HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi! Most of you know I've been yearning for my own crabbies for the three years I've been on the forum now. Most of you already know I have been busy setting my my newly acquired 55gal. Well, heat was a bit tricky although I got the largest Ultratherm (without heat it was at 73, with it was at 75), so that delayed obtaining crabs. Someone on Instagram suggested a thin layer of aluminum, so I did that and my tank has been a steady 79.

ANYWAY, as you all know, I really didn't want to go to Petco. I reached out to all the Hermit Crab listings on Craigslist (6-ish) and got someone who was willing to let me adopt just the two crabs without buying everything else.

Last night I adopted/rescued my very first crabbies! I haven't had crabs since I was a child (who unfortunately didn't last long as I nor my parents had any idea for proper care and the internet wasn't a thing in our house yet)

Meet Shawn and Gus! Shawn is the larger of the two, I think his shell opening is about 1/4 an inch. Gus' shell opening is about the same, but it looks 100x too big for him! Shawn got straight to work uprooting my fake plants and when he was done there he ate some substrate, and then he drank some fresh water and briefly checked out the shells. Gus first ran to Shawn and then just hid for the rest of the night that we saw. Now Gus is hiding somewhere (assuming in the sub), and Shawn has a little cave in the sub and we can see it via side of the tank.

THEY ARE SO CUTE!!! *melts*

Both appear to be realitivitly healthy. They are just SO small! Poor Gus is in a little magpie that's like 100x too big for him. Because of their size I changed a few things already I took out the shell shop basket I had and replaced it with half a kiddie plate much more on their level. I also took out the modified hamster wheel, they are so small, I think they won't be able to get it going! And I don't know how long it will take them to discover the water pools (which right now looks like they'd have to climb a skyscraper to get to). I added (not replaced) the other half of the kiddie plate with salt water and fresh water. There's sand in both and I saw Shawn drinking the fresh, so I think that was a good idea on my part. Oh, and I didn't think they could reach their dinner so I improvised. They can reach it but it doesn't look touched.

Sorry about the book, but I'm such an excited "new" crab mom! Anyways, here's some pictures. I am posting a lot over on my Instagram page @christinescrabcare

Gus pic 1 and Shawn pic 2 & 4

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Congrats on the newbies!!

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Dont worry about them being too small that they cant reach things... Id say worry that they will enjoy climbing the silicone seams of the tank...

aussieJJDude wrote:Dont worry about them being too small that they cant reach things... Id say worry that they will enjoy climbing the silicone seams of the tank...

Okay, I will watch for that! Thanks! So far they haven't done ANY climbing. Not one claw. When they wanted to get around something, they have just bulldozed it out of their way! I'm like: "Dude! You can climb it!" But they are more content to push and push and push until it it out of their path. Funny crabbies!

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They are adorable!!!

My smallest isn't as small as yours, but when I got him, I had to change up the water bowls a bit due to his size. I was worried about him being able to climb out. Craft mesh is a great idea for that.

I love your setup!!!

Are they named for the Psych characters? Love that show! Cute crebs!

Congratulations on the new crabs!!

Also, don't be concerned about them not being able to work the wheel!! I have a couple of small es and they have no issues with my wheel!! It's huge for them!!

I like the branches everywhere.

I actually didn't immediately see the camo crab... fits in quite nicely with your setup!

JennyM wrote:Are they named for the Psych characters? Love that show! Cute crebs!

Heck yes they are! We hope to adopt a few more so we add Lassie and Jules! We have a naming scheme I also want to put a pineapple in there somehow!

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GotButterflies wrote:Congratulations on the new crabs!!

Also, don't be concerned about them not being able to work the wheel!! I have a couple of small es and they have no issues with my wheel!! It's huge for them!!

It's out for now. There isn't enough space for the new water dishes and shell shop AND wheel. They have both buried hours after we brought them home and we haven't seen them since. They haven't come to the surface. We have pet sand.

I'm hoping they are OK. I KNOW they are just destressing or molting, but it's emotionally taxing.

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Astronna wrote:I like the branches everywhere.

I actually didn't immediately see the camo crab... fits in quite nicely with your setup!

Thank you!

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Hermias_mom wrote:They are adorable!!!

My smallest isn't as small as yours, but when I got him, I had to change up the water bowls a bit due to his size. I was worried about him being able to climb out. Craft mesh is a great idea for that.

I love your setup!!!

Thank you!

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It will be okay ~ try not to worry!


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C_fiesta wrote:

JennyM wrote:Are they named for the Psych characters? Love that show! Cute crebs!

Heck yes they are! We hope to adopt a few more so we add Lassie and Jules! We have a naming scheme I also want to put a pineapple in there somehow!

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Don't we all want to live in a pineapple under the sea sometimes?

Update: today when we came home from out and about we noticed a HOLE where we thought Gus was! He moved! We think he burrowed down somewhere else. He was under for 6 days and is the very tiny one. My pet sand is ALIVE!!!

Also, I adopting a crab who needs rehoming via CL on Thursday!

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