I recently purchased 2 hermit crabs and have had them for 3 weeks. They both changed shells the first day and were very active for the first few days. We could hold them and they would walk around. One of them had pinched my son 2 days in a row when he held him and then buried himself the next night. So we've determined that he's molting and have left him alone. I purchase a 10 gallon tank & set up a new tank for the other crab. (After researching more, I wasn't happy with the habitat I had originally purchased from the local pet supply store...it was a plastic thing and didn't have enough substrate)
So my second crab has been alone in the 10 gallon tank for about a week and a half. I've noticed in the past week that he is extremely inactive. Stays in hiding and isn't eating. He won't come out when I put him on my hand(which he used to do) I have smoothed the sand at night to see if there's any activity and there's none. I put out applesauce, carrots, and bloodworms for him to eat. I started to think he's just stressed and I've been leaving him alone. I'm just wondering how long can they go without eating and be ok? And how long does it typically take them to de-stress? Or do you think something else could be going on?
Also for my molting crab...He was buried for about 12 days straight but he's been moving around in the past 5. He will come to the surface, still in his shell, then dig again and then repeat the next day. Is this normal for molting crabs? I assumed they stayed buried until they were done.
My tank is 10gal, has 5 inches of substrate (sand and coco fiber), kept at 80% humidity by misting 2x daily, both fresh and salt water bowls, small heating element on the side of the tank(thinking about purchasing a light)
Thanks in advance for any advice
