HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi all! I'm a new hermit crab owner and am glad I found this forum. We got 3 hermies "for" my 4 year old daughter (knowing she wouldn't be the one taking care of them) at the beach. I initially was searching for other HC people because I might have accidentally collapsed a molt cave today while doing a tank refresh But after reading the Molting forum, I think everyone will tell me just wait and see what happens! Polkie Dot has been under for almost 2 weeks, and Valentine has been under for about 4 days, maybe. What makes it hard to estimate is that we've only had them in this tank since 7/19 (3 weeks) so I imagine they're all also de-stressing. Bunny even spends a lot of time half buried. Ironically, they were way more active in the bare bones 5 gal tank I put them in for a week when we brought them home from the beach (7/13). Anyway, that's the current situation!! I love them so much I wish they weren't nocturnal haha.

I found this questionnaire in a reply in the Molting forum--I know questionnaires aren't polite comments in this section, but it's ok if I preemptively do one, right?

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
6"-8" (one end of the tank is deeper); quickcrete playsand mixed with coconut coir.

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
Yes; they're at one end...which I've just learned isn't ideal. They're usually 75 ish degrees and I'm having trouble keeping my humidity steady. Aiming for 80%.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
3 under-tank mats stuck to the outside sides of the tank.

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
Fresh and saltwater pools; freshwater is untreated filtered well water, saltwater is made with Fluker's soaking salt for hermit crabs.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
The first thing I looked up was how to feed them since I could tell the corn-based pellets from the beach were trash. So far: coconut flour, almond flour, cucumber, apples / applesauce, peanuts, egg shell / raw eggwhite still stuck inside, scrambled cooked egg, raw chicken wing tip, blueberry, strawberry....hmm I'm probably forgetting something.
Commercial foods: I use Zoomed aquatic frog pellets as their 24/7 always available food, because I had it leftover from growing tadpoles. The first ingredient is fish and it's 50% crude protein. I also have Pangea Gecko with fig and insects and Pangea Gecko with apricot.
I replace their food roughly every other day. They don't seem to eat much though?? So I try not to waste, since a lot of the foods are dry and aren't getting gross.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Almost a month, and unknown.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Polkie Dot- Maybe is molting right now?
Valentine- unknown. Might be molting now.
Bunny-unknown.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
55 gallon (48" by 13") tank, standard aquarium lid with front flaps--I have the back part where water filters would go covered in plastic wrap to make it as air tight as possible.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
3, quite small I think? Polkie Dot was downright tiny. Valentine and Bunny are small-medium.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
14 right now, with more in storage.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I haven't yet! tips for how often / how to clean welcome.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Yes--I bought a bunch more greenery and some climbing toys this week to see if I can help make them more comfortable and potentially a little more active in the evening when we might see them. Placing a stem of greens is when I think I might have disturbed a molt cave

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)? I love them and I'm doing my best! I'm so glad to be here

What's the best way to post pictures? They have to be hosted somewhere else, yeah?

Welcome to crabbing and to the site!

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
6"-8" (one end of the tank is deeper); quickcrete playsand mixed with coconut coir.

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
Yes; they're at one end...which I've just learned isn't ideal. They're usually 75 ish degrees and I'm having trouble keeping my humidity steady. Aiming for 80%.
Curly - When I set up a new tank, I move the guages to different areas to see how different the temp and humidity are.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
3 under-tank mats stuck to the outside sides of the tank.

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
Fresh and saltwater pools; freshwater is untreated filtered well water, saltwater is made with Fluker's soaking salt for hermit crabs.
Curly - While the Fluker's salt isn't harmful, it won't provide all the minerals they need long term. You will need to get a marine salt; Instant Ocean is a commonly used brand (but there are others that are appropriate).

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
The first thing I looked up was how to feed them since I could tell the corn-based pellets from the beach were trash. So far: coconut flour, almond flour, cucumber, apples / applesauce, peanuts, egg shell / raw eggwhite still stuck inside, scrambled cooked egg, raw chicken wing tip, blueberry, strawberry....hmm I'm probably forgetting something.
Commercial foods: I use Zoomed aquatic frog pellets as their 24/7 always available food, because I had it leftover from growing tadpoles. The first ingredient is fish and it's 50% crude protein. I also have Pangea Gecko with fig and insects and Pangea Gecko with apricot.
I replace their food roughly every other day. They don't seem to eat much though?? So I try not to waste, since a lot of the foods are dry and aren't getting gross.
Curly - When crabs are small, they eat very little. When mine were small, I swear that the only way I knew they were eating is that they didn't die....and I found poop LOL. You can leave the food in until it gets moldy (and the mold isn't harmful to crabs, just remove it when you see it). If you're using dry foods, that will last longer than fresh. As for commercial foods, just watch to see what kinds of preservatives are in them.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Almost a month, and unknown.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Polkie Dot- Maybe is molting right now?
Valentine- unknown. Might be molting now.
Bunny-unknown.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
55 gallon (48" by 13") tank, standard aquarium lid with front flaps--I have the back part where water filters would go covered in plastic wrap to make it as air tight as possible.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
3, quite small I think? Polkie Dot was downright tiny. Valentine and Bunny are small-medium.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
14 right now, with more in storage.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I haven't yet! tips for how often / how to clean welcome.
Curly - I have never thrown out all the sub and started again. Some long term crabbers will replace all the sub every couple of years. You can mostly just pick up and remove any obvious poop and bits of food that the crabs have dragged around the tank.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Yes--I bought a bunch more greenery and some climbing toys this week to see if I can help make them more comfortable and potentially a little more active in the evening when we might see them. Placing a stem of greens is when I think I might have disturbed a molt cave

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)? I love them and I'm doing my best! I'm so glad to be here

What's the best way to post pictures? They have to be hosted somewhere else, yeah?
Curly - You can either use a file sharing/ hosting site and post a link, or you can use the TapaTalk app and post photos directly into threads.

Thanks, Curly!

Also, update: Valentine came out last night! So she is accounted for and not molting