HCA: Hermit Crab Association

The last several days it doesn't seem like my crabs are eating. I used to catch them but not for days. Not even popcorn. Or honey. Or food I got from hermie's kitchen. I even put one by the food. A few minutes later he was hiding somewhere. I got the temp and humidity up so I'm hoping to see more activity. They've been hanging out up against the tank where the heater is.

Sometimes crabs go through times when they're less energetic about eating. It can be linked to moult cycles - they'll slow down a bunch.

Also, they may just be eating reeeeally tiny, dainty pinches.

You can try smoothing out the sand around the food at night & see if there are any crab foots prints in the morning.

Either way, try not to worry. We all see periods of seemingly low food intake from time to time.

It's ok. My crabs didn't see treat for like DAYS and then I discovered a secret food cache! It could be that.

Lewisthecrab wrote:It's ok. My crabs didn't see treat for like DAYS and then I discovered a secret food cache! It could be that.

I don't think so. Even the popcorn is still there. A little shriveled but still there.

Is their tank warm enough?

GotButterflies wrote:Is their tank warm enough?

I finally got the tank warm and humid. Even put a blanket on top.

Now that their tank is warm enough they should start to move around in the next day or so which will lead to them eating again


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GotButterflies wrote:Now that their tank is warm enough they should start to move around in the next day or so which will lead to them eating again


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Thanks. I have a question. With the insulation on all sides of the tank, including the lid, how do they get any daylight?

They need 12 hr day & 12hr night.


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GotButterflies wrote:They need 12 hr day & 12hr night.


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I know but if the tank is covered in insulation and a blanket, how does that happen? If I take off the insulation and blanket, then it's too cold.

Do you have any lighting that you could use?

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A goose neck lamp or old aquarium hood would be ideal. You can clear a little space over the top where the light can shine in. Incandescent bulbs give off heat, so where the light shines won't become a heat sink so long as the bulb isn't too far away. You can use your hand to make sure of this.

LadyJinglyJones wrote:A goose neck lamp or old aquarium hood would be ideal. You can clear a little space over the top where the light can shine in. Incandescent bulbs give off heat, so where the light shines won't become a heat sink so long as the bulb isn't too far away. You can use your hand to make sure of this.

But won't that kill the humidity? Wouldn't flourescent be better?

Hermiesguardian wrote:

LadyJinglyJones wrote:A goose neck lamp or old aquarium hood would be ideal. You can clear a little space over the top where the light can shine in. Incandescent bulbs give off heat, so where the light shines won't become a heat sink so long as the bulb isn't too far away. You can use your hand to make sure of this.

But won't that kill the humidity? Wouldn't flourescent be better?

If its not pressed up right next to the lid - aka gap for heat to escape - it should have little affect on humidity.

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Hermiesguardian wrote:

GotButterflies wrote:They need 12 hr day & 12hr night.


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I know but if the tank is covered in insulation and a blanket, how does that happen? If I take off the insulation and blanket, then it's too cold.

Can you add another or different heater?


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