HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Y'all say they aren't hermits, but mine seem to be..

I have 3 smalls in a 10 gal tank. I've had all 3 since last summer. The 1st we bought from a beach souvineer shop and the other 2 from a local pet store. The first few nights after we brought the pet store crabs home, all 3 were super busy. One even changed shells several times right in front of me. They were not bashful. Soon after, the 2 new ones dug under for a few months, or I just never saw them. The original crab would hang out in the little log with the holes in it that came with the plastic box it came in. Soon it appeared to go under as well. I mist, set food out daily...2 water dishes...I began to see them one by one but never more than one at a time. As soon as I would go to take a closer look, they just run off to their tunnels again. What gives? Is this typical crab behavior?

I'd love to see all 3 at once so I can get the sand super moist like it originally was when I set everything up. The sub is 75% play sand and 25% ee. I'm in the process of getting a 20 gal tank.

Why are my crabs so scared? I know they're healthy and have molted, their colors are pretty and their legs are pretty hairy. I have things for them to climb on..

Temp stays about 75' and humidity is around 80. I'm in Texas.

Thanks.

The temp needs to be up at 80 but yes what you are describing is typical crab behavior. These guys are caught from the beach and shipped to the petstores where they are kept in subpar conditions. This stressed them out. However these are wild animals and when they are on the beach they are hunted by seagulls. They are prey animals. You are so much bigger than them that their little prey instincts kick in when they see you and they hide thinking that you are trying to eat them. Mine still do the same thing ans I've had all of these for a few months.

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Thanks for the reply. It's so different from the last time I had crabs. I had 7 in a 39 gal and they'd all hang out together at night. It was so cute.

These guys just like to hide.

I understand but each crab does have it's own personality. Try to avoid letting your shadow pass over them when they are out and they might stay out long enough for you to observe. That's what i have to do with my rose and pinchy.

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Very normal behavior. The only time I really see my crabbies is at night. I purchased one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Night- ... B00PZ7TC8E and put it on the ceiling of the room above my crabitat. In the summer I see them all of the time. During the winter months, I see them in the early evening and at night. I am the elephant in the room for sure!! They are prey animals, and therefore are scared of us. I NEVER hold mine. I don't even pick them up. I feed mine, change the water, and mine do the same thing.

New knowledge is quite good.

Hi Cathyann31, my guys are classroom and petstore rescues, so very skittish. I make sure to give them plenty of hides. It took 3 months before my classroom rescues came out from under the half log. Now they perch and climb all over. You may want to drape something over the tank to block their view of the outside world. But if I pop the lid to change food or add anything they scramble to get away or retreat into shells.

The more natural my tank's become, the more my crabs have started hiding when they see people. It's like they feel like they're in the wild now so they act like it. However, when I pick one up, they'll stay out of their shells. They don't seem afraid at all then and very much want to explore. Must be that when they're in 'the wild' they act like it. Just in case.

My tat is the exact opposite! Allot of people say the same about never seeing their crabs, i don't get it. Maybe it has to do with the numbers in my tank. There is not a time of day i walk up to my tank and ones not out and about. I'm extremely hands off with mine however they are right by the front door and i have a house full of people! If they jerked in their shell every time someone came by the tank they'd have whip lash for sure! I only have one crab I'd call reclusive out of 8. I open the tank and they hardly notice me except my little Hawaiian
I've had them about 10 months in the same spot.

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My guys will retreat if i pop the lid. Normally they will crawl and dangle as my family and i are around. The tat is in the living room. They lounge/sleep all over w almost no fear. But i can tell they do not want me in there. And i respect that. I cant even believe the Teacher took them out to race on the carpet.

This was just now...





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Aww. Mine will chill out right by the glass too. they have such a beautiful home.

Im warming up to the hamster wheel idea.might get a tiny one. I know Kermie16 has reported his crab Mike loves it. Might do my guys some good to stretch their legs.

Mine like the hamster wheel too mine is called a silent spinner i think kaytee brand. It spins super easy.

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Thanks Kaydee! Im going to ebay one asap!

You won't regret it Crabmater! It's wonderful exercise for the crabs, and great entertainment for you & your family! They walk miles a day in the wild.


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