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?
Sand and coca fiber about six inxh

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?
Around seventy for both

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heat pad on the 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)?
Fresh and salt water

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Food pellets, sunflower shoots in tank

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

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Have not

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

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Two, one small one medium

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

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Sift through the sand and change water

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges

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.
There's a small circular hole in my medium crabs she'll, it's clean through, you can see him moving inside of it. I don't know what to do, he isn't changing shells and it's a perfectly circular hole with the shell chipped around it, what should I do?

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Photos of the crab (the thing in the hole is his body poking out)


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1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Sand and coca fiber about six inxh

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?
Around seventy for both
Curly - That is a bit low for both the humidity and temperature. Do you have a cover on your tank?

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heat pad on the 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)?
Fresh and salt water
Curly - What brand(s)?

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Food pellets, sunflower shoots in tank
Curly - Most pellets contain preservatives that can be harmful long term, and they don't provide adequate nutrition for long term health. Be sure to read through the 'nutrition' care sheet for full info about feeding hermit crabs.

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

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Have not

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

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Two, one small one medium

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Three
Curly - HCA recommends 3 to 5 extra shells per crab. Be sure to read through the 'shell's care sheet to ensure you are offering appropriate types of shells.

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Sift through the sand and change water

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges

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.
There's a small circular hole in my medium crabs she'll, it's clean through, you can see him moving inside of it. I don't know what to do, he isn't changing shells and it's a perfectly circular hole with the shell chipped around it, what should I do?
You have a few things that need improved in your tank for long term health. All you can do is offer appropriate options fro the crab to change shells, you can't force them to change.