Crab constantly underground!

[DobbyTheFreeCrab]

Hi all, my PP has been underground for roughly 3-4 weeks now, and I thought he was moulting (he moulted around this time last year) but he's been up about 3 times in that time (I can tell because his water bowls are dirty but I don't think he's eaten) and the past few days I've heard him moving around LOADS under the substrate (I can hear his shell/claws squeaking against the glass). Temp and humidity fine, he's the only crab in there.

Is this normal?? I'm worried he's not happy

Thank you!

[jonathon1989]

This is normal behavior and a sign of a healthy hermit crab. Hermit crabs spend a majority of their time underground during the day and come out during the night. What is your temperature and humidity levels?

[mool]

Mine spend most of their time under the sub. I like to say I have a tank of pet sand since the crabs are rarely visible.

[DobbyTheFreeCrab]

Oh phew! I'm not sure if he is surfacing at night though, and he used to sleep on top his log for months rather than burying during the day. He used to be out and about but I haven't seen him in weeks! His temperature is always anywhere between 75-78F (I'm in the UK so it's been very cold here lately so I can't seem to get his temperature stable but it's always within range) and his humidity reads anywhere from 75% (I never let it get lower, and I always aim to not let it get lower than 80%) to 99% when I've just sprayed his enclosure.

[crabbycasey]

He could still just be looking for his perfect molting spot! I believe that’s the part of the molt that makes the process take so long...finding their spot! He could be scoping things out and taking food breaks in between.


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[DobbyTheFreeCrab]

I never even knew that was a thing, that they search out the perfect molting spot!

Thank you for putting my mind at ease

[mool]

Mine like to be in corners under water bowls.

[GotButterflies]

I personally like to keep my tanks in the temperature range of 78 (low at night) to 85 (high during day). As far as humidity I prefer above 80 at all times. mine range from 85-99%. I have found that by following these guidelines my crabs are more active.

I understand you are in the UK and that it is cold. Is your tank insulated?

If you have an ultratherm, you can try to insulate over your heating pad and tank to raise the temperature of your tank. There are several ways to do this. Don't insulate over your heating pad if it is a zoomed, or any other heating pad that is insulated (padded). If your heating pad is insulated, you would insulate AROUND the heating pad.

Cheaper way: You can use aluminum foil (shiny part facing the crabitat), then cardboard. Attach using packaging tape, duct tape or Reflectix tape.

More expensive: Purchase a product called Reflectix. This product looks like car shade material. It is sold in rolls at local hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot. You can also purchase it on Amazon. Cut the Reflectix to fit your tank. Attach using packaging tape, duct tape or Reflectix tape.


It can take several hours to see the difference. If doing the insulation doesn't raise your temperature, you might want to consider getting a bigger and or better heater. Most of us use ultratherms. They are great heaters. www.reptilebasics.com or www.beanfarm.com sells them.

Hermit crabs have modified gills, and need humidity to breathe. IMO heat lamps are terrible at making the humidity evaporate, so I personally do not like them. A vast majority of crabbers use the ultratherms to heat the air instead of heat lamps.

I personally prefer glass tops, however with glass tops you cannot set heat lamps on top of them. Heat lamps can crack glass lids.

With mesh lids you can cover them in Press-N-Seal, or cut open gallon sized Ziploc bags and tape them to the outside with packaging tape to help keep the humidity in the tank.
Humidity boosters: Bubblers definitely do help boost the humidity. Double dish bubblers: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... r#p1030806

You can also add moss pits to help. You would use organic moss (as well as moss that is on the safe list), and moisten it with dechlorinated fresh water. Then, put the moss in a shower caddy or a glass vase laying on it's side so the hermits can walk in and out of it. Glass tops also help keep humidity in.

[DobbyTheFreeCrab]

Thank you so much for this help! I am in the process of upgrading his home from a 15 gal to a 50 gal, and I have a long ultratherm heatmat across the whole back of the tank rather than the ceramic lamp that's in his current tank. I do need to insulate the ultratherm on his new tank still, so I will use the foil technique I think! His current tank isn't insulated, but it's not against an outside wall so it's definitely warmer but maybe for now I'll turn up the heat a bit higher! The only reason I've not moved him into his new tank is because I thought he was molting.

I've also got an air pump that I need to set up for the bubbler in his new water bowls, just waiting on a splitter so I can do both bowls! I still feel like a complete beginner even though I've had him for almost a year! It makes me feel so bad that I still may not have his conditions right after all this time he's certainly in a better environment than where I got him from, but I still feel like I'm letting him down!

Thank you so much for your help, fingers crossed he's happier in his new home (when he eventually moves over there).

I personally like to keep my tanks in the temperature range of 78 (low at night) to 85 (high during day). As far as humidity I prefer above 80 at all times. mine range from 85-99%. I have found that by following these guidelines my crabs are more active.

I understand you are in the UK and that it is cold. Is your tank insulated?

If you have an ultratherm, you can try to insulate over your heating pad and tank to raise the temperature of your tank. There are several ways to do this. Don't insulate over your heating pad if it is a zoomed, or any other heating pad that is insulated (padded). If your heating pad is insulated, you would insulate AROUND the heating pad.

Cheaper way: You can use aluminum foil (shiny part facing the crabitat), then cardboard. Attach using packaging tape, duct tape or Reflectix tape.

More expensive: Purchase a product called Reflectix. This product looks like car shade material. It is sold in rolls at local hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot. You can also purchase it on Amazon. Cut the Reflectix to fit your tank. Attach using packaging tape, duct tape or Reflectix tape.


It can take several hours to see the difference. If doing the insulation doesn't raise your temperature, you might want to consider getting a bigger and or better heater. Most of us use ultratherms. They are great heaters. www.reptilebasics.com or www.beanfarm.com sells them.

Hermit crabs have modified gills, and need humidity to breathe. IMO heat lamps are terrible at making the humidity evaporate, so I personally do not like them. A vast majority of crabbers use the ultratherms to heat the air instead of heat lamps.

I personally prefer glass tops, however with glass tops you cannot set heat lamps on top of them. Heat lamps can crack glass lids.

With mesh lids you can cover them in Press-N-Seal, or cut open gallon sized Ziploc bags and tape them to the outside with packaging tape to help keep the humidity in the tank.
Humidity boosters: Bubblers definitely do help boost the humidity. Double dish bubblers: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... r#p1030806

You can also add moss pits to help. You would use organic moss (as well as moss that is on the safe list), and moisten it with dechlorinated fresh water. Then, put the moss in a shower caddy or a glass vase laying on it's side so the hermits can walk in and out of it. Glass tops also help keep humidity in.

[crabbycasey]

I never even knew that was a thing, that they search out the perfect molting spot!

Thank you for putting my mind at ease

You’re so welcome! With what Mool mentioned, they like being under/next to solid objects bc it makes them feel more secure. This is also why you have to be careful moving big things around if you have crabs under! Sometimes they’ll create little windows to their caves on the side or underneath glass and it’s super cool to see them!


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[GotButterflies]

My pleasure! Just a reminder - having the ultratherm on the entire tank can dry out the substrate - so you may need to remoisten it. I don't have this issue in Florida. I know @Wodesorel has mentioned rewetting substrate before.

Best wishes!

[DobbyTheFreeCrab]

If only I lived in a warmer/more humid climate! Roll on summer! I have to remoisten the substrate every so often already so will keep my eye out for it, thank you. I have placed the heatmat so that it's not below the substrate level so hopefully it will just be a case of just spraying the top layer regularly enough!

Thank you all for your help!

[HermitofHermitCrabs]

I have one like that: Red. I see him maybe once a week.

[RavynJade]

I have had my 4 for about 11 months. They have all molted once, and my smallest/youngest is currently molting again. Thankfully, I have a schedule that allows me to watch/check on them often. They like to just chill underground for a week, then they come out and practice climbing and shell changes. I believe I saw a tip awhile back about watching for tracks around the food dish to make sure they are eating. If I am worried, I put in fresh shredded coconut which seems to be a favorite - All of them come running. Good luck! Stay warm and healthy!