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?
I have a 20gallon long tank for my two hermit crabs, Bobbins and Squiggles. I have had both crabs for a little over a year. I have a mix of coconut fiber and natural ocean sand setting, and a ratio is more coconut than the sand. It was originally due for, but I just now checked, and it is about 3 to 4 inches thick. There are very many caves, accessible logs, hiding places, a climbing net area, four alternate shell, options, a good salt, water, bath, freshwater bowl, and natural shell holding their food from Jurassic diet and some pellets from Thrive (I do have some of the dried shrimp, but they didn’t seem interested when I introduced those to them several months ago. I also have natural sand dollars whole and broken up for them to munch on for calcium.


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?
I have a combination thermometer and hydrometer. Temperature is consistently between 70 and 80° and humidity is never below 65% although I keep it above 70%. Currently the temperature is 78° and the humidity is 85%

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I haven’t sheets of sheet Matt for the tank that is placed on the back of the tank on the vertical wall, it is not underneath 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)?
They have bowls of fresh distilled water and a salt water bath available. 1/4 teaspoon of soaking salt to 1/4 cup of distilled water. There are islands for both bowls.


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I replaced the food daily. They are fed a mixture of Jurassidiet, hermit crab formula and thrive, hermit crab pellet diet. Squiggles prefers that I tell it swell bobbins prefers the other.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I do not know the species, but they have been with me for 13 months now


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? both crabs have moved into new shells, squiggles melted several months ago, and I believe bobbins just molted this evening


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20gallon long tank with a mesh lid and moistened towel that is adjusted to maintain proper temp and humidity


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? there are only two crabs. They were very small when we got them and now they are about 2 to 3 inches in length I estimate.


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? I currently have four extra shelves in the tank that I did boil first, and they are all natural with no paint


11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
Never any chemicals are used near them

12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I clean the tank every two or three months per instructions I looked up on this form


13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
The water is change daily, and the sponges are rinsed and distilled water daily as well. All food is a natural seashells.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No new additions have been made since March or April of this year. Last time I moved the decor around was approximately two months ago.


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.)?
They’ve always been very friendly with me, they come out immediately for me, and I’ve always gotten along together. I noticed bobbins was not very active earlier, and when I saw him being attacked, his exoskeleton was incredibly pale, pink/white to his normal, dark red shell. He appears to still have all of his limbs so I caught it very quickly. He was the one attacked, although he is the bigger crab between the two. Squiggles has a history of being aggressive as I had a third hermit crab a year ago and she attacked it and he evacuated his shell but I caught it too late and he didn’t make it.


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

Please help me quickly! One of my hermit crabs just molted today I think. My other hermit crab, who has been with him, his whole life, just attacked him and pulled him out of his shell. I immediately removed squiggles, the aggressor, to my back up tank that is set up identical to the main tank. For bobbins, the one being attacked, I quickly placed a large decorative cave over him, placed his old shell and one new shell right by him, and cut off the lights and sound, and covered the tank with towels to de-stimulate him. I’m not sure what else to do, I’ll be devastated if I lose either one of them please if anyone has advice, help me quickly! I will be staying up all tonight to discreetly monitor them without stressing them so I can immediately begin any interventions you can recommend


.

Update: it’s been about 2-3hrs. Crabs are separated and settled in identical glass tanks. Lots of extra moisture for Bobbins (the one that molted and was attacked). He did enter a new shell successfully on his own. I also boiled his previous shell and placed it nearby if ge wants it back. I found what I could of his exoskeleton and placed it near him. I crushed up his food pellets with freeze dried shrimp treats and pieces of eggshell. I put some right beside him and placed the food and water bowls very close. I buried him a bit more and placed an artificial cave over him. I covered the glass walls of the tank to help him feel hidden and safe. Lights off, music off. I guess now it’s a waiting game…. Still if anyone has any advice I’d really appreciate it

I would recommend offered a more diet with more variety and lots of protein to avoid them eating each other, I would add more shells to help stop shell jacking/violence, I would also add more substrate (until like 6 inches atleast) to help them have more space to molt to avoid them digging each other up. You could try dipping them both in freshwater so they smell that same, that seems to help stop violence!

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
I have a 20gallon long tank for my two hermit crabs, Bobbins and Squiggles. I have had both crabs for a little over a year. I have a mix of coconut fiber and natural ocean sand setting, and a ratio is more coconut than the sand. It was originally due for, but I just now checked, and it is about 3 to 4 inches thick. There are very many caves, accessible logs, hiding places, a climbing net area, four alternate shell, options, a good salt, water, bath, freshwater bowl, and natural shell holding their food from Jurassic diet and some pellets from Thrive (I do have some of the dried shrimp, but they didn’t seem interested when I introduced those to them several months ago. I also have natural sand dollars whole and broken up for them to munch on for calcium.
Curly - Your substrate should be at least 2 to 3 times as deep as your larges crab. What do you mean by 'natural ocean sand'? Is it moistened with dechlorinated water so that it holds it's shape? They need to be able to dig caves and tunnels that won't collapse.

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?
I have a combination thermometer and hydrometer. Temperature is consistently between 70 and 80° and humidity is never below 65% although I keep it above 70%. Currently the temperature is 78° and the humidity is 85%
Curly - 65% is too low, it needs to be over 70% humidity. If you keep it above 75%, that gives a bit of wiggle room in case it dips but will still be safe. Temperature should be above 72, and again if it's kept between 75 and 80, you have that bit of wiggle room in case it drops.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I haven’t sheets of sheet Matt for the tank that is placed on the back of the tank on the vertical wall, it is not underneath 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)?
They have bowls of fresh distilled water and a salt water bath available. 1/4 teaspoon of soaking salt to 1/4 cup of distilled water. There are islands for both bowls.
Curly - Distilled water does not contain any ground minerals like tap water does, and 'soaking salt' doesn't contain the proper ocean minerals. It is recommended to use tap water and treat it with a dechlorinator (Seachem Prime is a popularly used brand). Use that for the fresh water, and use that mixed with marine salt (Instant Ocean is a popularly used brand) for the salt water. What you are using won't harm them, but it doesn't provide all the minerals they need for long term health.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I replaced the food daily. They are fed a mixture of Jurassidiet, hermit crab formula and thrive, hermit crab pellet diet. Squiggles prefers that I tell it swell bobbins prefers the other.
Curly - Sometimes you need to offer a food multiple times before crabs will eat it. A varied diet is recommended, which includes protein and calcium daily. Feed a variety of meats, greens, fruits, vegetables, eggs and the shells, nuts, seeds, flowers, etc. Commercial foods aren't the best long term. You can feed much of the same foods you eat, you don't have to spend a bunch of money unless you want to. Check the 'nutrition' care sheet for some great info.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I do not know the species, but they have been with me for 13 months now


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? both crabs have moved into new shells, squiggles melted several months ago, and I believe bobbins just molted this evening


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20gallon long tank with a mesh lid and moistened towel that is adjusted to maintain proper temp and humidity
Curly - The towel won't hold humidity in very well, plastic wrap will work better for that.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? there are only two crabs. They were very small when we got them and now they are about 2 to 3 inches in length I estimate.


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? I currently have four extra shelves in the tank that I did boil first, and they are all natural with no paint
Curly - HCA recommends 3 to 5 extra shells per crab. Read the 'shells' care sheet to ensure you are offering the appropriate types of shells.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
Never any chemicals are used near them

12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I clean the tank every two or three months per instructions I looked up on this form
You don't need to change out all the substrate that often. Some people do once every year or two, but I have never changed it - I just add more as I have upgraded tanks and as my crabs have grown. You can spot clean poop and bits of food or mold that appears on the surface as needed.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
The water is change daily, and the sponges are rinsed and distilled water daily as well. All food is a natural seashells.
Curly - Sponges in the water just harbor bacteria. You can put them in dry for the crabs to eat, but don't use them in the water pools. You can use rocks, plastic ladders, etc so that the crabs can climb in and out of the pools if needed.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No new additions have been made since March or April of this year. Last time I moved the decor around was approximately two months ago.


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.)?
They’ve always been very friendly with me, they come out immediately for me, and I’ve always gotten along together. I noticed bobbins was not very active earlier, and when I saw him being attacked, his exoskeleton was incredibly pale, pink/white to his normal, dark red shell. He appears to still have all of his limbs so I caught it very quickly. He was the one attacked, although he is the bigger crab between the two. Squiggles has a history of being aggressive as I had a third hermit crab a year ago and she attacked it and he evacuated his shell but I caught it too late and he didn’t make it.


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

Please help me quickly! One of my hermit crabs just molted today I think. My other hermit crab, who has been with him, his whole life, just attacked him and pulled him out of his shell. I immediately removed squiggles, the aggressor, to my back up tank that is set up identical to the main tank. For bobbins, the one being attacked, I quickly placed a large decorative cave over him, placed his old shell and one new shell right by him, and cut off the lights and sound, and covered the tank with towels to de-stimulate him. I’m not sure what else to do, I’ll be devastated if I lose either one of them please if anyone has advice, help me quickly! I will be staying up all tonight to discreetly monitor them without stressing them so I can immediately begin any interventions you can recommend
Curly - If your crab was molting on the surface, this was not aggression but rather the other crab going for an easy meal. They smell good and are soft when molting, and in their weakened state they are easy food for another crab. Crabs should molt underground, where they are protected from predators. When they shed their exoskeleton, they are weak and extremely vulnerable to predators and other crabs eating them. What you have done by isolating him is the best thing that you can do. If he survives, you will need to keep him separate until he has eaten his old exo, hardened up his new exo, and is moving around normally and eating and drinking. Then you will need to give them both a quick dip in the fresh water, so that the 'molting' smell is washed off the one crab, and they both smell the same. There are a few things that you can improve in your tank in order to give them both the chance at a long healthy life, as I have described above.

KyMart wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 22, 2023 4:20 pm

I would recommend offered a more diet with more variety and lots of protein to avoid them eating each other, I would add more shells to help stop shell jacking/violence, I would also add more substrate (until like 6 inches atleast) to help them have more space to molt to avoid them digging each other up. You could try dipping them both in freshwater so they smell that same, that seems to help stop violence!

Do not dip a freshly molted crab in water.

curlysister wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 22, 2023 7:36 pm

Do not dip a freshly molted crab in water.

I feel that it’s a good thing to do for safety. Freshly mottled crabs smell different than the other crabs in the tank, just like how new crabs small different as well. Giving everyone a dip in freshwater won’t hurt anything, and I think that it’s best in this situation. /gen /nm

KyMart wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 23, 2023 5:39 pm

I feel that it’s a good thing to do for safety. Freshly mottled crabs smell different than the other crabs in the tank, just like how new crabs small different as well. Giving everyone a dip in freshwater won’t hurt anything, and I think that it’s best in this situation. /gen /nm

A freshly molted crab whose exo has not hardened must be isolated from other crabs in order to keep it safe. Dipping in water will not provide any safety from other crabs. Dipping a freshly molted crab in water will involve more handling, more stress, and more potential for harm.

I've had still soft crabs that had just shed (still wet and sticky) be attacked by tankmates before. I used to do a lot of rescuing and pity purchasing, and it was one of those things that can happen when there's no history to know where they're at in terms of the molting cycle. I also had a dick of a crab for a while whose favorite pastime was searching out molters in my main tank to chase them out of their shell, so I got some unwanted practice, usually in the middle of the night.

Wetting down a crab that is still soft is really iffy. Dry-ish substrate can stick to a just shed crab, and when they harden their new skin that substrate can cause deformities that last until the next molt. Usually it's worth the risk to just leave any substrate on them and not wet them down. I think I dipped a crab only once or twice in that state just because the abdomen was so covered in debris there was no way it would have been safe to reshell it.

Sometimes there's no helping having to handle them to get them into a shell and into isolation for safety. Doing it barehanded, gently, and as quickly as is safely possible is the best option. It's nerve-wracking! I never lost a fresh molter that had been shelljacked and needed saving, so they are tougher than they seem.