Very new to Crabbin'

[Guest]

What is the whole name? I really appreicate your help. My one is halfway out of his shell and he is not moving. He does not smell at all. He doesn't look like he is shedding either but I put a sponge with him under a pot since he never buried incase he isn't dead. My cage is now up to 50% humidity and I haven't done anything. Tomorrow I will get some coco fiber and try that. I have noticed under the huts where it was dry is now wet and the hermies are there. Did they get it wet somehow? Too bad I don't have a tiny surveillence camera in there to spy on them. LOL The temperature is still 75-78 degrees. Now when I get the coco fiber and wet it where should I put it? Thaks again for all help!

[Guest]

How silly of us to just be calling them Es. Sorry.

Here's a link that provides info on Ecuadorians.

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/pa ... essus.html

Have you tried misting the sides of the tank w/declorinated water? Getting the humidity up would increase the activity level some.

[Guest]

Humidity is up to 65 and still haven't did anything. I just peeked at them and two (gary and spongebob) were chatting at the cocohut, one (crabby patty) was eating peanut butter on apple and anoter (mr. Krabs) was at the sea salt pool. Patrick was resting by the rocks and I didn't even bother looking in on bashful. How many is too many for a 10 gallon? I have 6 e's now but they are all smaller than a quarter.

[troppo]

Another tip for boosting humidity(i have opposite problem lately )
is to get a very clean tea towel(make sure no fabric softener or laundry powder residue) and drape it so half sits in the tat,falling down one side of the glass. Mist it heavily with dechlor water and bob's your uncle,lol. Hopefully that'll help some.

[Guest]

HCA has this info in the Emergancy Care and Links somewhere:

Jumbo - 5 gallons each
Large - 4 gallons each
Med. - 3 gallons each
Small - 2 gallons each
Teeny/micro - 1 gallon each

Or I've been using this standard:

10g: 2 large OR 4 medium OR 6 small OR 8 teenie
20g: 3 large OR 4 medium OR 9 small OR 12 teenie
30g: 4 large OR 8 medium or 12 small OR 16 teenie
40g: 5 large OR 10 medium OR 15 small OR 20 teenie
55g: 2 jumbo OR 6 large OR 12 medium OR 18 small OR 24 teenie
75g: 3 jumbo OR 8 large OR 16 medium OR 24 small OR 32 teenie

Lately I've been thinking I like the HCA's standard better, because by my standard I'm overgrouded, and by the HCA standard I mentioned first I'd still have 17 gallons of room left.

Also second levels increase "floor space" and so most people feel you can add more crabs.

I really feel that if each crab in the tank could be under the substrate and still have about 1 1/2 - 2" between them you're okay.

As far as where to put the coconut fiber wall, most people have it hanging agianst a tank wall, but if you're creative you can put it anywhere.

You also want to keep in mind that you want growing room, 'cause they will get bigger.

[Guest]

Thanks crabber! Got up this mornig and the humidity was up to 82%..(never did anything) maybe took that long for gauge to work? But the temp. went down to 62 cause I turned the light out. I snuck in on them (the e's) and the 5 are all awake and moving their antennas and looking quite happy. I lifted my pot to look in on bashful and still no smell buts looks lifeless I returned the pot n sponge back over 'it". I gave fresh chlo. water ( i mixed a gallon jug up of it) and fresh salt water. They ate up quite a bit of he apple and peanut butter. Think I'm gonna get a deeper pool today and some play sand and take the calci sand out and mix some with the play sand and try that. Gonna get a mister and some fiber and maybe try the second floor. I've only had them since sunday and have handled them and moved there cage around 2 or 3 times. It's pretty good that only the one is hopefully (molting or distressing). I just want them to be happy and comfortable. My pet chinchilla is spoiled too

[Guest]

Here Crabbysandy.. just making it easier for ya. Here's her link
http://www.freewebs.com/crabbysandy/ and yep I agree with those who've posted before me they look like Ecuadorians to me.

[Guest]

We use a calci-sand and playsand mix and they do just fine. The Playsand helps the calci-sand hold water, and there is less smell from the calci-sand. I didn't actually mix it, I layered it. They have had no trouble.

and WELCOME!! They are great people here and give great support and advice.

Kathy and Emily

[Guest]

Thanks! I bought some ecco earth today. I also bought natural spanish moss (safe right?). I bought some play sand and one of my questions was gonna be the ratio mix with calci sand but oyu answered it when u said you layered it. I got a mister today. I called around to many pet shops and was sooooo aggravated. I asked what kind of hermit crabs they carried and almost every person said this......you're gonna love it....small,medium, and large! I said no, no, no. Do you carry sraws or the purple clawed ones and then most replied " Just the generic common ones!" So much for ppl knowing their work. I even specifally called a reptile place thinking they'd be a tad bit more knowledgeable. I was wrong. He knew even less. Thank goddness for this site for us newbies that don't know anything. I'm gonna rearrange the shack tomorrow. I got some more cool things o put in there. Craft stores are ideal for cheap additions. I'm working on a plan for a second floor. Might draw it out ahead of time. Blueprints for my crabby shack LOL.

[Guest]

Shopping for hermit crabs stuff is so fun (I don't even want to try and guess what I've spent all together.) Welcome to the addiction, it gets worse. There is no cure.

It's okay, we're all addicted here!

Pet stores are not the best source of information. When I'm species hunting I don't even call anymore, because they don't know what they have. I just go over and look.

[Guest]

Last night I decided to look in on bashful n check sponge. I picked him/her up and smelled her and was like woooo that answers my question...not molt or destressing but dead. SInce I got them all on the 5th I am figuring it was pps. Am very proud to say though that the other 5 are very active and none have destressed! I am soooooooo loving my crabbies. They are soooo cool. My husband laughs at how much time I am on here reading and just said lastnight "you're really into that ain't cha" Of course I said "oh shut up". I guess all deny the sudden addiction at first lol. He also figured out that they are more for me than the kids....Sure now after 13 yrs of being together he is finally getting smart. I'll never let him know..... Crabber I am up to about $200 in 5 days. Also got pump, airhose and stone from grandma for free to make bubble spa.