Cannibalism and maybe molting

Kryorke · Post by **Kryorke** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:24 am

Hi, I have 2 PP's I bought Friday. Their shell aperture is 3/4". I have a 10 gall tank, about 5" substrate. My question is, one of my guys is very active the other, not so much. Starting Sunday, Crab #2, 'Mr Krabs' (named by my 9 yr old son),buried himself partway in the substrate. Monday, Crab #1, 'Shelly',(named by my 10 yr old niece), sat partially on Mr Krabs. Was she comforting him or trying to eat him? Then, to make matters worse, last night I wanted to take a pix of them like this AND MY FLASH WENT OFF. This morning they were on opposite sides of the crabitat from eachother, food and water dishes mussed. What should I do? Also, I know not to handle them for the first few weeks, but is it ok to rearrange their toys and furniture?

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:10 am

True crab canniblism is quite rare, so I wouldn't worry about it. The worse you're likely to see is just a dominance or shell fight and maybe a lost limb but nothing serious by crab standards.THey will regularly rearrange the tank on their own. They're up all night destructing everything you put together. I'd try to not do too much rearranging for the first month, but if you need to fix something it shouldn't be too big an issue.

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:11 am

They are new so I would avoid doing anything except what is absolutely necessary in their tank (food and water changes) for at least the next month until they've had time to settle down and acclimate.Mine sit on top of each other all the time. If the one on the bottom objects they will make it known by moving or making a whirring noise. One of mine fusses at me this way if she thinks I might think about picking her up. The only time I worry is if one is fussing or if someone is sitting on top of one of the tiny ones, when you're 4-6 times the size of the one you're sitting on the crabby mom gets involved. Every time, the little one was fine and really didn't want or need my intervention.How are your conditions? Humidity, temperature? Filling out this template will give more information so more information can be given.

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:35 am

You can definitely refresh the tank a bit. Try to keep it minimal but you will need to keep the food and water dishes fresh so you can take those out to clean/refill as needed - usually once daily. Mine are constantly crawling all over each other. Sitting on top of each other may not be cannibalism - or comfort. Just occupying the same space for a bit. Who knows what is in their crabby minds?

Kryorke · Post by **Kryorke** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:23 am

Thank you all so much for replying. In reply to the template for new owners, i've had them since Friday. It's a 10 gallon glass aquarium with Versa-Top plexiglass hinged lid. An All Living Things brand 4 watt, 110 volt heat mat that is mounted on back, at the bottom and in the center. My substrate is 1/2 dampened All Living Things brand coconut soil, and 1/2 sand that was advertised for hermies. These two are not mixed, rather each on one side of tank. Fiber is damp, sand is sand castle consistency. Fiber is 5", while sand gradually lowers from 5" to 3". I dechlorinate with API brand tap water conditioner and use Instant Ocean in dechlorinated water for salt water, both changed daily. All Living Things brand hermit crab pellet food, and an ***'t of fresh fruits and veggies changed daily. I also tried some edible flowers but they were left untouched for two days. The day I got them, I gave them an API brand stress coat bath. I do not mist or handle them. Temp is 70 degrees, humidity is 75-85%. I just hot home and noticed one missing(buried?) and one 1/2 buried. Also a log has mold on bottom so I'm going to throw it out.

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:31 am

I am hoping the sand advertised for hermit crabs is not calcium sand! Most of us use play sand from the hardware store. Unfortunately almost everything advertised as "for hermit crabs" is terrible for them. Even the store bought food.

Kryorke · Post by **Kryorke** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:37 am

Should I change the substrate if they are both above ground at the same time? Or leave them be for a couple more weeks?

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:55 am

If it's calcium sand, I'd get it out as long as no one is buried. Add playsand to make it a uniform 6 inches minimum, if your guys are big you may need to increase the depth. The recommendation is twice the height of you largest crab or more.Depending on what the log is made of, you may be able to scrub it and then soak it in their salt water, bake to dry and that may inhibit the mold growth.Also 70 is too low for temperature, it will be better for them between 75-80. It won't kill them immediately to be at 70 but its not good. For a 10 gallon aquarium a 30 gallon UTH is recommended. Those pellets, if I remember correctly, are okay just not good quality. There's a safe food list at the top of the Zoea section. A variety is important.

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:16 am

I agree I would change it out. If they bury in it and try to molt it can harden around them like cement!

Kryorke · Post by **Kryorke** » Tue Aug 13, 2013 11:27 am

Well, we just got back from a Pet Supplies Plus near us. We got a 16 watt mat, hermit crab bites with no ethoxyquin or copper sulfates, actually, everything is pronouncable and recognizable We stopped at a hardware store and got 'All purpose sand'. I also bought some Zilla brand Terrarium Beaked moss. I had a moss pit with sphangum moss but it got moldy so I threw it out. I poured boiling water in the container to sterilize it. Could I use the terrarium moss? It's dried, but can be misted to help maintain humidity. Could I use that for my pit?