HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Long story short my mother in law wanted to get a hermit for my daughter while we were on vacation. So I told her if she gets one, I get one too. They are both pp. one of them started munching on some bamboo that I found on the beach for two days straight then buried in the plastic carrier. Got home and set up the tank the next day and it immediately buried again.

I know I need the 5/1 mix but don't want to disturb the buried one. The other crab only comes out at night and halfway buries itself during the day. Temp and humidity are at 80. I have fresh and salt water in bowls with sponges. I need to get fresh food instead of the store junk , I didn't know any better when we got them. Any help is appreciated.




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Is that calci sand? Also 6 in of sub is recommended for molting. Cute set up!
Also do you have a bowl of fresh and a bowl of salt water?

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@ kayedeelove no, it is play sand. I can't touch it since I have one molting. Yes I do have both


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If the sand is sand castle consistency you can gently as a substrate by the handfuls, it won't hurt the one down. You don't want any exo squabbles....it gets nasty quick. Welcome to the hca! If you haven't already check out our care guides, if you have great! If you have any additional questions feel free to ask. I don't have time to elaborate much right now, but your decor does look lovely. I did elaborate on another post yesterday several good common household food items so I'll link it. http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... p?t=111654 the sticky under food and water labled safe foods is a great place to start.

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I would say it's a little on the drier side. I am misting the sand daily with fresh water. If I stick my finger in it, it does hold its shape. So just add a handful at a time and mix it around staying about 6 in away from the buried one. I'm afraid it has a bad case of pps and don't want to bother it more


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Unfortunately the risk of being dug up by tank mates is a larger risk than pps, as the molting smell smells tasty to other crabs and may cause cannibalism. If you can make a deep hole to the bottom without the sand collapsing its stable enough to add sand to the whole tank. Including over were the crab is. If it is too dry, and it were my crab I would probably Iso it to get the substrate fixed. It might be stressful but a successful molt is really what the little guy needs.

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This is the one that comes out at night


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Did some big changes today. Added Eco earth a moss pit and a shell shop. Changed to some bigger water bowls and added a bubbler to the freshwater bowl. Does everybody that uses one add it to their salt bowl too? And WE ADDED TWO MORE TO THE FAMILY! We also got to watch one change shells. Picked up a bag of shells at Michaels and got some good ones. https://vimeo.com/179610546


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Looks good! You purchased some good shells from there! Have you considered getting some fish net to hang from your shell shop for them? Also, I personally do not hold my crabs, nor do I remove them from my tank. I would think that would stress them out and make it difficult for them to breathe. Cute crabs, and great looking tank!!


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That's some cool looking sand! I know that's weird lol. Mine is just white -__-

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