HCA: Hermit Crab Association

When I was doing a deep clean on Saturday, I found a freshly molted crab. She couldn't have molted more than a few hours before I found her, she was bright pink and very squishy looking. I quickly got a small KK and put her in it with some of the old substrate, placed in the exo, ect. ect. and put her in the tank. She has been all over the KK since yesterday morning, so I figured she was good to let out. Of course I watched her to make sure she wouldn't be attacked, but sure enough every single crab went after her. I kept them away long enough for her to get some water, then I put her back in the KK and gave her some krill exo and honey. I tried again today to release her, same thing. When she's out all she wants to do is explore, not dig down. So now she's back in the KK which I feel horrible about. But now there are two crabs always on the KK trying to get to her! I don't know what to do, she is the smallest crab we have and even our shyest crabs will charge after her and flip her over. I offer protein daily (a different type each day for 5 days, then the cycle starts over). I really dont' know what to do and I don't want to keep her in there forever. I don't know if giving her a bath would help either. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Wait, did the crab eat her exo and harden? I don't think its safe for her to go anywhere until her exo is completely hardened. If it is, I've never had the problem, but I have heard that giving all the crabs a bath to neutralize them and take away the freshly molted smell off the freshly molted crab can help. I hope you get everything sorted out!

She finished her exo in a day, and she's back to her original color and she is completely hard. She's tired of being in a tiny cage, I don't blame her! Crabs are still after her, I'll try the bath.

Alright, keep us posted!

I gave her a bath yesterday and one today and they are still going after her as soon as they see her. Also, is it possible that during mating season even crabs in captivity can show signs of mating agression? There is literally always protein in the tank and there are plenty of shells to do around, I don't know why they seem agressive towards each other lately.

Too many baths will disrupt the balance of salt she carries and interfere with osmoregulation. It's also not mating season yet, that's typically July - Sept/October even in captivity but it would be my guess that even if the KK were empty, it's something new in their environment (compared to the landscape size they had free reign over when wild) and begs exploring. How long had you had her before molt and had they left her alone? Has this only been since then? Do you offer a cellulose source? Think fiber. Corn husk (anything but the immediate outer leaves), corn cob, shrimp peel, bean husk dried oak and maple leaves, safe barks and flowers, mushrooms, etc. Deficiency in this area can also lead to harassment.Do check your meal offerings and make sure you are including protein, fruit, veggies, calcium, cellulose and fats/oils.If you have or can get extra decor, try switching it up and make sure to include items for recreational climbing like nets, woods, etc.What size is your tank?