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?

Playsand Sand/eco earth mix, about 8 inch


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, usually keep them elevated on food platforms at front of tank, which is 5-6 inch from top of tank. Readings 75-77* since colder weather, otherwise 80*.

However, since becoming nervous about sand temp, I stuck a temp probe in sand at front of tank and reads 66*. I moved the thermometer into a food dish and placed on substrate. Temp reading there ~ 70*

Humidity usually closer to 85%.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

Uth covering full back of 55 gal above substrate line. First winter I tried installing with cardboard and tin foil on backs, sides, top, fully covering those sides. Since realizing sand was so cold, I put a sleeping bag over top and draped over front this morning. Probably going to try to double insulate with another later of foil and cardboard back, sides, and front.

In the past I've used a heat lamp previous winters, but tried different this year due to using a different top I cannot use heat with. The glass lid I had was falling apart and I tried the tape over mesh, which is my current lid.

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 daily
Marine sea salt (instant ocean) 1x weekly left for 2-3 days, 1/2 tablespoon to 1 cup
Top fin? Upgrading to seachum prime (?) Soon


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

Use safe lists and have a ridiculous amount of food in each category of proteins, seeds/nuts/oats, forage (leaves, bark, poop, flowers), fruits/veggies, healthy stuff like oils, calcium, and "treats" like honey, popped seeds. Mostly dried food, some fresh, put something new everyday and remove after 1-7 days depending if it starts to mold/smells. Some items longer, like mineral blends, that do not mold.


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

Purple pinchers
2 for 10+ years
2 adoptees ~4 months


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

10+ years - 1) ~July 16-aug 21, went back down ~oct 7
2) ~aug 10- Sept 25 through Oct 4 (?)

Adoptees have molter with previous owner a few times per their knowledge, however the picture assisted to have very shallow, drier substrate and they had them for a couple years. The smaller one did look fairly hairy when adopted.

1) went down ~sept 25-oct 4 (?)
2) ~oct 9


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

55 gal aquarium
Mesh lid covered in packaging tape with no sticky accessible.

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

4, maybe 1 medium and 3 large, but I haven't measured them in a while

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

A ton, 1 larger shell shop with larger shells, 2 shower caddys with medium shells

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No

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

Spot clean food and falling apart decor, use water to clean sides of tank

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?

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 just realized the sand is super cold and worried and feel super bad. I am working to get temps up, but wondering if anything more I can do or should be worried about.

The outside temps have been up and down for the past two months, with some days freezing outside and others in 50's, so the sand should not been cold the whole time.

I was worried they have all 3 been down for a while and started wondering if the sand could get too cold as the room feels chilly. While temps are 75-77* at front of tank a bit elevated, moving the thermometer at substrate level was about 70 and probe in sand was 66*.

I'm so worried my crabs won't make it now and feel terrible. My other crab has been burying down often the past two weeks near daily and later in day or next day.
.

I'm probably going to insulate the front, too, at least under the substrate line. To see if that helps

Insulation will help, so cover up the front of the tank and see if that helps. If it doesn’t you may need another heat source, like an extra UTH.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I use a UTH under the sand line on the back of my tank. The room gets into the 50s in the winter and I keep it cold the rest of the time, so I know most of the sand mass is too chilly for safe molting. When she goes down, she molts toward where the heater is and can choose how warm she wants it. It creates a temperature gradient in the sand, just like how there is in the air. Only downside is having to add in water occasionally, as the sand dries out a bit quickly from the heat.