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 two to three inches deep

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 I have Gauges is my house always is keeping at 70 to 75° and humidity is almost perfect

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes I have heat sources a heat pad on the back wall and heat lamp on the top of a wire mesh that I activate whenever the temperature drops

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)?
My crabs have both salt and fresh water has a sponge that I clean constantly and I do not need any dechlorinators as my water is from an underground well

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed them all kinds of food fruits vegetables leafy greens pellet food eggshells and the occasional potato chip or two as a treat. Food is changed every day except on Saturday when I'm with my dad

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I've had one of my crabs for almost 2 years now and the other one for almost a year and a half now

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
One of my crabs just finished molting and is a little discolored still which is why I'm so concerned

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
a 20 gallon tank with plenty of vertical space to climb

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have two medium sized crabs which is species of our unknown but they are the same species both female

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I usually keep three to four extra shells with them

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Once a month I do a full soil change and wash off all of their decorations

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 have two crabs in my tank right now one of them just went through a molt my crab that has not gone through the molt is bullying my other crap that just did he is physically grabbing him by the big claw or leg whichever he can grab and forcefully ripping him out of the shell and then following him around the cage bullying him I have no extra cages to put them in so I have one of them in a cardboard box right now I don't know what to do


.

Equitablecrabs wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 11, 2024 3:22 pm

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 two to three inches deep

It's ideal to have a 3:1 ratio of sand to coco fiber and for it to be sand castle consistency.
For example if you do 3 cups of sand you would do 1 cup of coco fiber.

The sand I get is kids play sand from a department store

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 I have Gauges is my house always is keeping at 70 to 75° and humidity is almost perfect

Humidity should aim for 80 or above and temp should be 75°F and above


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes I have heat sources a heat pad on the back wall and heat lamp on the top of a wire mesh that I activate whenever the temperature drops

To help keep humidity if your whole lid is mesh you can put ceramic wrap on it or tin foil

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)?
My crabs have both salt and fresh water has a sponge that I clean constantly and I do not need any dechlorinators as my water is from an underground well

What do you use for your salt water?

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed them all kinds of food fruits vegetables leafy greens pellet food eggshells and the occasional potato chip or two as a treat. Food is changed every day except on Saturday when I'm with my dad


6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I've had one of my crabs for almost 2 years now and the other one for almost a year and a half now

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
One of my crabs just finished molting and is a little discolored still which is why I'm so concerned

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
a 20 gallon tank with plenty of vertical space to climb

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have two medium sized crabs which is species of our unknown but they are the same species both female

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I usually keep three to four extra shells with them

You should keep 5 shells for each crab.

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Once a month I do a full soil change and wash off all of their decorations

You shouldn't really ever have to replace all of your substrate unless theres an infestation or bacteria/mold bloom. And if you have medium crabs it should be 6 plus inches of substrate to insure they can burrow and feel safe when they molt.


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 have two crabs in my tank right now one of them just went through a molt my crab that has not gone through the molt is bullying my other crap that just did he is physically grabbing him by the big claw or leg whichever he can grab and forcefully ripping him out of the shell and then following him around the cage bullying him I have no extra cages to put them in so I have one of them in a cardboard box right now I don't know what to do

It is possible that you aren't giving then enough protein. You can give the eggs and egg shells. If you can easily access a pet stre you can also get them a reptile carnivore mix and everything in those are pretty good for your crabs.

You should also have 5 shells per crab - a couple that are one size down, a couple a size up, and one or to the same sizes as the one she's already in that way she can feel comfortable changing if she has to.

I hope this helps!

But I need to know what to do with the bully crab

Try a bath (dunk in the water bowl) for both crabs and see if that stops the behaviour. It might have nothing to do with the shells and everything to do with a recently molting crab smelling like dinner. If the bath doesn't stop the behaviour then they have to be separated or one will end up dead. It's likely to only be a temporary issue but they need physical distance for a few days at least, maybe until one or both changes their shells.

I'll try the bath but I don't have a long term way to separate them

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Coconut fiber two to three inches deep

It's ideal to have a 3:1 ratio of sand to coco fiber and for it to be sand castle consistency.
For example if you do 3 cups of sand you would do 1 cup of coco fiber.

The sand I get is kids play sand from a department store
Curly - All coco fiber, all play sand, or a mix of the two in any ratio can be used.

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 I have Gauges is my house always is keeping at 70 to 75° and humidity is almost perfect

Humidity should aim for 80 or above and temp should be 75°F and above
Curly - Humidity over 70% is fine, 75% or more is ideal. Temp of 72F and above is fine for PPs, but aiming for closer to 80F gives some wiggle room in case it drops a bit.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes I have heat sources a heat pad on the back wall and heat lamp on the top of a wire mesh that I activate whenever the temperature drops

To help keep humidity if your whole lid is mesh you can put ceramic wrap on it or tin foil

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)?
My crabs have both salt and fresh water has a sponge that I clean constantly and I do not need any dechlorinators as my water is from an underground well

What do you use for your salt water?
Curly - Sponges are not necessary, and just breed bacteria in the water - they should be removed.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed them all kinds of food fruits vegetables leafy greens pellet food eggshells and the occasional potato chip or two as a treat. Food is changed every day except on Saturday when I'm with my dad
Curly - Most pellet foods contain preservatives that can be harmful over time. Crabs need a source of animal protein daily.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I've had one of my crabs for almost 2 years now and the other one for almost a year and a half now

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
One of my crabs just finished molting and is a little discolored still which is why I'm so concerned

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
a 20 gallon tank with plenty of vertical space to climb

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have two medium sized crabs which is species of our unknown but they are the same species both female

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I usually keep three to four extra shells with them

You should keep 5 shells for each crab.
Curly - HCA recommends 3-5 extra shells per crab.

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Once a month I do a full soil change and wash off all of their decorations

You shouldn't really ever have to replace all of your substrate unless theres an infestation or bacteria/mold bloom. And if you have medium crabs it should be 6 plus inches of substrate to insure they can burrow and feel safe when they molt.
Curly - Substrate should be at least 2-3 times as deep as your largest crab.

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 have two crabs in my tank right now one of them just went through a molt my crab that has not gone through the molt is bullying my other crap that just did he is physically grabbing him by the big claw or leg whichever he can grab and forcefully ripping him out of the shell and then following him around the cage bullying him I have no extra cages to put them in so I have one of them in a cardboard box right now I don't know what to do

It is possible that you aren't giving then enough protein. You can give the eggs and egg shells. If you can easily access a pet stre you can also get them a reptile carnivore mix and everything in those are pretty good for your crabs.

You should also have 5 shells per crab - a couple that are one size down, a couple a size up, and one or to the same sizes as the one she's already in that way she can feel comfortable changing if she has to.

I hope this helps!