HCA: Hermit Crab Association

For the past couple days, since I changed my substrate to pure Eco-Earth, our crabs have been super active. Mainly the biggest and smallest one (the smallest loves to burrow and march around). The bigger one was getting up at about 8pm each night and eating his food, climbing the branches, and staying awake well into the next morning (til about 10am).

There was a bit of mold on their grape wood branches and I had to take them all out last night, boil/cook them, and then after they were left out over night I put them back in on a tupperware lid with river rocks around them. They're pretty small branches. The crabs seemed to sulk while their branches were gone. They huddled in the corner where the branches had been.

But all today the biggest crab (Sharky) was in the crab hut like normal, but hardly went all the way into his shell. He sat there with his legs/eyes out like he was about to walk but didn't. He's moved a bit but not like he has the past couple nights. The second largest crab (Po) burrowed by their plant and stayed there all day, popped his head out a few hours ago, then hid in his shell again. Our smallest (Cuties) had been burrowed all day, came out and hung out with the med. crab, and now he's in the hut.

I know one of the crabs ate a bit tonight. There is some substrate in their treat dish. But they just don't seem as active tonight. I had moved their hut earlier today to see if Sharky was okay, because at one point his shell was tilted back and his legs were hanging out a bit. Not like he was dead, but he normally tucks himself all the way into his shell and covers the opening with his claw. His legs look kind of white on the bottom parts. When I lifted the hut though, all the crabs scattered. I hope I didn't upset them.

Do you think they're just upset with their branches being gone and their house moved? Or might it be something else? Do crabs go through nights where they aren't as active as other nights?

I am a totally new, worried crab mommy!

Sometimes they aren't as active and they might miss their branches.

Thanks. Yeah I am SO new to crabs, I have NO idea what I'm doing. My husband is going nuts, I am reading about crabs ALL of the time. I guess I'm a bit obsessed. The first night our tiniest crab burrowed all the way into the EE, I kept getting up all night long to see if he had come back out! I just about died of excitement when I saw him a day later.

I did put their branches back in, but now they don't want to use them. They used to hide under the crook in one, and climb the other. Now they won't get within miles of them. And they aren't walking around their tank as much as before. But I know these guys are good buddies. Sharky was checking out Cuties when he went into their hut (he turned and 'sniffed' him, it was so cute)... and both Sharky and Cuties have cuddled with Po by the plant tonight. So they're moving around, just not as interested in the food or branches like they have been.

Makes me a little sad.

(Oh, and I guess Sharky won't check out the food dish as much tonight because they don't really have a good 'hide out' area for eating. It's pretty exposed. Any time anyone gets NEAR their tank while they're eating, they dash away and hide. Poor little babies.)

I've heard, and idk how true it is, that the ee is more acidy by itself. But that I think takes time to have any type of effect. I think maybe all the hcanges at once threw them off.I had a piece of driftwood in my tank that is soo unique and pretty but served no real purpose and was taking up alot of room. So decided to take it out, and to my surprise the crabs were not happy at all, so I put it back. Even tho I hardly see anyone climbing on it like I thought they would, but as it turns out alot of them sleep under it. It could be anything tho. Tonight for example hardly any of my crabs are out either

That is totally normal for new crabs. Some of mine still hide when they see me, especially when eating. I think they feel more open and vulnerable. I have another one who will stop eating mid pincher lift and stare at me to see if i will move or open the tank. And once he sees im just watching he continues to eat. Its almost like a staring contest lol

I never heard of it being acidy by itself! That freaks me out - can anyone confirm?

I know Sharky is REALLY shy. All of them are for the most part. But Sharky dashes off and hides when I get near their tank when he's eating. I check on them a lot and the front of their tank doesn't really have hidey spots - do you think maybe they're just frustrated by that? All of the things I messed with today dealt with their privacy. I can't help myself though!

Like i said i don't know how true that is. I think the sand is supposed to neutralize some of it???? I don't know. But this is long term i'm sure. And hidey spots are very good, especially for new crabs. It can take them weeksss to get a little bit less touchy. I have one that I've had for a month now and she still wont come out if she knows i'm anywhere near by. I have to catch her late at night.

Well they haven't come out still. Sharky is next to Po, and is barely peeking his legs and feelers out, but his feelers aren't moving. Cuties, the small one, is still in the hut. He is just sitting there but I think he's hiding his eyes. I can see his legs. His shell camouflages really well, lol!

Mine usually wait until i leave the room completley or fall asleep before they all come out in the open. It doesn't matter how late i stay up, they somehow know lol

Well it does worry me still. I checked on them this morning. The smallest one, Cuties, got into the food and played with a sand dollar. He also messed with one of the shells he seems to like. The other two haven't moved since my last reply. They're resting only a bit into the EE substrate near the plant by their hut. Po hasn't moved at all. He's completely tucked into his shell and nestled in the EE. Mine (Sharky) still has his legs a bit out of his shell like he's thinking of getting up and walking around. His legs have been like that since last night. He ducks, though, when he sees me get close. That's a good sign... last night he didn't respond at all.

He's scaring me... his leg tips are turning white. Wondering if he might be in pre-molt. I don't have an ISO for him and I can't get one because we're tight on finances. I know he was up all night and well into the day for a few nights, eating.

Still worried though...

HOw long have you had them for?

I've only had them a bit more than a week. :-/

I checked on them this morning. I did lightly move Sharky and Po from the plant to make sure they were alive. They peeked out like normal and walked around. Sharky tried to climb for a bit. The smallest one, Cuties, tried to climb too. Now they're nestled in their hut (Po is near it) and buried just a bit in the EE. So they seem much better now.

I took today as a chance to really look at the crabs' exoskeletons. Po came with two legs missing when we brought him home from Petsmart. But his color is really vibrant and I don't see much hint at growth where the legs are missing. Sharky still looks pretty ashy compared to the other crabs, and his eyes - when I look at him straight on - are tilted out a bit like a \_/ shape instead of |_| like my other two crabs. From what I've read, he might be getting close to molting?

I am worried about the molting process. I am almost positive he'll be a surface molter. He doesn't really dig. At most he digs to half the depth of his shell. If I used the 2-liter bottle technique to cover him if he *does* start to molt, will that work?

Yes, just make sure the substrate is deep enuff and moist enuff but not flooded. If he does surface molt be sure to provide him with a lil water some protein and calsium and a hidey, the soda bottle will work fine if needed. Just give him some privacy to make it as less stressful as possible