HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I had been given my granddaughter's hermit crab, Violet, a purple pincher, who was terribly neglected. Since my care of Violet, she has molted on a regular schedule, lived in a 20 gallon tank alone for 1 1/2 years, and now upgraded to a new, much larger tank, and happily adjusting. She is lonely though and sleeps many times by empty shells. My grandson has now asked me to adopt his hermie, Soccer, who is also a pp who lives alone, and bigger than Violet, but from the same boardwalk store, and purchased at the same time as each other. They have lived in different households, and I'm just concerned to introduce a larger crab to a new tank with a smaller crab. Soccer is a large pp crab, and Violet is medium size. In reading posts, it seems as if I should have an introduction period, but I'd like to introduce him asap to Violet, as I know that Soccer has also been very neglected, and I'm surprised he has even survived in his current living accommodations. I don't want there to be any issues and am looking for some advice as to how to handle this. Thanks for anyone's suggestions!

Many of us will give both the new and the old crab a quick dip in the fresh water so they both smell the same, and put them in the same tank. Then keep an eye on them for any signs of aggression.

I'm such a newbie to this hermit crab life but am loving it. Should I also introduce any of Violet's tank items into Soccer's tank for any amount of time, or just go ahead and do the water dip and let them get to know one another?

I'm honestly not sure about putting items into the other tank, but you certainly could add them at the same time as the new crab as well.

curlysister wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 06, 2023 11:15 pm

I'm honestly not sure about putting items into the other tank, but you certainly could add them at the same time as the new crab as well.

I would definitely wash them/boil them if possible before putting them into the crabitat tho, just to be safe and not being in any unwanted bacteria!

Thank you both!