Hiding crabs

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:15 pm

So how long is "normal" for a crab to dig down after you first get him? I have two that have been down for 3 weeks, and another two that have been down for 2 weeks. I don't smell anything wrong, so I assume that they're not dead. But how long should I expect them to be down?

Also, mine don't have visible air holes. Is that okay? I can see tunnels under the sand. I can see where they went down, but even immediately afterwards it more of an indentation than an obvious tunnel. Then the more the sand gets trampled, the less obvious the entrance is.

I know there's nothing I can really *do* right now, but I think some more information would ease the wait time.

Hermit_of_Hermit_Crabs · Post by **Hermit_of_Hermit_Crabs** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:44 pm

Some new crabs don't dig down at all while others do it as soon as you put them in the tank. The longest I have had a new crab buried was about 5 or 6 weeks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:52 pm

Argh. I'm wondering if they found a portal to an alternate dimension down there and are long gone.

I can see Ripley from the bottom, so at least I know she's there.

In preparation for my other two following suit, what do you do with an "empty" crabitat? Do you still rotate food and water just in case someone decides to grace you with their presence?

Hermit_of_Hermit_Crabs · Post by **Hermit_of_Hermit_Crabs** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:32 pm

I have a 20G ISO tank that I keep filled with about 8 inches clean sand just in case I have a surface molter. I don't add food or water to it until I have an emergency that warrants those things.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:42 pm

How long they stay burried is determined by each individual crab. For instance, my jumbo molted in only 8 weeks. I have had small crabs stay down that long. Even with new crabs, it is hard to guess how long molting/destressing will take.

If they are new, they may just be destressing.....and they may also use this time to molt. Not knowing the size of your crabs, I would say that 3 weeks is not that long. If something has happened to them, though, you most likely will not smell anything, since they are burried. Hopefully, all is well, though, and you will see your little guys soon!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:52 pm

Aaah!

Now you're frightening me! You mean they could all be dead down there?!

How will I even know to check ever?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:54 pm

We just changed tanks from 20 G to 48 G. I only moved the crabs that were on the surface and so there were a couple that were still underground. I kept the temp/humidity going and then after removing one bad molt

and one successful

I thought the tank was empty.
But I put dry food and calcium sources in there and a small saucer of fresh water next to the saltwater. I looked and looked through the night for signs of life and gave up (I don't sleep much) about 3:30 am. When I got up at 6:00 and went to look in there the food had been messed with and there was dirt in the saucer!! Other than that no sign of life...........
I would recommend keeping the water clean and providing dry foods until the little recluse stays topside long enough to see him!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:59 pm

Pumpkin Skipper wrote:Aaah! Now you're frightening me! You mean they could all be dead down there?! How will I even know to check ever?

Don't mean to frighten you, but it is always a possibility that new crabs can't adjust to captivity. Many of us have lost crabs to PPS. I generally don't find missing deseased crabs until my next deep clean.....every 4 months or so.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:05 pm

By the way, they are all smaller than a quarter. I would say that Ripley is a smallish medium, AND there's a chance that she was trying to moult at the pet store already. I went in looking for crabs and the sales clerk was a little over zealous for my tastes and started digging around and pulling up crabs. I just quick chose one so she'd stop doing that. Ripley dug down almost immediately after we got home. I see her on the bottom of the tat.

Herbert is smaller than Ripley, maybe a biggish small. He walked around the tank for a day, dug around, then went down and stayed.

Simon was out and active for two weeks, then disappeared, leaving a crater behind one night. He's a tiny/small.

Jayne is a solid small. He was mildly active, but spent most of the time I saw him sleeping. He finally dug down only about 3/4 of the way. I can still see the top of his shell. But certainly I would smell him if there was a problem, right??

If you can't smell them underground, how long do you give them before you start checking??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:50 pm

I know it's hard, but leave them be. I've had some take a little over a week (Teeny) and others take over a month (Small). If they do pass, you'll find them in your deep clean.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:36 pm

Well, none of them had any negative symptoms when they went down, so I'll just keep hoping for the best.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:20 am

I wouldn't worry too much. I got mine on November 15th last year and have only had 3 rare glimpses of them so far. I know all is well due to the destruction and shell swapping. So far I know three different ones have shell swapped just by seeing discarded shells. Also they have a nasty habit of digging holes near the food bowl and using the bowl as a spoil heap lol. Some critters are just shy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:28 am

Also, keep in mind that their ability to dig is a good thing. It shows that they have some strength.

I'm sure everything will turn out fine. If, heaven forbid, the worst should happen, know that we are here for you. That's why we all came here in the first place, right? To learn and find others who understand.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:15 am

Thanks everyone. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and keep staring at the tat. :roll:

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:38 am

Pumpkin Skipper wrote:...I'll just keep my fingers crossed and keep staring at the tat. :roll:

lol As do we all. lol