HELP My large pp barricaded himself in a coconut hut

[Hermieandrhasta]

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Play sand/coco fiber mix,7 inches deep

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
Temp is always at eighty and humidity 60 and when spring cave rain is running,every night,80 to 90 percent humidity

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes,Zoo Med under tank heater ( on the side of the tank,always on)

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
Both fresh and salt,Repti Safe dechlorinator and Instant Ocean mixed with the treated fresh water

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Food replaced daily,fruits,veggies,seeds,nuts,meal and bloodworms,crickets,snails,fresh shrimp,clams,mussels,octopus,squid,krill,eggs and shells,popcorn once in a while,chicken,cilantro,rose petals,different powdered foods from the Hermit Crab patch,i.e. foraging mix,black sand with worm castings.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Three years,purple pincher

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Doing it now. He has had several with no issues.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
55 gallon glass aquarium,screen top covered by breathable mesh

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
4 crabs total,all pp's,he is a jumbo,another karge crab and two small crabs I recently rescued

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 15 rotated with different ones every second day


11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? No


12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Weekly,sterilize shells and decor if needed. Sift the sand and use probiotic spray.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges,boil the dishes

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
No

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

My jumbo barricaded himself into a coconut hut in the tank which is obviously on the surface. He blocked the entrance with moss,leaves and sand. I am sure he is molting,as he has not come out,have crab cameras. The other crabs are trying to get
In there. One of the smaller crabs is molting deep down directly under where he is. He us still in his shell when I saw him fixing the entrance earlier. He needs to be taken out,correct? I bought another tank just now and nore substrate. How do I safely remove him!! I am so worried,he is my favorite guy. Thank you SO much.

[C: ClareCrabOwner :)]

I think you should probally just leave him alone. I've been researching a lot about hermit crabs lately, and if he is molting, he probally doesn't want to be disturbed.
(Hopefully someone with more experience chimes in! About 85% sure you should just leave him alone )

You can switch him to the other tank when he comes out after his molt.

[I<3mycrabbies]

If you think he's molting is there a way to take the hut that he's in out of the tank?
Is the hut like a full coconut or just a half coconut?

If it's just a hut I would carefully take it out and if he's molting scoop him up with a plastic spoon or smtg and place him in the iso tank.

If he's in a full coconut like one with a bottom I would take it out and put him in the iso tank while he's still I'm the coconut so that way he can come out on his own if he wants.

Also if he's not molting is there a way to just move the sand and stuff that's blocking the entrance?

And if you need to move the hut you should be fine if it's not buried in the sand. Your molting crab should be fine if he's buried deep

I hope this helps!