needed to do it to possibly save her life. I had to come on the forum to get some moral support and good vibes so I had the courage to actually do it. I will be sending those vibes your way - you got this!

Thank you I really appreciate it and will update tmrw evening when I get home!

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Update: I got the isolation tank all ready. Started with a trench on the shallow side where I didn't think the crab would be. Got about 4 inches to the left and found his shell in a cave. He was tucked into his shell, right next to him were the remains of his exo. He did not move. There was about 2 centimeters of a few of his legs left, I put them under him. So glad that most of it was already eaten! I covered him with a coconut hut and took a large flat piece of moss and put it over the door of the coconut. I sprinkled oyster and crab shell, have protein available, bottle caps of fresh and salt water inside a Tupperware container that's about 4X8 inches. I placed the tuperware container in the 10 gallon tank that I have an insulated UTH on and covered it with a towel. So far so good, thanks for your help so far everyone. I'll be taking the tank home today during lunch time, I hope all goes well with him.

That's good news! It sounds like everything went great. Now he just needs to spend some quiet time to harden up. Sometimes they don't eat all of their exo, but it's good you added some additional calcium.

Right on! That's pretty much best case scenario as far as being done molting and just having some exo left!

curlysister wrote:Right on! That's pretty much best case scenario as far as being done molting and just having some exo left!

I was very relieved

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This makes me happy

2nd update and a new question. So since yesterday I've been hearing him move around a little bit in the tank, this afternoon when I peeked in the tank he had found himself a new shell and was moving around. I went ahead and put in a variety of food and he was sitting in the food dish a while ago LOL. My next question is about space. I have a crab who's in about 3/4 inch and another one and one in shells who are in a 15 gallon together(my cat boo was checking these guys out yesterday). Then I have this guy that I had to dig up in a 10 gallon. My 40 gallon is at school but there is a minimum of one month before I can even go back to my classroom. My question is should I just leave him alone in the 10 gallon for a month or more? Or should I try introducing him into the 15 with the two other crabs after a few more days? I don't want it to be too crowded but I also don't want him to be lonely.

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