HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I'm super excited because finally my first two crabs (who were were very timid and shy and would never come out around people) finally started coming out and walking around with the others and are not even afraid when you make movement around them. This is very exciting for me because I know now that at least they are happy and feel comfortable, right? I am very pleased that my patience has finally paid off!

that's always a good feeling... how long have you had them?

I believe that I have had them for about four or five months now. I was about to give up hope that they would ever be comfortable enough to come out of their shell around people.

Congrats, I had most of mine for over a year and they still act like crabs!

Lol half the time they do act extra hermitty and stay buried for a couple days and then I have days where I get up in the morning and there they are, crawling around and soaking in their crab spa! If you give them a few minutes will they come out of their shell?

Yes they will come out of there shell but most prefer to play or be crabby at night - so i hardly see my guys/gals!

Yeah same here. Good, I thought it was just mine that only liked to play at night

Mine like to play for a while during the day and get really active around 6-7pm. Last night they threw a party in there so I guess that shows they are even more active when everyone is asleep lol. I am so thinking of finding a way to set up a web cam and see what they are up to during the night lol. Good luck with them

Lol yeah I find that mine throw parties at night too when everything is knocked over and moved around That would be awesome to set up a webcam, you should try it!

Rose7314 wrote:Lol yeah I find that mine throw parties at night too when everything is knocked over and moved around That would be awesome to set up a webcam, you should try it!

Yea I probably will soon lol. Though they have been up all day so I have had a lot of activity in there today lol. New boys are so hyper today lol. I think it is because there are enjoying everything they have lol. Herc is esp been going crazy over the salt water, I have already had to re fill it 6 times already. HE has drank it bathed in it so I have been washing it and re filling it all night lol. He is still shell shopping even tho Cid has changed shells 8 times before moving into Buddy's old shell lol. He seems to be sticking with that one for now lol. I must be doing something right to cause they are twice as active then yesterday. Tho Herc thinks I should do nothing but hold him lol. He likes to be hand fed, esp if you have honey lol. It is nice to have an over loving crab tho .

Awww that's so cute! I want a crab that likes to be held and hand fed. B.J. likes to be held for a minute and then he will go scrambling off but the others are not comfortable yet. I just got them comfortable coming out around people. I would say you're doing something right if they are that active. I didn't know they would drink salt water. Do you keep fresh non salt water out for them as well?

Hey Rose7314, Hermit crabs need both fresh and salt water. But it has to be the kind of salt you use for saltwater fish tanks. I use Instant Ocean. Make sure you use a good dechlorinator for both as well.

I do use both fresh and salt water, I just didn't know that hermit crabs actually drank the salt water as well. I use some kind of salt from the pet store, I can't remember what it's called. Thank you though

Rose7314 wrote:Awww that's so cute! I want a crab that likes to be held and hand fed. B.J. likes to be held for a minute and then he will go scrambling off but the others are not comfortable yet. I just got them comfortable coming out around people. I would say you're doing something right if they are that active. I didn't know they would drink salt water. Do you keep fresh non salt water out for them as well?

Yup they now have a deeper salt water pool and a huge fresh water pool. Before we got bat girl and Herc no one really ever went into the salt water but they love it. Idk might have to do with them being bigger than the rest, maybe.? Instant ocean is one of the best to get and you can mix it up in a gallon jug with their dechlor in it. Makes it easier to keep the salt water pool filled. Herc is a bit of a crazy crab lol He loves to be held and hand fed too. Just absolutely loves his honey. This morning they really munched on the worms like crazy ^.^ I put a light drizzle of their honey on them and bam gobbled lol. Y just got to take their fav treat and put it near or if you can in with the new food to get them to check it out. Fresh coconut seems to be a big hit as well . Hope it helps.

That's awesome it definatly does help. Sometimes my crabs will go in the pools and other times my step children will put them in and they will come out of their shells and chill in the water for a few minutes and then climb out. I read that putting them in a pool pf warm salt water calms them down or something like that. I got up this morning and all the crabs are just chilling outside of their shells. They had a party last night and were digging and climbing like crazy. I need to get honey to try this out!