Help! New hermit crab owner- worried about crabs

[ARTURIS86]

Hello everyone!
I'm new to this group and a new hermit crab owner. I've been doing a lot of research and reading the posts on here. But I need to make my own because I'm not sure what to do about my crabs. Very worried about them.
So I got 2 small crabs about 2 weeks ago(purple pinchers I think). I got them a 10 gallon tank and will try to get a bigger one soon. Filled their tank with about 2-3 inches of substrate(Coconut fiber and sand). I gave them a hiding area and a climbing stick. 2 water bowls- one salt water and one fresh(using ZooMed purifier and salt treatment for tap water). Then originally got ZooMed pellets for food. Had it out one day and then read they were not good, so changed to peanuts, spinach, apples, mangos, etc. I bought a temperature and humidity reader and it's been staying around 78° and 70-90% humidity. The tank has a mesh top but I put aluminum foil on top with a hole for air. I bought 2 of those heater pads and put them on the sides of the tank. I put about 6 different shells in there. Different sizes and shapes. I put moss in there as well.
So the first few days they hid some but also were drinking and eating. I noticed the peanuts were moved around the tank. They also changed shells.(one changed many times before he found a good one). I ordered a mesh climbing thing to put on the back of the tank. And they were climbing it right away!
Then I decided to add some more substrate because I read they need more. So went to the store to get some more and also get some more climbing stuff(cholla wood and another grass mesh climbing thing because the first one was in the substrate and molded)
While at the store. I decided to take a peek into their hermit crab tank. I noticed this one big guy. He was in this tiny shell and was practically hanging out. He wasn't moving much and the pet store guy acted like "oh well". So I decided to rescue him.
Came home and put more sand and coco fiber in..it's about 5-6in on one side going down to about 1-2 inches on the other side where their water bowls are. I found a grass mesh hammock that fit much better than the first one and put it up. I added a bunch of cholla wood too. Put the new crab in and gave him a bunch of new shells, hoping he'd feel much better in a bigger shell. He was literally hanging out of his shell. His legs looked weird too. Like out all sideways. I wasn't sure if maybe it was just cuz he couldn't fit them in the shell or if it was something else. He stayed in the corner for hours. Not moving at all. The other crabs were feeling him out and I was worried something might happen so I moved him over to the coconut house so he could hide in there. That night I happened to catch him climbing around. Next morning woke up and he'd dug a hole about an inch deep. I could still see him inside. And he never moved.
I don't know if it's because I added more substrate or the new crab because the other crabs have burrowed down and haven't come up in days. Water not touched. Food not touched. Sand still smooth and untouched. I keep checking on the big guy with a flashlight and I see him moving when he sees the light. Just small movements. I also hear squeeking and chirping under the sand so I know at least one of the other 2 are alive but they have not come up in days. Then a few days ago, I noticed the big one wasn't responding to the light anymore. I waited 2 days and kept smelling to see if I smelled death but nothing. Then I decided to touch his shell and I saw very small movement. So he's alive. Not sure if he's molting or what. But the other crabs will not come up now. Are they molting too? Are they scared of the big one? Should I move the big one to a smaller isolated tank? I'm scared if I do nothing, the other 2 will die under the sand. But I'm scared if I try and move the big one, he'll die.
Anyway. Sorry for the novel. I wanted to make sure I put all the details.
Help please!

[ARTURIS86]

I'm trying to add pics of the big one but not sure how.

[ItsMixed]

Sometimes crabs burrow into the substrate after first arriving from the pet store because they are scared and stressed. It's called PPS (Post Purchase Stress), and because of this, the crabs may burrow down into the substrate at first because they feel unsafe. Generally, it is recommended to set the tank up with minimal substrate when the crabs first get home to avoid this and allow you to gradually change the qualities of their air to acclimate them to the proper temp and humidity. To do this, check the temperature and humidity from where you got the crabs and set their habitats to this. Then, over the next few days or weeks (depending on how far the store settings were from optimal), bump the temperature and humidity up a few degrees and percentages every day until they are at optimum (I go for 80/80). Once your crabs are fully acclimated to the new air, you can add more substrate (warm substrate near the heater) to at least six inches of depth, preferably more for larger crabs. When crabs go under, try to leave them be. They're probably fine unless you start smelling that gross, fishy smell of death.

As for the pics you have to upload them to an external picture hosting website and link it to your text. Here's how:viewtopic.php?f=8&t=30029

[ARTURIS86]

Thank you so much for replying!

Unfortunately, I guess it's too late for that. That's one thing I didn't read about when getting everything set up.
But since I added the new crab and the extra substrate at the same time, I have no idea why they're burrowing. They seemed fine until then.
What do u think I should do about the big guy? He's barley moving inside a hole about an inch deep. Molting? Dying? How can I tell? Should I move him into a separate tank? Then maybe see if the other ones come up? How long can they go without food or water.
Thanks again!

[curlysister]

Sometimes crabs burrow into the substrate after first arriving from the pet store because they are scared and stressed. It's called PPS (Post Purchase Stress), and because of this, the crabs may burrow down into the substrate at first because they feel unsafe. Generally, it is recommended to set the tank up with minimal substrate when the crabs first get home to avoid this and allow you to gradually change the qualities of their air to acclimate them to the proper temp and humidity. To do this, check the temperature and humidity from where you got the crabs and set their habitats to this. Then, over the next few days or weeks (depending on how far the store settings were from optimal), bump the temperature and humidity up a few degrees and percentages every day until they are at optimum (I go for 80/80). Once your crabs are fully acclimated to the new air, you can add more substrate (warm substrate near the heater) to at least six inches of depth, preferably more for larger crabs. When crabs go under, try to leave them be. They're probably fine unless you start smelling that gross, fishy smell of death.

As for the pics you have to upload them to an external picture hosting website and link it to your text. Here's how:viewtopic.php?f=8&t=30029

The method you describe has never been shown to increase survival rates, and is based on a theory that does not apply to hermit crabs. There is no need to gradually improve conditions. HCA recommends getting the crabs into ideal conditions ASAP - this includes deep substrate, and proper heat and humidity. If a crab needs to molt, it can not put it off indefinately, and it is better to have deep substrate to do so in, rather than surface molt.

[ItsMixed]

The method you describe has never been shown to increase survival rates, and is based on a theory that does not apply to hermit crabs. There is no need to gradually improve conditions. HCA recommends getting the crabs into ideal conditions ASAP - this includes deep substrate, and proper heat and humidity. If a crab needs to molt, it can not put it off indefinately, and it is better to have deep substrate to do so in, rather than surface molt.

Hmm I never thought of it that way sorry for the misinformation!

[MotleyMusicana]

Your crabs probably burrowed down as soon as the substrate was deep because they had been needing to molt. Hermit crabs need deep substrate to molt properly. It's possible that your crabs were unable to molt properly in three inches of substrate and so once conditions were favorable, they decided it was molting time. That's my best guess as to why they'd all go down once the substrate got deep.

More on substrate: It should be the same depth all around. you can make a small hole in the sand for water dishes to sit in, but the overall sand level should be the same throughout the tank. The mix I see recommended most often is 5 parts sand to 1 part cocoa fiber, although the substrate can be all sand or all cocoa fiber as long as it is wet enough that it packs together. You should be able to stick your finger in the sand and see that the hole left by your finger stays firm and moist and doesn't collapse. This consistency is necessary so that your crabs can make solid tunnels. I use quikrete play sand.

I wouldn't worry too much about the new guy. He's had a rough go of things and he's going to need some time to recover. He may act abnormally over the next few weeks as he recovers. Focus on keeping the temperature and humidity relatively constant, and feed them daily (small amounts, only as much as they typically eat overnight). Make sure you have shells that are bigger than the ones they currently have on. If you share pics, I can tell you whether or not you've got a purple pincher on your hands. Assuming you have all purple pinchers--they prefer shells with round openings. Ecuadorians prefer shells with D shaped openings. The best shells for purple pinchers are (in my opinion) turbo shells because they have round openings and they're very sturdy, and come in a beautiful variety of natural colors (make sure your shells are natural and don't have paint or gloss on them).

It honestly sounds like you're doing a good job so far. I can tell you're working hard to make sure your crabs are cared for properly, so nice job! Give it some time. New guy will adjust. (also, just a side note, it's usually a good idea to quarantine a new crab from your main group if you didn't get the newbie at the same time as your other crabs. pet store hermit crabs are wild caught, which means that they can sometimes have illnesses or parasites. I wouldn't worry about it right now, but in the future, if you intend to add a new crab to your tank, it would probably be a good idea to isolate them for about a month first to make ensure they're thriving. a plastic bin makes a good temporary home if you don't have an extra tank)

edited to correct detail about substrate

[curlysister]

Your crabs probably burrowed down as soon as the substrate was deep because they had been needing to molt. Hermit crabs need deep substrate to molt properly. It's possible that your crabs were unable to molt properly in three inches of substrate and so once conditions were favorable, they decided it was molting time. That's my best guess as to why they'd all go down once the substrate got deep.

More on substrate: It should be the same depth all around. you can make a small hole in the sand for water dishes to sit in, but the overall sand level should be the same throughout the tank. The recommended mix is 5 parts sand to 1 part cocoa fiber, although you can add in some extra cocoa fiber if you like. As long as it packs together well enough that when you stick your finger in the sand, the hole left by your finger stays firm and moist and doesn't collapse. This consistency is necessary so that your crabs can make solid tunnels that won't cave in on them. The mixture should be mostly sand tho.

I wouldn't worry too much about the new guy. He's had a rough go of things and he's going to need some time to recover. He may act abnormally over the next few weeks as he recovers. Focus on keeping the temperature and humidity relatively constant, and feed them daily (small amounts, only as much as they typically eat overnight). Make sure you have shells that are bigger than the ones they currently have on. If you share pics, I can tell you whether or not you've got a purple pincher on your hands. Assuming you have all purple pinchers--they prefer shells with round openings. Ecuadorians prefer shells with D shaped openings. The best shells for purple pinchers are (in my opinion) turbo shells because they have round openings and they're very sturdy, and come in a beautiful variety of natural colors (make sure your shells are natural and don't have paint or gloss on them).

It honestly sounds like you're doing a good job so far. I can tell you're working hard to make sure your crabs are cared for properly, so nice job! Give it some time. New guy will adjust. (also, just a side note, it's usually a good idea to quarantine a new crab from your main group if you didn't get the newbie at the same time as your other crabs. pet store hermit crabs are wild caught, which means that they can sometimes have illnesses or parasites. I wouldn't worry about it right now, but in the future, if you intend to add a new crab to your tank, it would probably be a good idea to isolate them for about a month first to make ensure they're thriving. a plastic bin makes a good temporary home if you don't have an extra tank)

Just to clarify, while a 5 to 1 sand to eco earth ratio is common, substrate can be all play sand, all eco earth, or a mix of the two in any ratio.
Many (most?) of us don't bother keeping a new crab separate from the old. We inspect them for any mites, give everyone a quick dip in the fresh water (so nobody smells 'new' or like an intruder), and pop them into the main tank!

[ARTURIS86]

Thank you all so much for responding! I've been peeking in on the big guy daily and he's in the same 1 inch hole. Not moving at all. Same position. Not eating or drinking. And barely twitching when i tapped his shell...Been about a week now. Was waiting till someone responded to see what I should do with him. Was thinking I should move him to an isolated tank. But I guess I should just wait it out. The way the pet store was...they had what looked like mulch. Only about 2 inches deep. So you're probably right. They probably have been needing to molt and just finally had enough substrate to do so... Hopefully that's the case. Because now I'm not hearing any chirping or shell scraping from the other 2 anymore either.
Should I keep changing the food and water even though they're not eating or drinking at all? Should I add more substrate on the other side of the tank now? Or wait until they're up?
Also, i have about a 5-2 sand and coco fiber ratio. And it's moist and moldable for now. Not sure how to keep it that way while they're under and I can't mess with the substrate.
I'm pretty sure the 2 small ones are PP's. They both moved into nice green turbos right away(Though one changed into a bunch of different shells before he decided on that one). The big guy looks the same but he's a dark brownish red color and theyre more light reddish color...I also put a bunch of big shells in for the bigger guy but he never did anything but dig the hole and go under.
I smell the tank daily and it kinda smells beachy(?) LOL. But no horrible fishy smell.
Anyway, I appreciate all the help i can get! I'm a nervous wreck about it, im just so worried about them and would feel awful if I caused their death.
I guess I'll just let nature run its course for now and resist the temptation to dig them up to check on them.
Thanks again!

[Jlmills525]

if you have a smart phone, the tapatalk app makes it very easy to post pictures.... JUST FYI

[ARTURIS86]

Ok thanks!

[MotleyMusicana]

Yes, keep changing the water regularly so that they have the option, and so the water doesn't get gross. I'd say put a pretty small amount of food in there so that they have the option. Change that regularly too as it will become damp in the humid environment, risking mildewing, and attract pests. You can put new substrate into the tank, just don't drop it from a height or pack it down while there are crabs in there. You can mist the tank as needed, but it depends on the tank (I usually mist mine twice a day as needed). Wet your moss or the sand if they dry out. Try not to spray your hydrometer as that will skew the readings, and try not to spray food.

Yep! Beachy is the smell you want!

Yeah, so your big guy is probably either attempting a molt or he's too stressed out to be very active. He'll adjust with time. Also, I want you to know that getting pet store hermit crabs is never a sure fire success. Crabs are taken from the wild and transported in conditions that are hazardous to them, and then placed in pet store habitats that lack the conditions they need. You are doing your very best to give them every shot at survival right now. There's always chance that one of your new crabs won't make it. They'll either adjust, or they won't. And you can do everything right and still lose a crab, because you simply can't know what happened to it before it got to you. That said, I think they have a good chance at survival under your care. Keep up the good work!

edited to correct some incorrect information about substrate and misting

[curlysister]

Yes, keep changing the water regularly so that they have the option, and so the water doesn't get gross. I'd say put a pretty small amount of food in there so that they have the option. Change that regularly too as it will become damp in the humid environment, risking mildewing, and attract pests. As long as you know where all the crabs are, and can avoid putting substrate on top of them, then yes, I think you can add some more substrate and it'll be fine. Just don't block their exit burrows, it'll be like caving them in. You should mist the tank regularly (I usually mist mine twice a day as needed). That includes spraying the top layer of substrate to moisten it so that it doesn't dry out. Generally, that keeps the substrate nice and packable in my experience. Try not to spray your hydrometer as that will skew the readings, and try not to spray food. Regularly mist any moss you have in there as well.

Yep! Beachy is the smell you want!

Yeah, so your big guy is probably either attempting a molt or he's too stressed out to be very active. He'll adjust with time. Also, I want you to know that getting pet store hermit crabs is never a sure fire success. Crabs are taken from the wild and transported in conditions that are hazardous to them, and then placed in pet store habitats that lack the conditions they need. You are doing your very best to give them every shot at survival right now. There's always chance that one of your new crabs won't make it. They'll either adjust, or they won't. And you can do everything right and still lose a crab, because you simply can't know what happened to it before it got to you. That said, I think they have a good chance at survival under your care. Keep up the good work!

Most crabs will back-fill their tunnels as they go, so that we (and predators in the wild) won't know where they are and go in and harm them. And then crabs often move when they are underground, so it's very hard to know where they are. It is safe to add substrate while crabs are under, just don't drop it in from a height, or pack it down.
Misting is not needed by everyone - it will depend on the tank conditions. I haven't misted my tank at all for like at least 5 or 7 years! LOL! An easy way to check on the consistency of the substrate, and check for flooding, is to put something like a chop stick down along the glass right to the bottom. When you pull the chop stick out, if there is water pooling in the bottom there is a flood - and if the tunnel the stick made caves in, the substrate is too dry and some water may need to be added. A tank that has more ventilation/ air flow will of course cause the substrate to dry out quicker - this also happens in an area where a UTH goes below the level of the substrate, it will dry out in that area faster.

[ARTURIS86]

Thank you! That all makes me feel a little better. I'll just do what I can and hope for the best right now.
So about their exit holes.The only hole I see is the one where the big guy is. So if that is their only way to get out, then maybe that's why they aren't coming up- because he's in the way. But If they covered their hole and can find another way out, then we're good.
And ok, I will check on the substrate with a stick. And add more!
Thanks again! I'll keep everyone posted!

[ItsMixed]

Sometimes if my subs to wet or dry all the way through, I'll remove everything except the sub and then fluff it up and mix it up. If it's to wet I let it air dry for a little while. If it's too dry, I mix it while adding fresh water until it's a good consistency. Hope this helped and good luck with your crabs!