HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Does anyone else have E's that don't spend much time above ground? The 3 that I got in February have each molted at least once (2 of them have twice now), have all done a shell change & seem healthy...but I just don't see very much of the 2 medium sized ones. Could they still be settling in, or is that just the way they are? Temps are steady around 81 during the day with humidity between 80-85. Anything else I can do to encourage them to stay above ground more?

what is your substrate?

I have 6-7" of damp play sand mixed with EE in the 5:1 ratio and lots of cholla, cork and branches for them to climb on above ground too.

Hmm odd, my E's like to stay above ground unless they are molting or preparing to molt. Did you just move them or the tank and they are De-stressing again?

I know my larger PP dug down 3 days after moving into the new tank and I haven't seen him in weeks. So did my straws. So I have my 3 E's on the surface and that's it.

I think as long as you have lots of hiding spots, like moss pits in the top corners with plants and vines around, they will use that a lot. Mine all sleep in the mosh pits during the day or they dig little pot holes around the tank having fun in the sand.

they do spend some time sleeping in the cork trunk and the 2nd level moss pit, but I only catch a glimpse of them every few days. They were moved around a bit when I had an issue with flooded substrate back in May...maybe they are still destressing from that? Guess I just expected to see more of them...even at night, when lights in their tank go out at 7:30 they are still rarely out at 11pm when I head to bed.

do you have a red light for the evening? Mine seem to love it.

yup, I do! Guess they are just quirky -lol )