HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I am going on vacation and I have to leave my crabs behind. How would I do this and make sure that they have enough food and water to span the whole two weeks?

I've only left my crabs for a week, and that was with having someone to check on them. A whole two weeks is a long time, I would think you would want a trusted person to care for them while you are gone. Dry foods are the best to use during the time you are gone. Don't want mold and bacteria growth. I used a mini cat water feeder, the one where you put a water bottle and gravity fills the bowl. I suggest having someone care for them though. Making sure the temp and humidity is good as well as feeding and watering them.

The only problem with that is that the only person allowed in my house that I would trust to take care of them is going with me.

The only problem with that is that the only person allowed in my house that I would trust to take care of them is going with me.

This might seem harsh, but have you considered re-homing them? Two weeks is a long time to abandon them. What if their water spills on day one and floods the tank and/or leaves them with nothing to drink?

What if the power goes out or the heater malfunctions?

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

If you have bubbler pools and your tank is stable as far as heat/humidity, I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Just give them plenty of dried food to eat to prevent mold. I've had to leave my crabs for several days at a time and never had an issue.

mool wrote:This might seem harsh, but have you considered re-homing them? Two weeks is a long time to abandon them. What if their water spills on day one and floods the tank and/or leaves them with nothing to drink?

What if the power goes out or the heater malfunctions?

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I understand where you are coming from but why would I rehome the crabs that I just got. They are my pets and I was considering taking them with me but seven is too many to take easily. I'd have more end up dead that way especially considering I am going to arkansas and would have no real way to heat the tank.

I'd personally be fine with leaving them for two weeks, but that's me. I've done it before. I just make sure there's a pool of water and that the humidity is correct. I don't use a heater and I got rid of my bubblers, so theres no power to the tanks to worry about. Hermit crabs are bottom feeders. I don't think they'll starve to death in two weeks. They'll find something. Maybe plant some Chia seeds. Give them a whole potato or some other vegetable. Mine love the live lettuce plants. Butter lettuce? you can purchase in a container in the produce section. That will stay alive for a while and sprouts roots

good idea. I'll think on it