HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Basic info: two pp's in a ten gallon with 4-6 inches of sand (its sloped slightly)-70 degrees and 70% humidity. Lots of cover around the tank, and fresh/salt water.

Since I've gotten them they seem like they're in molt 24/7-- they never come up to eat or drink, and if they are up, they just sit in their half log-and don't eat. They aren't dead, because every month you'll find them in the half log, and one might come out and nibble on something, before they go back down and disappear.
They aren't dead, but I'm worried that they will be soon if the behavior keeps up. And I know they're nocturnal, but I pull all nighters enough without ever seeing anything moving around in that cage. Not to mention, the food never moves or shifts.

I was also planning on upgrading them to a 20 gallon long and giving them two more friends, but I don't want to introduce any new crabs in case they're ill or something.

They do take really miniscule bites. Have you tried smoothing out the sub to see if there are any little foot prints?

Also, if you get your temp & humidity up to 80, you'll likely see more activity. Their metabolism increases with a rise in temp, so they get hungrier & a lot less lethargic at about 79 or 80°. Mine were also under more when my temps were where yours are. Humidity too - if it's more moist under the sand, that's where they'll be.

Finally, if they're just little guys, they might still be molting very often.

Hope that helps!

LadyJinglyJones wrote:They do take really miniscule bites. Have you tried smoothing out the sub to see if there are any little foot prints?

Also, if you get your temp & humidity up to 80, you'll likely see more activity. Their metabolism increases with a rise in temp, so they get hungrier & a lot less lethargic at about 79 or 80°. Mine were also under more when my temps were where yours are. Humidity too - if it's more moist under the sand, that's where they'll be.

Finally, if they're just little guys, they might still be molting very often.

Hope that helps!

Thank you! I heard a while back that 70/70 was the perfect zone, but I'll shoot for 80/80 from now on.
And when I got them, they were probably around 3/4" - last time I saw them they where at least 1", maybe slightly larger. I'll try the sand thing too though, that's a great idea.

No problem!

Definitely! I would even comfortably go 85/85 during the day. 80/80 at night would be a nice replication of evening temperature drops.

Can I ask what you normally offer them to eat?

Purple pinchers can "tolerate" lower temperatures, but at that point they are nearly surviving. They need minimum 80 temperature and minimum 80 humidity. Humidity is very important because they have modified gills and therefore need the moisture in the air in order to breathe. If you want them to thrive instead of survive, strive for mid 80s on both humidity and temperature

EadvEnturEs wrote:Definitely! I would even comfortably go 85/85 during the day. 80/80 at night would be a nice replication of evening temperature drops.

Can I ask what you normally offer them to eat?

Stuff by Hermies Kitchen with supplemented fresh food-apples and romaine lettuce mostly, but some other things too.

GotButterflies wrote:Purple pinchers can "tolerate" lower temperatures, but at that point they are nearly surviving. They need minimum 80 temperature and minimum 80 humidity. Humidity is very important because they have modified gills and therefore need the moisture in the air in order to breathe. If you want them to thrive instead of survive, strive for mid 80s on both humidity and temperature

Yes, I am aware of the modified gills. Again, I heard it a while back on here-I assumed that those were thriving conditions because I didn't see any opposition to that information. But since its not, I am trying to correct it, which may take a while, since I currently don't live with the relative they're with (long story, but it was between having the relative look after the hermit crabs for a while or look after my service dog, so they're on the other side of the state right now. I should have them back by the end of february though).

Totally understandable ~ good luck!


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