HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hey everyone, I'm back after a long summer vacation at my mom's. Her internet connection is so slow I didn't even try to keep updated with the HCA. But the good thing is that I learned a wonderful new secret... Usually I have a hard time keeping them alive for very long, and I could never find out why. I was always trying to fix the problem, doing things to alter humidity and temperature. Unfortunately I didn't have very much time back home for my crabbies, so besides giving them food and water I pretty much left them alone. And it worked!! I'm happy to report that I haven't had a death in over 4 months, everyone's still alive and doing well. They're all growing, and while the summer was kinda boring bc they were all underground (molting, I assume), everyones happy and healthy.
So I'm in the middle of cleaning the tank right now, and as soon as I'm done I plan on leaving them alone except for the basic necessities.

PS. Yes I know its a simple topic, and its been posted before, but I'm so proud of my success that I had to let everyone know!

very cool! sounds like you've discovered the beauty of the 'Hands off' approach. I, and a number of other crabbers, really anjoy this approach to crabbing and it seems to work pretty well.

Congratulations on your success, and keep it going.

I have also been in the "hands off" for some time now, and have been able to succesfully keep straws for over a year. Handling only comes when neccessary to move, or inspect for health. BEsides, I just like to watch them do their thing.

i want my crabs to know me and enjoy being out and being handled, to me its not very fun when you cant handle your crabs

I too enjoy the hands off approach. Crabs aren't like cats and dogs who crave human attention. I enjoy giving them new climbing toys,treats,seeing them interact in the tank. I try to make it as close as possible to a natural environment.

I think that it's true that we need to pay attention and see if higher death rates occur when crabs are handled more. I know many crabbers handle their crabs and they see comfortable with it.

It will just be another decision that crabbie owners have to make for themselves like whether or not to bath them or to feed them commercial food.

Personally I know that stress is very hard on crabs and handling stresses them out so I keep handling to a minimum.

I handle mine very little too and have only had 2 deaths to PPS in the almost year I've been crabbing. I do take them out from time to time for a few pictures and an occassional bath, but not on a regular basis. I used to handle them more when we first started crabbing, but I realized it probably scares them pretty much and they'd probably do best if left alone to do their own thing. This is a pretty interesting theory, I can't wait to hear what everyone else posts!

I handle them very rarely...and I make sure that none of my siblings are playing with them while I'm away.
I told them that crabs are like fish: for viewing, not petting.

I never handled my crabs much, they are not used to it. Most of them will come out for a photo when I hold them, but I only do this once a while to keep up with who is who and to document their growth and colouring. Apart from that, I leave them alone.

Me personally. I prefer the less handling Approach. These poor Lil Dudes have endured some pretty bad Stress and Poor Handling(Pet Shops)in their Lives...Yes I too like to Hold mine some ..But! My House RH is Far Below what the critters need/want...Yes, yes....You can and should mist the gill area before taking them out. Like I said, I personally try not to handle these wonderful creatures. (I feel the Less stress on them the Better)

Of course the Opposite argument would be....Well if ya do handle them more frequently then they get used to it and the stress is reduced....I S'pose.

Correct me if I am Wrong Please

I tend to pick them up every other day or so, mostly just to inspect them and make sure everything's ok... check for molt sacs... count them, and make sure no one's in their little buddy's shell instead of their own.

Just a minute or so, enough to say "Hi there! How you doing?"
Maybe once every couple weeks one or two will come out for a bit longer so the kids can hold them a few minutes.
That's about all the handling they get around here.

I guess that's what I do. About three times a week, I do a quick cleaning of the tank (shift sand around, clean up messes, clean food and water dishes...). Whenever I do this, I take each crab out one at a time, mist them and let them crawl on my hands for a few minutes while I make sure everything looks ok. I do this with all five of them and then place them in a big boz with a towel covering the bottom to give them a safe place to play and exercise while I clean the tank. Do you think this is too much handling? I don't want to stress them out, but I want them to feel comfortable with me handling them when I have to.

Mine are handled once a week if that, right now. They have had a pretty stressful last 3 months so I just let them be and they are all doing much better, not nearly as stressed as they were a month ago, when they were dying left and right. Normally I take them all out one at a time, once a week..then they all go into a tuperware while I clean up..and they all go back in and arent touched for another week.

Ive never really messed with them much. Sprint, my first one I did...shes been all over the apartment floor and is one of the only ones that doesnt mind me holding her...but Ive had her for 3 years, so I suppose she knows im not going to eat her or hurt her. There are a couple others that I have had since they were micros (about 2 years ago) that love to crawl on my hands and arms..and would rather do that than get down and play with the others. As for the others, they would rather the sand over being held anyday.

MetroBallah wrote:i want my crabs to know me and enjoy being out and being handled, to me its not very fun when you cant handle your crabs

To me, seeing them move around in the tank and exploring everything is more fun then them being handled, to me and them.

It may be fun for you, and some crabs seem ok when handled. But there are some where it stresses them out. When that happens, they tend to drop limbs,stop eating,go naked or worse die.

I'm happy knowing they are active and healthy. That's all I need/want for them....I'll cuddle with my kids