New To Hermit Crabs - General Inqueries

VonGod · Post by **VonGod** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 8:02 am

So, I hope that title works, I'm also unsure if I'm allowed to be posting questions here. I've read around, and if I'm incorrect, please assist me in fixing that issue.I've been reluctant to post on here, but I'm unsure why. I was hoping to find a chat that people would post in, but I'd found none, and the closes was this forum. Which a lot of places reference a number of times.So, if all things are alright, questions are below. [Hopefully everything is clear.]-----So, I've had hermit crabs before, but never got to a point where I understood what I was doing 100%. It's been years since then, and I've now gotten hermit crabs again. I've made an introductory post, in the forum indicated for newbies saying hello, and explaining my situation.Some things I have questions for are as follows; if I have two water dishes, and one is larger, should salt water be in the large or small one?If I would like to make a bubble bath [air pump] in the salt water, would that be alright?I've spent over 150 dollars so far trying to get the proper things for these guys. I only have a uth right now, and I don't know where to place it. Should I put the uth on the side of the tank, or should I be putting it on the bottom, as the name suggests?Would tape be a bad idea to put inside a tank, to keep a tube to the side of the tank?My new tank is 20"l x 10"w x 12"h - How many gallons is this tank, is it appropriate? [I can not afford a new one, or more expensive one].At the moment all the food I have for them are carrots, and fish food. What other types of food [specify] should I get?I need to know what they /need/ in order to get by.Example: "Get bananas, bran cereal, carrots, a mango, and some peas, this should cover the things they need."Also; I have 5 gallons of distilled water - I have put in the "Hermit Crab Drinking Water Conditioner" in to it. Says that it "adds essential electrolytes" is this enough to have in their water. Or do I /need/ to get bottled water? [Again, at the moment I can not afford.] If they do need the things bottled water has, are there any foods in which could remedy this situation, for them?I do not have lamps for them, but I have windows that give off natural light in to my home. Are lamps vital?I cover their current terrarium at night, as to not expose them to any lights my computer and desk lamp gives off [unsure of if this is necessarily needed].---This is all I can think of for now. If I have any other questions I'll list them after this, or in a new post, if someone else posts after me. x3Thank you, for reading.

Theodora · Post by **Theodora** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:51 pm

I have figured out the amount of gallons in your tank and it is 10.4 US gallons. You need to put the UTH on the side of the tank and not the bottom. I don't think tape is good because the crab can get their legs stuck on it. I may not be able to answer ALL of your questions but can answer some!!! BTW how many crabs do you own again?

VonGod · Post by **VonGod** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 1:29 pm

quote:Originally posted by Theodora:-snip- BTW how many crabs do you own again? Thanks, 10 gal is the minimum I saw. I also didn't put tape in, but found the alternative to just wrap the tube in the weave from a basket, so now it's climbable. At the moment I have two hermit crabs.One is in the new tank now. The uth is on the side, partially below the substrate, mostly above. There is also a nocturnal infrared heatlamp beside the tank, 50w. Also, the other crab is in a very small tank, only with substrate, food, and a thermometer. I don't think I can fit in a water dish at the moment either. I haven't seen the other hermit crab in a long, long time now. D;I had gotten them the 21st. Did an incredibly terrible thing the day after, by diging them both out, and then replaced calci-sand with coco-husk.But, once I did that, humidity and temp were good. One, who I've been calling Nyx, has been active every night, and eats the food that I've provided. At the moment Nyx is very active, in the new tank. Walking everywhere, and climbing everything I've put in to the new tank. I forgot to mention that these guys are from PetSmart. not a super grand place. D;I was thinking of getting another hermit crab, either from PetSmart again, so I can add him directly, without the ISO tank [since I don't have one atm]. Or getting them from another place, which I know takes good care of them, and adding that hermit crab in the new tank. [But I'm unsure if doing this is a good idea at all.]My reason being, so that Nyx does not get lonely, and has a potential playmate, while the other one is burrowed.I also want to open the new tank, and add some new things in, so Nyx can reach their drinking water. I thought they were bigger than they actually are, and didn't make a way to get in it. Unsure if I should do this or not [I don't want to stress Nyx out any more than I have].Thank you for reading, and helping, btw!

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 2:57 pm

quote:Originally posted by VonGod:Some things I have questions for are as follows; if I have two water dishes, and one is larger, should salt water be in the large or small one? You'll get different opinions but I would put the salt in the smaller one. Especially if you have PPs, they prefer brackish water, and the larger bowl will evaporate more to contribute to humidity, and it's better not to use up as much salt in the one that evaporates faster.quote:If I would like to make a bubble bath [air pump] in the salt water, would that be alright? Definitelyquote:I've spent over 150 dollars so far trying to get the proper things for these guys. I only have a uth right now, and I don't know where to place it. Should I put the uth on the side of the tank, or should I be putting it on the bottom, as the name suggests? On the side, but as close to the bottom as you can, and pile up sand at least 4-6" deep, try to cover at least 2/3rds of the UTH solidly in sand.quote:Would tape be a bad idea to put inside a tank, to keep a tube to the side of the tank? Probably not going to hurt anything, but I'd try to keep it out of reach so they don't eat it. You can also use 100% silicone to seal things into place.quote:At the moment all the food I have for them are carrots, and fish food. What other types of food [specify] should I get?I need to know what they /need/ in order to get by.Example: "Get bananas, bran cereal, carrots, a mango, and some peas, this should cover the things they need." I would get a staple diet hermit crab food. Check out the HermitCrabAddiction food store as well as other member's food. You can go on-line and find Crab Island Hermit Crab Food (not the fruit and flower) and HGB as well.quote:Also; I have 5 gallons of distilled water - I have put in the "Hermit Crab Drinking Water Conditioner" in to it. Says that it "adds essential electrolytes" is this enough to have in their water. Or do I /need/ to get bottled water? [Again, at the moment I can not afford.] distilled is already pure. Bottled won't get any purer, it's often the same thing. You technically don't need to use conditioner on bottled or distilled water (unless it's bottled tap water).quote:If they do need the things bottled water has, are there any foods in which could remedy this situation, for them? only bottled water that specifically says it's from mountain springs or something like that, and not RO/distilled/pure/etc would actually have any useful minerals. the rest is either bottled tap or pure. You can use tap as well if you have a good water conditioner.quote:I do not have lamps for them, but I have windows that give off natural light in to my home. Are lamps vital? windows are bad, direct sunlight into a tank can heat up the inside very quickly, especially if it's properly enclosed. Tanks should be kept away from direct sunlight, though indirect is fine. Lights aren't vital, but moonglos can be a good alternative for heat, especially in the winter. And UV lights can be benefitial.quote:I cover their current terrarium at night, as to not expose them to any lights my computer and desk lamp gives off [unsure of if this is necessarily needed]. probably won't matter too much

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 2:59 pm

Hermit crabs are quite adept climbers, but I would ensure that the smallest crab can climb in AND out of any water and food bowls.

Laurie LeAnn · Post by **Laurie LeAnn** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 5:32 pm

I was always told crabs need day / night cycles there for I either had a reg light or a moon glow light so I could have at least one or the other. a plus w the moon glow is you can leave it on 24 / 7 . now that I have a 55 gallon I have both, during the day I have my reg light on and at night I turn it off and use the moon glow light.In the long run / cost wise it is cheaper to buy conditioners and get a gallon jug and use reg tap water. about 3 - 4 drops per gallon of water. I change my waters about every 3 days, so I go through water fast..tape, I wouldn't put in my tank for anything. the humidity will ruin the sticky part and it will fall or hang and it's not worth not knowing if your crabs have nibbled on it or not.bubblers? if you have your substrate moist enough and the rest of your conditions correct you shouldn't need one, your humidity should stay up if you have the correct size uth and proper lid. many of us don't use them.crabs are expensive! not a cheap pet to own at all!! about the food i would skip the fish food, it has harmful stuff in it, there are so many foods you can feed them that a normal person eats look on the zoea part I think is what it is called on here. they love soft boiled eggs!! make sure they are cooled.just an other crab member opinions , ya take information and make it work for you.garage sales are coming up to and you should start seeing fish tanks for sale..even city wide clean up days check them out, many people put them out to the curb. you can score a good size tank for cheap!!

VonGod · Post by **VonGod** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 7:30 am

Thank you for all the info you've all given me. I've tried to put it to good use.My tank seems to flux on humidity, but it's always the right temperature. Also, it usually says it's more humid on the side of the tank without the lamp or uth. As in, it's the proper humidity on the side of the tank that has water, and no UTH, and on the other side the humidity stays around 40-50. Wondering if I need to worry about this.[Edit]Also, I have both crabs in the same tank, now. Except one is super scared or stressed. I can understand why. The move over to the larger tank, I went to put it down, and it pinched me. I was hoping to put it down, and just let it destress on it's own, but I think by it pinching me, it might have made it worse. It had pinched me for around 30 - 50 mins, before it calmed down and let go. [I did the technique of holding your hand out so they're level, and not moving it, for as long as possible.] Once it did let go, I took it promptly over to the tank, and let it go in. I named this one Sand King, and Sand King has burrowed near the uth, and hasn't come up in a while. I'm concerned for it. Of course I can't really do anything now, other than keep the tank at what it's supposed to be at.But, I also have another hermit crab, and I don't want it to get lonely. I've named my other crab Srcsqwrn, and he's very active. He is constantly moving around the tank, climbing things, and randomly burrowing, then coming back up. Checking out water, and then heading back to the lamp side. I'm assuming this activity is normal. All I've had for food, for a while now, has been carrots, which I've been feeding Sand King and Scrsqwrn. It's literally the only food I've had for a couple days. [I'm very poor, and live on my own. Plus I ordered pizza one day, and the pizza guy stole my debit card. So I haven't been able to go shopping in a little while.] But, back to my original point. Should I get another hermit crab? The active crab should have to suffer, but I can't really do anything about the burrowed one. . 3.[Edit]

Laurie LeAnn · Post by **Laurie LeAnn** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 3:50 am

if you eat chicken, cook it your self, you can cut off a hunk and boil it in their water, pick a an apple cut off a hunk { no peel } give to them you eat the rest. a jar of organic baby food goes a long way, about 50 to 70 cents a jar. you can put the left overs in a zip lock bag and freeze then break off chunks when you want to feed them, maple tree bark is an other, boil the heck out of it first in their water and dry in oven to kill bugs. I use a grater to turn mine into powder, they love it this way. i get spring mix salad I rinse it off and give them some. I can tell you with out proper diet it is just as stressful on them. they are scavengers and can have many things you eat to..like i said they are expensive to get started up, and you have to have the right requirements of everything or in the end it will be disaster, meaning dead crabs from stress. as far as pinching i have never done the hold my hand out flat thing, no way! i don't want to get pinched!! I pick them up from behind by their shell so they can't get me! There will always be a crab down and one up, I did that to go by an other when one was down then as soon as I got a new one the other went down to..if you only have a 10 gal tank i wouldn't put to many crabs in there.They do need room to move. there is a zoea list on here, go to main page click on ZOEA AND UNDER IT IS A FOOD LIST OF EVERYTHING THEY CAN EAT!! there is tons of options that are free from things you can get outside from your yard if it is pesticide free to the store that you eat that doesn't HAVE to be organic...

VonGod · Post by **VonGod** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:50 am

I never asked for hermit crabs. My mum just knew I had some in the past, liked them, and would want some in the future. xDAlso, it wasn't that I put the hermit crab on my hand flat, it was that I had it by the shell, and then went to put it down, and it came quickly to my hand and pinched it. So I held my hand flat, and steady, so it would calm down. it eventually did after 30 - 50 mins. {I'm not sure the time because I was watching a game at the time.]How many crabs can fit in a 10 gal tank? Would 4 be alright?Also, I will check out that list. It's just that I was out and about shopping, and thought to get them some meat. So I asked someone for meat with no preservatives, they said they only had liver. Which is why I was wondering. x3

Theodora · Post by **Theodora** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 10:07 am

Hm... I dunno.... what game were you watching? Lolz

colorcrab2000 · Post by **colorcrab2000** » Wed May 01, 2013 8:59 am

my crabs' favorite foods are mango, banana, bell pepper, and the occasional papaya treat. if you're looking to buy commercial crab food, look at the ingredients. there's a preservative that starts with an e and has an x in it and ends with "quin" but if forget the whole name. it's toxic to crabs.to save money, pick either bottled spring water/distilled water OR tap w/ water conditioner. I use the latter because it's more cost effective.I use Tetra tropical fish water conditioner. put 4-5 drops in each gallon. it's dirt cheap and is in a yellow bottle with pictures of fish on it at any pet store. it deals with all the stuff (ammonia, fluoride, etc.)I do not use lights, lamps, whatever. I find that the best, most natural, and most cost effective way for them to have a day/night cycle is to not have any lights. light is provided to mine via indirect sunlight during the day and darkness during night. if you're wondering, hermit crabs are nocturnal and most active at night because their predators, like the seagull, are active during the day.If your computer/lamp is on all night, you should a) turn them off before you go to bed orb) cover the cage like you're doingif light is only on for an hour/two while you use it and is then turned off, you shouldn't need to cover it.suggestion for the water bowls: if they are too tall for your smallest crab, half-bury them in the sand and put some pebbles in and around the bowl so they can get in and out.for the humidity fluxing... are you misting? that often causes humidity spikes. try sponges, if you haven't already, but read up on the care of sponges- some people say they are really hard to keep in good condition, but I have several sponges that work great.also, humidity should be around 80, so you need more humidity... you may actually want do use a clean spray bottle and mist the tank once a day to help boost humidity. hermit crabs are WAAAAAAAY more active when they have proper humidity.Scrsqwrn sounds very healthy, btwfor Sand King, he might be inactive and stressed due to Post Purchase Syndrome, where, due to mistreatment from pet stores, they are extremely stressed out. however, with the right conditions and little patience, he/she should perk up soon. however, PPS can take as long as 6 months to recover from.

colorcrab2000 · Post by **colorcrab2000** » Wed May 01, 2013 9:06 am

also, as you know, don't dig up Sand King. you may want to try moving the heater and seeing if he follows it. this also might be a good idea because you should look out for overheating.I have 3 crabs in my 10 gallon, and that's plenty. I don't suggest you get a fourth.other than that, read up! check out the zoea section for that list of foods, and check out the links section for articles and basic care. you could also look at the library section for archived stuff. knowledge is power, and the more you read on hermit crabs the more confident you'll be with dealing with their care.Hope that helps! It seems like you know basically what you're doing and are dedicated to giving them proper care.

VonGod · Post by **VonGod** » Wed May 01, 2013 4:59 pm

Welp, I had written a large responce.But, I don't have too much time, being super tired. I don't overly want to type.I wanted to give a quick update.One crab attacked another. I moved the attacker to the small tank, and put some shells in it. I plan to get more when I have free time on Sunday, aswell and read things on here, and properly reply to things.Earlier, when I could see who was who, Srcsqwrn was drinking from the salt water, instead of the fresh water. Should I be concerned with this?Aswell, I heard that distilled water is nothing but water, just h2o. So, it's missing minerals and such that hermit crabs need. I found this out shortly after purchasing the 5 gal.----------As to what game I was watching, it was DotA 2, which are normally 30 - 50 ish mins long.

colorcrab2000 · Post by **colorcrab2000** » Wed May 01, 2013 11:03 pm

By "attacking" do you mean that they were face to face and whipping their feelers around, or was one rocking the other's shell, possibly chirping, and trying to get the defending crab out of his/her shell?

Laurie LeAnn · Post by **Laurie LeAnn** » Thu May 02, 2013 3:57 am

quote:So I asked someone for meat with no preservatives, they said they only had liver. the person may not of understood what you were asking..lol! all meat is jacked up things enhanced with flavors, examples would be chicken sometimes say this. but plain chicken or beef, fish, hamburger, shrimp ect is fine. when a crab 'ATTACKS' another then it usually is because of shell issues, or they are lacking in something in their diet. at times when a crab comes up from a molt an other will attack them cause they smell yummy enough to eat. these are times I give my crabs a bath { dipping them several times in their water making it warmish [not salt one] so everyone smells the same. if they are at the constant attack mode and a bath has not helped then remove either the bully crab or the other and iso them in an other tank or you have to split the tank and I can tell you they can scale and get over & under things to get a cab if they want to! then you need to really boost their diet with organic peanut butter, eggs, worm castings,raw organic honey, air pop - pop corn for a few days. it usually goes away then.crabs will drink and bathe in both salt and fresh water. your better off to just get the dechor drops and just add it to the tap water you have, it will last you longer and is cheaper in the long run.