HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Brio444 wrote:1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

Play sand and coconut fiber. 8 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?

4 inches from top on the inside back. Side away from the heating pad.
Temp is generally 72-76. Humidity 90+

CL77- 72° is a bit low, and the crabs may be less active at this temp. Shoot for 75°+ if you can.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Stuck on “under tank” thing, but it’s on the back. Just above the sand level.

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. Well water, not dechlorinated because there’s no chlorine in it. Salt is with instant ocean. I think it’s a tsp/c? I made a gallon that sits next to the tank and it lasts forever.

CL77- I also have well water but still use Prime. Prime will detoxify any heavy metals that may be lurking in your water supply.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Hermit crab patch - various. I buy sample sizes and rotate. They have surf and turf. Winter claws, basic diet, midnight ecstasy, fruit treat, crunch-something, etc.
I change it every other day. They never finish it.

CL77- That all sounds good. Do you provide a constant source of calcium too?

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Have not added crabs since The Before Times, so at least feb/March 2020.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
This one recently came up - I think. They’re all very into burrowing and hiding and I haven’t confirmed molting. But he reappeared about 6 weeks ago looking very pinky pale and super hairy.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
Roughly 30 gallon half hexagon glass aquarium. Plastic lid that had an open space at the back. I rigged up a closed thing for that mostly with duct tape (not on the inside) after one crab escaped and I found him in a boot. Closing the back also solved the humidity problem.


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
3 - this one and another are in ping pong ball size shells or slightly smaller. Third is smaller.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 20+

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? No.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

Not really. I clean up their surface mess (moss bits and food.). And if the jute stuff gets a bit moldy I salt water wash it (have done that twice).

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
None.

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.)?
Not that I can think of .

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Found a crab hanging naked upside down from a vine this afternoon. His curlybutt is very withered looking. I misted him and slid him back into his shell and he seemed to hold in there but he did not pull all the way in and has not moved since. He’s in a nursery box in the tank with a tiny dish of water but at this point I am 99% sure he has passed.

CL77- It does sound like he may have passed, I'm sorry. Is there any smell yet? For your other crabs, I'd try to boost the temp (maybe add another small uth on the side when you can), and start using Prime in your water.


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CrabbyLover77 wrote:I'll put my suggestions under your answers. Hope it helps!


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Brio444 wrote: For calcium I have a supplement that gets sprinkled on top of the sand. It’s also from the hermit crab patch.


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CrabbyLover77 wrote:If you can put some separately in a dish this may make it more accessible for them. With all the digging crabs do, a lot of the supplement may end up mixed in the sand and not eaten.

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