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?
coconut shavings and sand mixture

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?
it is inside the tank about 5 inches up from the top of the substrate. its roughly 78 in there now but im gonna make it warmer.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
yes. i dont know what brand but they are two smaller sized sticky heating pads on the outside of the tank on the shorter side.

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)?
I use API aqarium salt mixed with distilled water as well as another bowl for fresh distilled water. theyre tiny bowls from the pet store and he gets them dirty so i refill them daily

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
He gets basic crab food powder in his bowl every day along with carrots and lettuce

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
He is a carribean hermit crab and I have had him for a year and 3 months

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
I beleive his last molt was a month ago

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
He is kept in a aquarium i beleive 45 gallons with a regualr fish tank glass lid that opens

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
1 crab about the size of a golf ball (shell included)

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
He has four extra shells inside his tank.

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Im a fairly new hermit crab owner and tried to do reserch but never was told when or how to clean his tank

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

I have spnges in both water dishes and they get replaced often
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.)?
N/A

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
My hermit crab has been trying to climb ontop of his thermostat/humoditer. he would climb into his bowl to get ontop of it but I moved the bowl away so that he wouldnt get ontop because he kept falling off and I didnt want him to get hurt. Now, he is trying to climb ontop of it by scraping the glass and even climbing out of his shell.

.

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
coconut shavings and sand mixture
Curly - How deep is it? Is it moistened with dechlorinated water so that it holds it's shape?

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?
it is inside the tank about 5 inches up from the top of the substrate. its roughly 78 in there now but im gonna make it warmer.
Curly - 78 is perfectly fine! What is your humidity?

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
yes. i dont know what brand but they are two smaller sized sticky heating pads on the outside of the tank on the shorter side.

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)?
I use API aqarium salt mixed with distilled water as well as another bowl for fresh distilled water. theyre tiny bowls from the pet store and he gets them dirty so i refill them daily
Curly - You need a marine salt, not an aquarium salt. Also, we recommend tap water treated with dechlorinator for the fresh water (and to use to mix the marine salt water) so that crabs get both ground mineral and marine minerals. What you have won't harm them, but won't provide all the necessary nutrients for long term health.
Here's the water care sheet:
https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/p ... 27&t=92553


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
He gets basic crab food powder in his bowl every day along with carrots and lettuce
Curly - What do you mean bu crab food powder? Most commercial foods aren't good long term, but if you mean powdered food you buy from a hermit crab food seller, that will be safe. Crabs do need a varied diet tho - including animal protein (meat), calcium, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, grains, greens, etc.
Here is the nutrition care sheet:
https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/p ... 25&t=92554


6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
He is a carribean hermit crab and I have had him for a year and 3 months

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
I beleive his last molt was a month ago

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
He is kept in a aquarium i beleive 45 gallons with a regualr fish tank glass lid that opens

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
1 crab about the size of a golf ball (shell included)

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
He has four extra shells inside his tank.

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Im a fairly new hermit crab owner and tried to do reserch but never was told when or how to clean his tank

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

I have spnges in both water dishes and they get replaced often
Curly - Sponges just harbor bacteria. You can put them in dry for the crabs to eat, but best to not have them in the water.

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.)?
N/A

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
My hermit crab has been trying to climb ontop of his thermostat/humoditer. he would climb into his bowl to get ontop of it but I moved the bowl away so that he wouldnt get ontop because he kept falling off and I didnt want him to get hurt. Now, he is trying to climb ontop of it by scraping the glass and even climbing out of his shell.
Curly - Crabs love to climb. Do you have lots of climbing things in the tank? If he falls from something in your tank onto the substrate, he's not going to get hurt. WHen you say 'out of his shell', do you mean completely? Like is he naked? Or just stretching really far out to climb what he wants to?

16. he would be comepletly out of his shell ontop of his shell trying to climb on his thermostat but rearranged his big peice of dry wood up at an angle so he can climb that and he really has seemed to like it