HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I noticed that someone else also posted about a strange smell in their hermit home and I'm having the same experience. It's not overpowering where the whole room smells, but when I open the enclosure lid it....just...smells....not good. It's not fishy. I can't really describe it. Maybe I'm not used to what a hermit enclosure smells like? What do your crabitats smell like? Do hermit crabs themselves have a smell? My substrate is regular Quikrete play sand from Lowes. The sand itself has it's own smell but it's not bad or anything. The food is new. I have three PPs, none are molting, no one is dead obviously. I just can't figure out what is causing the smell. I just got some Christmas money and plan on upgrading my tote, so if I need to revamp I can do that. I just don't want to carry the smell over to my upgraded crabitat. Any help is appreciated.

I know when I re-wet my moss, I really don't like that smell. But I know that smell. See if it's your moss.

Considering I don't have any moss in my enclosure, it's not that. But I know what smell you mean.

I also notice that I hate the smell of Krill.

Maybe a food journal?

I believe krill is an ingredient in their food. Maybe that's it.

My crabitats usually smell earthy. If I notice a bad or odd smell, it's usually from the food dish or food they've hidden somewhere.

I revamped their tote again and don't smell the odor anymore. I believe it was definitely the food. I get the earthy sand smell, but it wasn't that. The smell was definitely something I happened to mix into their food. Phew not doing that again.

Glad it was just the food! I give my crabs a protein blend of dried seafood sometimes, and oh my gosh it reeks. One night I did that and forgot to wash my hands, and then I rubbed my nose and almost gagged.

Crabs like stinky food, but me? Not so much.

Crabs by and large do not smell and that's such a blessing but when their tank does...it's just weird -- wet moss is a terrible smell!

Krill is horrible too, luckily mine doesn't care for krill as much as shrimp and that's easier to deal with for sure!

You could also check to be sure none of it got buried in the sub so it doesn't rot!!