HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Just put a new crab into the crabitat. It keeps going to the salt water pool and just sitting there?? Is this normal?? I only have one other crab and it is down in the substrate I can hear it moving around.

It is pretty common for new crabs from stores. They are usually deprived of good foods, calciums, shells and fresh and salt waters for months. When they get the first chance they will load up on what they were lacking. Then they usually dog down to molt.

This care guide on new crabs will probably help you out. It goes into much more detail than I just did.

http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 27&t=92531

Thank you so much!! I have 2 crabs now. One dug down within 4 hours of the new crabitat. Haven’t seen it eat or drink anything. It is still duh down this is day 3. Got a new one last night, it hung around the saltwater bowl and got inside of it, but didn’t you the food. I put new food out yesterday and it has been undisturbed... should I just keep putting new foods in there each day to see if they will come to eat??

Also the new crab stayed in the same spot since last night, I seen the food wasn’t disturbed so I tried moving him over to the food to show him. After moving him my son looked and realized he has lost a leg!!!! What do I do?! Is he ok??

Crabs go through a lot of stressors before we get them. Dropping limbs is a sign of stress. There is nothing you can do other than have them in correct conditions and see if they pull through. Check out the care sheet about PPS - Post purchase Syndrome, it explains what is happening.

Thank you so much!!! Also I just got the zoo med solution for saltwater and for freshwater. Is that better than bottles water and bottles saltwater. ???

Here's the care sheet about water.

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 27&t=92553

Thank you so much!! I actually got instant ocean!! Hoping that’ll be good!

Lost my little crabbie
Bought a new one today who is hiding somewhere. And the first is still under the sub..... I’ve got so interested in them, and I just hope they stay alive....