New Member. Three year Crab owner.

[DiTo]

Hello,

While I am new to registering, i've used this site as a source for information in the past. It has been very helpful. I would like to up my Hermit Crab game once my family moves back home in a couple of months. I was hoping to share my experience so far and ask some questions. This is a link to some pics I took last night and today: http://imgur.com/a/u1kgf
I am pretty sure both of my crabs (Joey and Samantha) are PP's. They were purchased three years ago on the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland with and for my daughter. She is 8 now and we take care of them together. Once we got home, I did not want to do what most people did, and treat them as a throw away pet. I did some research and created the Crabitat (20 gallon tank) seen in the picture. It has pretty much remained the same as the pics in the link.
My crabs have two water bowls, one fresh and one salt (instant ocean. half a cup salt to 1 gallon of water) Water is treated for chlorine and such. They have both moved in to bigger shells throughout the years. Currently them seem to swap between the two they are in and one or two similar sized shells. I also ordered some new shells recently since they never seem to touch the bigger ones I have. As Substrate I have always used just compressed coconut fiber, soaked in salt water. Last night I cleaned their tank, and everything in it and replaced the substrate with coconut fiber and play sand mix. I read on here that a lot of people like a 5:1 ratio with sand being the 5. I began adding to that tank with that ratio in mind but I didnt like it so I added more Coconut fiber. It is probably closer to a 50/50 ratio at this point. I am concerned about the consistency now, the substrate seems a lot denser than just fiber and I wondering if my crabs will be able to dig effectively in it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Anyway, since getting these two, I enjoy keeping up with their crabitat and after learning more, I am shocked to see how awful the pet trade is for these guys. I do not want to support it by buying any more, even though every time I see them in the pet stores I am appalled by the conditions of their crabitats and want so badly to save them. Also, the selection of shells and other crab items is pathetic in most places. I have bought three from pet stores on three occasions. I wanted to keep my tank at 3 crabs until I could get a bigger one. I lost each of them unfortunately. two only lasted a couple of weeks and one almost a year. I am not really sure of the cause. (to clarify, the three pet store purchases were each after the previous one died. I never had more than 3 at a time in my small tank)
Well, I'm rambling I think. I look forward to learning more from this site and its members.

Rob

[kieagcarm]

How deep is your substrate? It should be three times as deep as your biggest crab is tall, minimum of 6 inches. Your crabs are beautiful and have nice black tips and are both hairy, meaning they have successfully molted. I use more sand than ee and my crabs all successfully molted and dig like crazy, they are so messy! Welcome and I look forward to more pics, I love pics

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[aussieJJDude]

First off, welcome to HCA. Glad you decided to join! And your tank looks amazing, I love the piece of driftwood!
Substrate... They really don't mind, if you have had success using straight EE, then continue doing so. Its just the 5:1 is reccomended and has seemed to have the most success on the forum, but a few other crabbers use straight EE for many years without problems. (Don't stress! )
Like kieagcarm briefly mentioned, the one this that HCA does advise is a nice and deep substrate; which we reccomend a depth of at least 3 inches (for most cases, its around 6 inches). A deep substrate will facilitate enough room to moult and ensure that they have enough room for their favourite pass time - to dig! Trust me, even as 8-10 inches, they will still joyfully dig to the bottom. But yes, your substrate is fine. I honestly am surprised that mine dig haven't dug through the bottom of the tank yet!
You mentioned that you don't like to support the trade, a suitable alternative is to adopt. (Posting an ad on a site like craigslist for example) Many will happily give you the crab for free/reduced cost.. some even include the tank, accessories and/or shells. You give crabs a second chance to a better life, and IMO is totally a cost effective way to "expand" your colony... or tank(s).

[DiTo]

My substrate depth is 3 inches currently. That's the depth i've always kept it at each time i replace it. I'm definitely down to increase it but it will probably wait until we move back home, unless i notice any problems with my two. Glad to hear the sand shouldn't be a problem for them seeing as i bought a 50 pound bag of it, hahahaha. Got the rest in a sealed bucket. My kids and I are making Kinetic sand with it too so, it won't go to waste.

[Just Jay]

i personally do a 2:1. ee to sand. but often add more ee...sometimes sand. it will settle. when i upgrade to keep humidity up i will probably add more ee than sand. looks great over all tho! welcome!

[LadyJinglyJones]

Awesome to have you on board! I look forward to hearing about your observations & experiences.... as crabbers, we need to pool info to improve our understanding of these little weirdos!

[DiTo]

Just to be sure. For anyone who looked at my link and pictures. Am I correct that my two are PP's? Or are better pictures needed to be sure?


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[aussieJJDude]

haha, thought someone else already confirmed. Yes they are, your correct.

[DiTo]

haha, thought someone else already confirmed. Yes they are, your correct.

Thank you.


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