New To Forum

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:03 pm

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to the forum - but glad I discovered it. I posted some stuff about a recently molted crab I have and was so excited to receive responses from some of you.

Anyway... My name is Eric, and I've been keeping hermit crabs since I was a child (I'm 28 now). Unfortunately, I was uneducated in my early years, and so had A LOT of them die off on me. In fact, my luck in keeping hermit crabs has been varying, but before I bought this last batch, I read everything I could on them to make sure I provided an optimum set-up and conditions for them. The information you get in the little booklets from the pet store are just NOT accurate - and some of the information I read is so misguiding it's amazing the books were allowed to be published. Isn't there an editor to verify the contents of those books? Apparently not. Christa Wilkins' site was ENORMOUSLY helpful and informative, however, in educating me on things.

Anyway - I have 2 caribbean (Coenibita Clypeatus) hermit crabs - Melissa and Kowalski. Melissa is a litte fella, about the size of a half-dollar (recently molted, but for some reason unusually smaller - but in otherwise good shape). Kowalski is a large guy with a very "dominating presence". He has a look about him that seethes confidence and power, but he is not violent to Melissa (although he did try to get to her whilst she was molting, but I isolated her just in time). Kowalski is about the size of a golf-ball and exceptionally "meaty" and heavy to hold (I guess he stores alot of water in his shell(?)).

I digress, however... the whole reason for my post was to introduce myself, share with you some pics of my set-up (comments and advice welcome), as well as ask a question or two.

With the introduction out of the way, here's the pics of my set-up: <img> <img> <img> Some of you (one of you in particular, and I'm sorry I can't remember your name) have very impressive and colorful set-ups that make me oh so jealous. I simply don't have the money and time to upkeep such a huge and tropical looking terrarium - but kudos to you who have that lavish of a set-up! They look great! Your crabs are definitely the "upper crustaceans" of the captive hermit crab society!

Okay - so my questions:

(1) Is it unusual that my hermits are so lethargic by day? I mean, I know they are nocturnal, but when the sun is up they are buried WAAAAAAY under the cocoa-fibre/claci-sand substrate. The humidity in there is at a constant 72 - 75 and the temp. never exceeds 80 degrees. I know they are for the most part nocturnal, and so in the evening (usually very very late) they are out and about to feed, etc., but it just seems odd that there is NO activity at all by day. Is this common?

(2) Judging by the size of my set-up, how many crabs, and of what size, do you think would be wise to keep, without instigating hostility amongst or over-crowding them? Right now I just have the two. I had a third (his name was Brendan and he was about the same size as Kowalski) but he died very mysteriously. One day he was fine and the next day I found him hanging out of his shell with most of his legs having fallen off. IT WAS NOT A MOLT, cause I could have pulled him out of his shell entirely and there would have been nothing left behind. I do, however, think his death was related to the inability to or interruption of a molt - possibly by Kowalski whom, as I mentioned earlier, tried to get to Melissa when she was shedding. Again - Kowalski is not aggressive, but from what I understand, hermit crabs can't fight their cannibalistic urges whilst their mates are vulnerable and molting, so I don't hold it against him.

Hope to hear from some of you. My Yahoo!IM is: thehideousnorth. feel free to say hi!

-Eric

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:22 pm

Welcome to HCA, it sounds like you have a wonderful set up. The images didn't come through, but hope we can see them another time. Don't hesitate to ask any questions as we are in here for the betterment of our little crabbies. Welcome again!

HERMEZ · Post by **HERMEZ** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:26 pm

This is a double post maybe a mod can close one?

annopia · Post by **annopia** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:44 pm

PPs are notorius for being lazy during the day. For the most part, mine either enjoy staying partially buried during the day, or laze around in their coco hut. My Es are much more active, up at all hours, climbing everything.

What size tank are you using? by description of your two crabs, it sounds like Melissa is a small and Kowalski is a medium, but you can verify that for going to the link -----> "sizing hermies." If your crabs are indeed this size, they need about 5 gallons. so if your tank sizably larger than 5 gallons, then yes, you can fit another hermie.

Brenden's death does sound mysterious...I've had several crabs keel over for no reason to. to check Kowalski's agression when his tank mates are molting, make sure that the diet you give them is rich in protein (having adequate protein reduces cannibalization during molts).

welcome to the HCA!

Caroline

SunnyKrab · Post by **SunnyKrab** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:03 pm

First off,I would like to welcome you aboard,and hope to esee you around more in the future.

Your pictures didnt come thru,but I can say that it ins not unusual for crabs to dig themselves under and chill out during the day. I used to have my crabitat in the living room,but have since moved it to a quieter less stressful room,and I feel bad when I turn on the lights at night,and they look at me as if i caught them doing something wrong LOL!!

Also Brendans death sounds alot like a stress thing to me. Many crabs will drop their legs when they feel stressed out,usually right after they are brought home from the store,or after a big move or any other very stressful event.

Well good luck to you,and if you have anything you need to ask , feel free to PM me.

HERMEZ · Post by **HERMEZ** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:20 am

hmm ok I did answer you but on the other post-it was deleted, I though it could just be locked

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:56 am

Hi and Welcome!

My PPs stay buried or hidden during the day too. Also if they are new they will dig down for a while to destress.

What size is your tank?

SunnyKrab · Post by **SunnyKrab** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:00 pm

Herm-EZ wrote:hmm ok I did answer you but on the other post-it was deleted, I though it could just be locked

I am so sorry,I am whacking myself in the head right now.
I read both posts and could have sworn I saw a reply from you in both, I would have just locked it instead of deleting it had I been in my right mind. Again I am so sorry.

You can whack me once too.But not too hard , I am new at this.

HERMEZ · Post by **HERMEZ** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:57 pm

SunnyKrab wrote: I am so sorry,I am whacking myself in the head right now.
I read both posts and could have sworn I saw a reply from you in both, I would have just locked it instead of deleting it had I been in my right mind. Again I am so sorry.

You can whack me once too.But not too hard , I am new at this.

*sniff sniff* thats ok, I thought I was a bad girl or something *wipes tear*