New Crab Owner

[Skeptic6]

Hello! I am new to the HCA and to owning hermit crabs. I currently have 3, two have been with me for about two months now, the third about two weeks. All three are different sizes with the biggest being a bit smaller than a golf ball. They are in a 10 gallon tank, looking for a 15-20 gallon for more room. I give them fresh food daily and water either daily or every other day depending on how dirty it is. Tank is always around 82 degrees during the day and 78 at night. The humidity is always above 80%, 75% at the lowest when left without checking for to long. My anxiety keeps me always worrying about them and if im doing everything right. My main worries are low activity and dry substrate. The substrate is about 5-6 inches, bottom half is sand with EE on top with it mixed in the middle (if that makes sense XD), im fairly certain they can burrow as iv seen them dig holes up against the glass without it caving in, and they almost always half bury themselves every day hiding from the daylight. I mist daily... The low activity is probably me just being overly worried, or they are getting bored with their surroundings.

Crab names smallest to biggest: Morty, Traffy, Broly.

[Hermiecrab]

Hello! It does sound like your doing most everything right! But here are a few tips. I am by no means experienced, but after I started doing this my crabs got WAY more active. 1. Overcrowding. If you are keeping three crabs in a ten gal tank they are going to be less active because they feel like they can't move around! I might try and get a 30 gallon minimum. The bigger the better! 2. Branches branches branches! Large, beautiful curving branches to climb on look cool and the crabs love theemmm. You crabs will get more active with time. But maybe try smoothing out the sub and watch for little footprints in the mornings. Good luck!

[JTKermie]

I too would look for a 29g at a minimum and agree that providing branches and things to climb up and around on is a must.

[Jlmills525]

Check out pics in the crabitat section for ideas. Also, you said you were worried about dry substrate. Did you soak it first and make sure it was “sandcastle” consistency? Like you can squeeze it into shape and it stays but not so wet that it drips?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Skeptic6]

I do have some wood and a bendable vine that goes around the tank. I will look for some more wood pieces and branch's. I am looking for a bigger gallon tank currently. I mistakenly put the sand in dry when setting up the tank, but about a month after having the first 2 I took everything out and wet it and added an extra inch of moist ee. Im still worried the sand might be dry in the deeper areas though. The longest any of them have stayed buried was about a week and im fairly certain he didn't molt.



Also, Jlmills525 I noticed your a WoW player? I am aswell!

[Jlmills525]

Also, Jlmills525 I noticed your a WoW player? I am aswell!

W00t! Super casual now, but I did raid seriously in Wrath (for me, seriously means I was able to kill LK before the nerfs... not competitively)