Help?! New crab owner

newcrabbieowner · Post by **newcrabbieowner** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:05 pm

So I work in a boardwalk shop, and we sell hermit crabs and I was told they are extremely easy to take care of. Therefore I bought two. However, once I got home and researched it, they actually require more effort than I thought. Right now, they are in a 5.5 gallon tank, with two bags of sand and some cocofiber. I have no idea how to get the humidity and temperature right or how to measure it. I've just been sticking them outside, because in Virginia Beach it is very very humid. I have no idea what else they need. They have a sponge and some hermit crab food in a small bottle cap.

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:24 pm

I've only had mine for a couple weeks, but I do know you need to get them a dish of fresh dechlorinated water and a dish of dechlorinated salt water asap! Do not use regular table salt, get some aquarium salt like Instant Ocean. Make sure your water dishes are deep enough for the biggest to get water in its shell, but not so deep the small one will drown. Humidity is very important...it's how they breathe. You can spray your sand with some of your dechlorinated water and cover the top with plastic wrap (just poke a few air holes) and the lid. How warm is it in your home? Put them in the warmest spot away from air vents or windows. They need a minimum of 72, but ideally warmer. Eventually you'll want to get a temp and humidity gauge to hang in there. If your temp isn't warm enough you can get an under tank heater (but attach to the side). Your sand needs to be 3x's the height of your biggest crab (they dig under to destress and molt). You'll also want to feed them a variety of foods, not just crab food (and the one you have is probably unsafe anyway). Check Epicurean Hermit for safe and unsafe foods.

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:31 pm

Welcome to the forums and to hermie ownership! You have fallen pray to some very common misinformation. But you're at the right place, a place where many have gone through the same thing you're going through right now.Land hermit crabs are awesome little creatures but do require perhaps a bit more than people will lead you to believe.Much of the reading on here will steer you in the right place. You will want to upgrade to a 10 gallon (or larger) asap. You will want to purchase a hygrometer and thermometer to measure temp/humidity. If the sand you used is repti-sand or calci-sand or pretty much any sand that says for hermit crabs - it's probably no good. But the cocofiber is good. You want moist, deep substrate. That will really help your humidity.Ok some reading for you:http://landhermitcrabs.com/eve...510198 ... -a/133.htm

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:32 pm

Oh, and you'll want to get some natural shells soon (boil them first) and have a few extras in there so they can change if they want and find one they like. As soon as they change out of the painted shells, remove them. Painted shells aren't safe. You can find shell info in the archived threads on here but get some with same size openings and some a little bigger than they have. Do you know if they are Purple Pinchers or Epicurean? I know PPs prefer round openings (usually) and E's like oval openings. I think Turbos and Tiger Moons seem to be favorites.

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:34 pm

Oh and you don't need a sponge - they just grow bacteria. I recommend tossing it. They do not drink from sponges nor do they easily drown in their water. They are pretty smart and they're great climbers!

newcrabbieowner · Post by **newcrabbieowner** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:15 pm

Yea, I used calci sand. My house is usually anywhere from 74-75, and right now I'm not too sure about the humidity. That's my biggest issue, cuz I can get them almost anything else, but I have no idea how to regulate the humidity! I've been keeping my window open with a humidifier on. Or if I take a shower, I stick them in there or outside in the morning when it's really humid.

Miko · Post by **Miko** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:22 am

when you get playsand in there and you wet it with the salt water and with the heater on that will make the humitiy in the tank i have plastic wrap over the top of my screen top get a good gage from the pet store and keep an eye on it. it took me about a week to keep it right.

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:03 am

Just realized I said Epicurean for crab type instead of Ecuadorian... Lol...oopsJust get a spray bottle filled with dechlorinated water and spray your sand for humidity, as well as covering the top with plastic wrap or packing tape, and get a heater.Honestly you'd be better off getting a 10 gallon tank (I think Petco still has them on sale for $10), a 30 gallon under tank heater (attach to the back side), play sand from a hardware store (very cheap) and a temp/humidity gauge and some Instant Ocean salt from the pet store. Let us know how you're doing!Hopefully by now you've had a chance to read up about food and water and you should be set!

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:58 am

My best advice is to read everything at the top of the Zoea section of this site and ask questions.Food list here & here.Guide to making a 10 gallon/ISO here.The importance of ISO here.Basic Supplies here.

newcrabbieowner · Post by **newcrabbieowner** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 9:18 am

Can I just use regular ocean water? I mean I live not even 30 mins away from there. And do I really have to get rid of the calci-sand? It was like 5 bucks.

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 11:46 am

There is debate about the colored calcisand and whether the coloring is safe, glow in the dark is not. White is fine to be used as a calcium supplement in a dish. If you have it already mixed with EE and/or playsand in your tank, it will be okay for now but playsand is better and much less expensive. It is not suitable or safe to use as substrate.Ocean water would be fine in an ideal world where there was no risk that water is contaminated, polluted, etc. It just isn't advisable.

newcrabbieowner · Post by **newcrabbieowner** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:02 pm

Ok thank you. So right now, I guess I need new substrate, salt and freshwater, and someway to keep the tank warm. After that I think I should be good!

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:41 pm

And gauges to measure heat and humidity. They need both in range in order to do well.

newcrabbieowner · Post by **newcrabbieowner** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 12:00 pm

Yeah. When I leave I stick them in my room, leave my window open and turn on a humidifier. Today the temp was 85.5, but I'm not sure about the humidity. I have one crab that is very active and acting normal, but there's another one that's not moving unless I hold him. I know he's alive but I don't think he's eating or anything and it's worrying me. What can I do to help him?

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 12:10 pm

He's probably just stressed. The general rule is to leave them alone for four weeks after purchase. That is the best thing you can do for him, besides providing the proper food, waters, tank conditions and deep substrate (he may want to bury in the sand to de-stress and/or molt)