schedule change

[jmafnas92]

I have 4 hermit crabs. I've had them now for about 2 months. I believe my very unique crab (he's a little special which I love) has decided to molt. Almost a surface molt. Very shallow. Directly under the main house they all sleep in. The 3 other crabs have relocated to the smaller house. They seem very contact cuddled together but I have noticed lately that I never see them out. Usually 1 or 2 will come out around 10pm. My single female sometimes comes out earlier. But every day since leonardo started to molt they all just hide away. I've ever been up around 3am and not a single crab was out. Which seems very very strange to me. It also makes me believe they aren't eating or drinking which is hard enough to tell on its own. Has anyone else experienced this? Some advice or answers would be nice.

P.s. I would like to isolate Leo but I know digging isn't an option. He's picked the worst spot to isolate with a 2liter bottle. He's right against a buried plant. Any suggestions for that would be awesome too.

Thank you!

Jackie

[aussieJJDude]

Probably the weather is getting colder and they can feel it... Even the light cycle, they can sense that the duration of the day is shortened so they a bit more reclusive. Mine do a similar thing during winter, they will not be as active as summer.

[jmafnas92]

It's possible. I live in the desert though. Still pretty sunny here and the tank temp is 70F so I knew it wasn't any kind of hibernation. I did lots and lots or research before getting my crabs and this wasn't anything I came across so I was very curious as to see what others thought. It just seemed very off that their behavior would change right as we experience the first molt here.

[LadyJinglyJones]

Has the temp dropped even a few degrees? That would slow their metabolism down considerably. Crabs can't control their own body temp (the term for which is one of my favorite words - poikilotherm ), an their metabolism multiplies per increment of temperature added.
#funfacts

That's why peeps on the forum generally recommend 80° temps... you get more active crabbies. Also, if the rest were getting ready for a molt, they'd slow down. Try smoothing out the sub to see if there are any tracks!

[jmafnas92]

Gotta love fun facts and there hasn't been a temperature drop. The tank has been 70 degrees for at least a month now. And doing research I can never really get a solid answer to the temperate needed. Some say 80. But I've also ready 70-80 and any warmer and the crabs will surely die. I've also read the perfect tempature. Is 73. It's all very confusing as to what's really "best" I did read about crabbies hibernating of sorts when the tempature gets close to 60 but that's not the problem. I was up last night till 4 am (don't know why) but I kept check the tank and no one came out of the hut. I can see my most active one right in the opening just standing there but no one comes out.

[aussieJJDude]

In any animal care, there are going to be different opinions. Yes, crabs can handle temps higher than 80F, no they can not go below 60F long term. When I first started, HCA use to reccomend keeping the temp at 75F, no higher than that. Nowadays, 75F is looking below the bare minimum, where many on here reccomend above 80F. Keeping the tank at 70F is going to make them less active, I imagine if you bumped up the heat - to 75 or better yet, 80F - you will see an increase in activity and less huddling. When I first started, my crabs use to huddle too - keeping them at 72-75F - however now at 86F, I never really see them hiding or huddling like you mentioned, rather spread out throughout the tank.

[Visual]

I'd be worried to, I just had a crab get sluggish when his other tank mates buried to molt. Maybe they will molt too? Idk, I'm too new at this. I had others tell me that maybe mine was preparing to molt as well but he eventually died. I'd just monitor them and for sure move that main hut so you can ISO the partially buried crab.


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[jmafnas92]

It seems like no matter what I read or how much research I do I can never figure them out. They're interesting creatures. Mine buried himself for days and i knew for a fact he wasn't coming out at night. So I assumed he was molting. And this would have been the first molt for any of mine but sure enough he came up today. So I really have no idea. When I first got him he would dig and bury himself every day. I chalked it up to stress. After a month he stopped. Maybe he's just a digger. And maybe the others had enough and moved to the other house. I wouldn't say they're huddling. Just all together in a smaller house because the weirdo crab was digging in the house and disturbing them. I can see into the house and they're moving around. But now my weirdo crab is in the house hanging upside down like a bat. I have no idea what they're all doing anymore. I'm so confused lol

[LadyJinglyJones]

But now my weirdo crab is in the house hanging upside down like a bat. I have no idea what they're all doing anymore. I'm so confused lol

This seems to be a common refrain.

Crabs are weird.

[jmafnas92]

That's my "special" crab doing his impression of a bat lmao
lmao he's been a weirdo since day 1. So glad I got him lol

[jmafnas92]

In any animal care, there are going to be different opinions. Yes, crabs can handle temps higher than 80F, no they can not go below 60F long term. When I first started, HCA use to reccomend keeping the temp at 75F, no higher than that. Nowadays, 75F is looking below the bare minimum, where many on here reccomend above 80F. Keeping the tank at 70F is going to make them less active, I imagine if you bumped up the heat - to 75 or better yet, 80F - you will see an increase in activity and less huddling. When I first started, my crabs use to huddle too - keeping them at 72-75F - however now at 86F, I never really see them hiding or huddling like you mentioned, rather spread out throughout the tank.

I increased the tank tempature to 75 and not a single crab is out. Its currently 440am. And I would expect to see them moving around but none of them are. All 4 of them are just perfectly content in their perspective houses. They're split between 2 now. So it's not really huddling. Just in the house. I really don't get it. Sudden behavior change like this for no explained reason is worrisome.

[daws409]

That's my "special" crab doing his impression of a bat lmao
lmao he's been a weirdo since day 1. So glad I got him lol

Shy Guy (my smallest) sleeps like this in his bonsai cave. Nice to know other crabbies do this!

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[GotButterflies]

I have one in each of my tanks that does this on the cork bark in my tanks. Beautiful coloring on your crab!
I know my tats have slowed down due to the winter months... and I'm in Florida.
As far as the temps...look at it this way: surviving and thriving are very different.

[jmafnas92]

I've increased the tempature. It's currently at 80F. I cleaned out their water last night and move the houses around. Three are currently hiding in the dirt. The water is clear of any debris so I'm inclined to believe no one is drinking or taking a swim. The food doesn't look touched. And my crab that isn't in the dirt is at the opening of a house just starring at me. Like for the last hour. I can see his legs moving around he just won't come out. I'm all out of ideas now. I have no clue what is wrong. And I'm getting increasingly worried.

[GotButterflies]

I agree, as long as your temperature and humidity are above 80, I would just be patient. Crabs go through spells of not eating as much through this time of the year. Are you offering calcium carbonate, eggshells, cuttlebone, organic raw honey, lots of protein? If not I would. Also offer other things on the food pyramid (organic veggies, fruit, coconut oil, etc). Good luck. Like someone said...crabs are weird. Try not to stress.


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