HCA: Hermit Crab Association

We just got two new hermit crabs a month ago. We purchased them at a pet store not knowing what we know now about the industry. We are hoping to add more crabs in the future by adopting some captive bred babies! After we got Pablo & Harry (our crabs named by my daughter), I did a lot of research. With the help of this forum and videos from Crab Central Station we have gotten Harry and Pablo into a great new 40-gallon home today! I originally had them in a 10-gallon isolation tank and they went through the PPDS method. I’m not sure if that was the best method, Harry ended up surface molting and is currently in a critter keeper inside the new tank. Hopefully, he will be ok and make it through the first molt. Pablo seems to be getting ready to molt, but he has plenty of room and deep substrate to do that now. I’ve attached pictures of their new home. Ignore the heat and humidity in the first photos. I took the pictures last night before we got the new tank up to the current humidity of 80 and temp of 81. Once the new tank was at the ideal conditions we put the crabs in. Hopefully, I will be able to get good pics of the crabs and post them soon!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/yNaFAFFS3zbDsab79

Your 'tat looks AWESOME! Great job!
Not sure what stage your surface molter is at, but I kept mine covered so it was dark for the whole time. Just a suggestion.

Thanks! I read conflicting things about that. One said to keep it dark and the other said to keep the regular day/night schedule. I did think keeping it dark would make more sense seeing as it is dark under the substrate. I would need to figure out how to keep it dark for Harry and not for Pablo though. Harry finished actually molting, but is at the stage where he needs to harden up and eat his exo. I’m not sure if that matters as far as the darkness situation.

You can just put a towel/cloth over the kritter keeper. I think he would be okay without since he's already done the actual molting part, but better safe than sorry IMO.

Will putting a towel or cloth over the critter keeper restrict the airflow and block out the humidity? If not, I can do that. I just don’t want to stress him even more with a change in the air conditions.

It shouldn't, because there is already humidity in the kritter keeper now. If anything, I would think it might make it *more* humid, rather than less.

Ok great! I’ll put a cloth over it now. Thanks for all your help!

HCA doesn't really recommend that method, for the exact reason you are now dealing with - well, and it is based on a theory that doesn't apply to crabs. What do the groups that advocate for it recommend when a crab surface molts?

Curlysister: I read on Crab Street Journal not to cover him. It says “Do not place your molter in total darkness. Normal light cycles are needed!”, but I read a few posts on this forum that mentioned they needed complete darkness. I also read on aquariumbreeder.com, when I did a Google search, where it says “Cover the tank with a dark blanket to make them less stressed.” What should I do? Cover or uncover? He is currently covered. I’m worried about Harry and want to make sure I’m doing the right thing so that he makes it through this molt.

I do realize now that the PPDS method is not recommended here, but I had already started that method when I read that. I thought I needed to continue it to keep them from being stressed even more. Harry surface molted 2 days before I was going to move them to the new tank. I followed the surface molting instructions of isolating him in his own tank with his exoskeleton. I didn’t touch him. I waited until he had finished molting, then I scooped him, his exoskeleton, and the substrate underneath him up in a big spoon and gently placed him in the critter keeper with a little more substrate, some moss and some water. It said not to put food in the iso tank for the time being so that he would eat his exo. Once he has finished eating his exo, has hardened and is moving around in the iso tank I plan to move him into the main tank. My other crab, Pablo, seems to be preparing for his molt now in the new tank. He’s been eating nonstop. I’m thinking he should be digging down in the near future, and most likely will be under the substrate by the time Harry is released. I really am trying my best to make sure these guys are happy and healthy. It’s just so hard with all the conflicting information. I’m really hoping they’ll both be ok!

I decided when I started crabbing, that I would only follow one group's suggestions - in order to avoid conflicting information. I liked HCA because it seemed like the most 'laid back' group, which fits my style.
Crabs do need darkness to molt, so if you have a way to cover the critter keeper he is in, I would do that.

What are you using for pool? where did you get them? They look so good! I mean your whole crabitat is awesome! I love the climbing wall on the right of the pics with the chola wood 'steps'

I used small paint trays (8" x 6") from Lowe's for the pools, and I doubled them up so I can change the water without disturbing the substrate underneath. I attached plastic canvas with zip ties and river rocks for traction.

that.... is.... GENIUS!

I wish I could take credit because I felt the same way, but I saw it on a post of someone else’s crabitat on Pinterest.