HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I wasn't sure if this should be posted here, but I was just doing maintenance on my tank, adding water to the sand and changing out the pools and all that stuff. I checked all of my crabs out and I am missing one. I'm pretty positive it didnt escape because I have a locking lid and i am always watching when the lid is open. I dug through the sand and checked the shell shop, I couldnt find him. Also didnt find any empty shells besides one outside the shell shop. Just curious if this has ever happened to anyone else? I thoroughly checked everywhere, and he isn't to be found.

Do u think ur missing crab is molting?


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I would never dig through the sand. Also, check the shells really well. Sometimes crabs can go in shells too big for them and it looks like an empty shell. Also, a freshly molted crab can blend easily before it darkens.


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I checked every empty shell twice, and checked everywhere. Nothing. But there was a shell that was outside the shell shop, buried just a tiny bit, but was sticking out of the sand, and it was full of sand. But idk if there was a crab in it before or just came out of the shell shop. Is it possible a crab could have eaten one? I didn't find any empty shells but that one, so I'm not sure.

They are likely buried. But check near vents, and in the bathroom. If you did have one escape you will likely find them where it is warm/humid.

But why wouldn't it be under the sub?

.....I just totally missed the whole dug through the sub part. I'm sorry I'm dumb today. Definitely check bathrooms/ kitchen, and near vents. Maybe put a bit of food and some moss in a sideways container and see if it attract him....

Yep. I missed that part too As Rawrgeous said, check all the areas that would be humid and dark. Hope u are able to find him soon!


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HermitCrabAddicted wrote:I checked every empty shell twice, and checked everywhere. Nothing. But there was a shell that was outside the shell shop, buried just a tiny bit, but was sticking out of the sand, and it was full of sand. But idk if there was a crab in it before or just came out of the shell shop. Is it possible a crab could have eaten one? I didn't find any empty shells but that one, so I'm not sure.

I have the same issue a shell surfaced without a crab in it and the shell never moved for 2 days!


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Wait I'm confused- she dug through the sand and there is still no crab??


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Yeah, she's thinking one got out? At least that's what I gathered.

Rawrgeous wrote:Yeah, she's thinking one got out? At least that's what I gathered.

That's not good- I had an escapee once who made it to my first floor from my third... it happened to me in the days I had a screen lid with a towel covering it- she always hung from it so I figure when I took the lid off I didn't see her and she fell to the floor and crawled off. She's ok now.


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Sorry I just read all of your posts. I looked everywhere, in my room, I always keep my door closed. No escaped hermit crab. I honestly don't know if I miscounted my hermit crabs awhile back, but I could of sworn I had a certain amount. I have a locking lid, and I always check the screen when I take it off to be sure none are on it. So I'm pretty positive one wouldn't had escape. I haven't had any empty shells lying around besides the one outside the shell shop, but thats normal for some to come out of that every now and then. So I honestly don't know where that one went. I had 2 crabs die a few days ago(from moving to a new home I assume since they were new) and one missing. Haven't been that lucky lately it seems.

That's a bummer. I hope things turn around for you!

Thank you