HCA: Hermit Crab Association

When the last hurricane threatened, all my above ground crabs congregated at the top of the cork tree (highest point in the tank). I read here that they go high when a storm is coming so that was neat to see in person! All seven of mine are up now and I wonder if they'll have a behavioral response to the eclipse. Unfortunately I won't be there to see it, as we decided to go out of state to visit my brother in the path of totality! My crabs are home in Central FL which will experience about 85% of totality.

I'd be curious to know if any of your crabs behave differently tomorrow!


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I was wondering the same! maybe they'll think it's night time!

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I don't know, I'm skeptical. I think here it is suppose to appear just "cloudy" and supposedly if you weren't looking for it, you wouldn't notice it. And they are inside...so...

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C_fiesta wrote:I don't know, I'm skeptical. I think here it is suppose to appear just "cloudy" and supposedly if you weren't looking for it, you wouldn't notice it. And they are inside...so...

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that's a good point. unless they can sense the moon's phases or something they might not notice. there's a fair bit of natural light in the room mine are in but unless we turn off the tank light it might not be noticable to them. but who knows!

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I mean I think there's science behind moon phases and behaviour. When it's a full moon, I can tell.

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We're pretty close to totality.... I'll let you know!

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Moon phases have a tidal pull that can be felt by some animals. Incoming storms change barometric pressure which can also be measured and sensed, sometimes well ahead of a major event like a hurricane.

Eclipse? Three hours of it being darker than normal (unless in totality), but not as bad as a storm or being in a room with the curtains drawn tight. I doubt they'll care!

That's what I was wondering, if they'd sense the tidal pull or something like that!


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So i I live in Houston Texas and my crabs have been in hiding all morning. I haven't seen a single one all day. It's like they all buried under.

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NLindsey921 wrote:So i I live in Houston Texas and my crabs have been in hiding all morning. I haven't seen a single one all day. It's like they all buried under.

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I'm in Dallas and about a dozen out of 19 are up.

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Well I believe the eclipse is over and the crabs are out again. Not all of them but 4 out of 7. I don't see any holes so i think they were hidden under the cork or mopani

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We were at 94% and 3 of the 4 were out and about! (One is molting so, haven't seen it in about a week or so)

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Crabitats normal behavior here...


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normal here too, they stayed under! oh well

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A little late to the party here, but mine were more active than normal, buried their saltwater pool and their food dish, ripped down all the vines from the walls, changed their shells several times, uprooted some climbing nets, and now Hercules has dug under. I know Es are typically active, but yipes, that was a wreck to fix I'm blaming the eclipse :roll: