HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi,

I'm the new parent of 2 hermit crabs. I got our 1st one - crystal - 5 days ago. She's pretty outgoing and pretty active. I've had her running around on the floor the past 2 nights. I got our 2nd crab this afternoon. I'll call him - hermie - yet to be officially named.

Is it normal for the smaller crab - like 1/2 the size of the new one to be pushing on the much larger one and pushing him back? Is it normal for the smaller one to climb repeatedly crawl on top of the larger one's shell? They weren't pinching each other with their claws - just having a shoving match and the little one was winning. Doesn't size matter in the crab world? I did hear some chirping like noises.

It seems the bigger one is a big baby. Is that normal? The store owner said the crabs weren't handled all that much. Would that be why he's a wuss? I plan to take them out nightly and let them stretch their legs. Hopefully, hermie will get used to being handled soon. He hides in the corners alot and doesn't crawl around much. Maybe he had such a stressful day. Should I let him chill for a day or two?

Any help to decoding their behavior would be appreciated -

crabby329

First of all hello and welcome to the HCA. The best place to learn all about how to care for your new friends.

To answer your question, YES. You should leave them alone to chill for a few days. A couple months is more like it. Your new pets once lived happily in a beach some where until they were scooped up, dropped in a box, shipped to pet store where they were likely kept in less than ideal conditions and now have been transferred to your home. Most hermit crabs are quite stressed when you first get them. Quite often a new hermie will burry himself and not be seen for weeks. Which brings up a question or two for you. What do you have for a substrate in your hermie tank and how deep is it? As well as burying themselves due to stress, they also need to burry themselves when they need to moly. They also dig just for fun.

Feel free to ask more questions. We're always glad to help

Hi,

thanks for your quick reply. I have 2 - 2 1/2 inches moist coconut fiber about 1/2 of the of the 10 gal. tank and about 1 1/2 inches of sand in the other half. I got more sand today, but I haven't added it yet. I will tomorrow. I didn't want to freak or stress the crabs too much.

Since the new crab is twice the size of the other one. Should I be worried about fights? The one I got today spent most of his time in the feed dish when he was out and about in the tank. Do they really eat like that all the time? or is he stress eating?

crabby329

If they are just pushing at each other or having feeler fights, where they get close and both wiggle their antenna, then I wouldn't worry. If one of them is coming at the other with an open claw, or has one on the ground opening side up and it trying to go after them, then I'd consider it a fight and intervene.