HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I did have hermit crabs years ago in college, but I think I'm new now because there wasn't so much information available back then. So, I adopted 3 hermit crabs in a 40 gallon tank. I read they like company, so I went and ended up getting 4 more. They are all rather small.. to maybe medium.
They have about 4 inches of sand on one side and on the other side they have mulch in on corner and coconut fiber on the other corner.
They have both salt and fresh water available.
Been feeding them a commercial feed plus apple, mango, chicken, kale, spinach.
Humidity and heat in a preferred range.

My Question;

All of them except one has been dug in most of the time since I brought them home... I never know where they are. I searched for them the other day, because I wanted to make sure everyone was ok and I was curious where the heck they were hiding.

Rosemary seemed somewhat weak walking so, I put her back to the spot I found her so she could go back... she did, but not very deep and then promptly molted. I feel terrible for having disturbed her when she was obviously in molting. She is somewhat exposed, should I cover her with more substrate or leave her be? I put a crab hut over her so others won't bother her... (although, no one else but Magnolia is moving around) Magnolia by the way is very active and has changed shells 4 times in a week..

Could it be that everyone is in a molting period? Maybe they didn't have proper moisture and heat like they do know and figured it's a good time. I should resist the urge to dig them up just to find them,,, right?!

They have lots to climb on,,, if they every come out.

Thanks and look forward to any advice.

Don't know how to post pictures here yet or I'd post some.

Hi magicbrd welcome to HCA! It is hard but you must resist the urge to dig! Hermit crabs live to molt and they are always in preparation for the next one. It's important to give them deep substrate for safe and healthy molting. We recommend a roughly 5:1 mixture of play sand to eco-earth, and 3 times the height of your largest crab or at least half the tank full.
Here is a link to the basic care guide you'll find loads of updated information on hermit crab care
Care Sheet: Basic Hermit Crab Care for All Species

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_ ... are_type=t

Welcome to the HCA! You should never dig up hermit crabs, as they could be molting. Disturbing the molting process can be very hazardous to their health.

Yes they certainly could all be in need of a molt. Or they are very stressed and just want to hide under ground. I have had them go under right away from the store with me too. Don't worry they will come up. Let them be. Mix the coconut fiber with the sand. Here is the link for substrate. http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 26&t=92542
Sounds like you have most of the basics down pretty good though.
Oh here is the link for pictures. I know everyone here loves to see others tanks. http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... =8&t=87783

Welcome to the HCA!

I would do the soda bottle trick with Rosemary. You cut the bottom of a 2 liter soda bottle off. Take the cap off. put it over Rosemary, and then push it down so that she is inside of it, and then push it down to the bottom of the tank so that no other hermits can get to her. Leave her in that until she has finished eating her exo, and is moving around a lot.

Every one else can be destressing, or digging around and coming up at night. Still provide them with food, dechlorinated fresh water, and dechlorinated marine salt water. Pools should be deep enough for them to fully submerge in.

Substrate should be a minimum of 6" or 3 times the height of your largest crab (whichever is deeper). Substrate can be playsand, eco earth, or mixed to a 5:1 and wet with dechlorinated marine salt water. Mix to sandcastle consistency.

Humidity and Temperature should be no lower than 80/80.

Commercial foods are usually not safe, but there are a few.
Commercial Food Guide: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92555
Safe food:http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92557
Unsafe food: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92557
Food pyramid: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92554

Definitely do not dig for crabbies

I don't think anyone addressed this, but are you using actual mulch for gardening? If so, I would recommend removing it, as the chunks of wood can pierce the crab's abdomen and kill them. There's also the likelihood that there's something in it (such as the wood) that might be unsafe for crabs.

PinchersAndShells wrote:I don't think anyone addressed this, but are you using actual mulch for gardening? If so, I would recommend removing it, as the chunks of wood can pierce the crab's abdomen and kill them. There's also the likelihood that there's something in it (such as the wood) that might be unsafe for crabs.

Good question Pinches and Shells! I just assumed it was that jungle bed stuff!