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 fiber+playsand/6 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? [Top of tank/ 86+55 but im pretty sure cause its on the top]


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? [Heat pad]


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)? [Thrive+flunkers]


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? [Fruits, veggies, and meat everyday]


6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? [ like a week im not sure]


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


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? [20 gallon mesh lid]


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? [2 medium size]


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? [7]


[i][color=#A9A9A9]11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? [No]


[i][color=#A9A9A9]12. How often do you clean the tank and how? [Whenever i see it honestly i just gake it out and get the gross stuff out]


[i][color=#A9A9A9]13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? [Nope not anymode]


[i][color=#A9A9A9]14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? [Nope]


[i][color=#A9A9A9]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.)? [Just got this crab the other day ]


[i][color=#A9A9A9]16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. [Came home to find my hermit crab is out of the shell i cant find her and its 2am and im tired but i dont want her to die just cause i was tired and didnt look for her but i dont wanna just go digging in the sand i dont see her anywhere and im worried she dead i just got her the other day cause my other hermit crab died not to long ago for my other crab to be happy its only been a few days and i dont know where shes at im out here stresssing theres so much going on i havent been home cause my mothers wedding is tomorrow we weve been preping they have been being watched i dont know how no one saw this im stressing i dont know what to do]


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I forgot to add this she isn't in any of the other shells that was my first thought I checked

Also I don't know what to do since the wedding is tomorrow we leaving today I can't leave them alone right now but I can't take them with me

I'll put my suggestions under your answers. Hope this helps!

sean wrote: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 fiber+playsand/6 inches]

CL77-Is it moistened to sand castle consistency using dechlorinated fresh or salt water?

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? [Top of tank/ 86+55 but im pretty sure cause its on the top]

CL77- Crabs need humidity levels above 70% at all times (80%+ is best). 55% is too low. Crabs need moisture in the air to breathe. Cover your mesh lid completely in saran wrap to help boost the humidity.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? [Heat pad]

CL77-Make sure it's not under the tank, but on the side or back of 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)? [Thrive+flunkers]

CL77-You'll need a marine salt for your salt water pool. Instant Ocean is a popular brand. A good dechlorinator and heavy metal detoxifier is Prime. You can use tap water for both pools as long as you treat it with Prime.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? [Fruits, veggies, and meat everyday]

CL77-Are you offering a constant source of calcium? I keep calcium powder and cuttlebone in my tanks at all times.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? [ like a week im not sure]

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

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? [20 gallon mesh lid]

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? [2 medium size]

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? [7]

CL77-Are they the correct type of shells? Crabs, like purple pinchers, prefer shells with round openings, like turbos. Check the care sheet for more info.

[i][color=#A9A9A9]11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? [No]

[i][color=#A9A9A9]12. How often do you clean the tank and how? [Whenever i see it honestly i just gake it out and get the gross stuff out]

CL77-No need to deep clean anyway unless there is a bacterial bloom or flood. Just taking out old bits of food works. That's what I do.

[i][color=#A9A9A9]13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? [Nope not anymode]

[i][color=#A9A9A9]14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? [Nope]

[i][color=#A9A9A9]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.)? [Just got this crab the other day ]

[i][color=#A9A9A9]16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. [Came home to find my hermit crab is out of the shell i cant find her and its 2am and im tired but i dont want her to die just cause i was tired and didnt look for her but i dont wanna just go digging in the sand i dont see her anywhere and im worried she dead i just got her the other day cause my other hermit crab died not to long ago for my other crab to be happy its only been a few days and i dont know where shes at im out here stresssing theres so much going on i havent been home cause my mothers wedding is tomorrow we weve been preping they have been being watched i dont know how no one saw this im stressing i dont know what to do]

CL77-The most important thing is boosting your humidity. Cover your mesh lid in plastic wrap, and that should do the trick. Make sure calcium is always available, and get a marine salt when you can. Are you sure your crab didn't just take another shell and dig under? If you are sure she's naked underground, you will need to carefully dig her up. A crab without a shell will not survive. Here is the care sheet on getting a naked crab back into its shell:

https://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB ... 7&t=122302

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I have plastic on the lid and mist it everyday honestly I'm really worried cause I haven't been home since Friday morning and won't be back until Sunday I didn't know what to do I rlly hope if she under the ground she doesn't die

sean wrote:I have plastic on the lid and mist it everyday honestly I'm really worried cause I haven't been home since Friday morning and won't be back until Sunday I didn't know what to do I rlly hope if she under the ground she doesn't die

It sounds like she may have taken another shell and went under. Try not to worry too much. Is your substrate moistened to sand castle consistency? If it's not, that could be why your humidity is so low. The crabs need all of the substrate moist so they can dig/tunnel and not have their tunnels collapse. Just be carful with misting. Too much can cause flooding. Is the entire lid wrapped up? If you have any mesh exposed, wrap that up too when you get home. The crabs will get air exchange when you do tank maintenance.

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Honestly I don't rlly remember the sand texture but I'll check and yes the tank is covered all the way which is why I don't understand why it's always so low

Also thank you for the advice

Yw. Def keep us updated once you get home. Good luck with everything.

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Ok so I checked your right mine isn't a sandcastle consistency and your also right my hermit crab went in a different shell I must just overlooked it

I'm glad your crab is ok. When you wet your sand, make sure it holds its shape when you squeeze it, but it shouldn't be dripping. That's how you'll know you've got the right consistency.

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I did it thank you for all the help!