hermit crabs have been buried forever....what am I doing !

[Annitude]

Ive had my hermies for a few weeks now. And I havent seen them AT ALL!! All 7 are buried...leaving the tank very boring. My 4 year old son is all wanting another pet now. How long are they normally buried for? Its been like 3 weeks I guess...Im not really sure but its been forever.
I use CaribSea Sand, Its moist I mist it every day or every other day depending with either salt or fresh water.
The humity is 75-80
The tempt is usually between 75-82, Ive seen it hit 72 a few times, But its never below that.
Are they all dead? I dont smell any fishy smells, Nothing..I dont get it.

[emmac350]

They're most likely destressing/molting. Depending on crab size, they could only be down for another week or up to a few more weeks. If you are really desperate to pique your son's interest, try to guess where the crabs are buried with him, then (only do this in a lower light environment) slowly slide the tank out so you can see up from the bottom and find them that way. Then, because you know where they are, go through the tank daily or so, saying "that's where crab x is" and "that's where crab y is" to make them seem like they're more active than they are.

[Foxydiva3]

This is normally what happens when bringing crabs home. They normally don't have good conditions at the Store so when they come home they are moulting or destressing. Give it some time this is a good thing.

[CrabbyJo]

Do you have other areas in the tank where they can "hide out", like a cocohut or some hollow log ornaments? The more greenery and places you have for them to hide, the more comfortable they will feel coming out.
Also keep in mind that they are nocturnal, so they may be coming out when everyone is asleep and the house is quiet. Maybe you can check on them if you wake in the night to go to the bathroom, or maybe get up an extra hour or two earlier than usual just to take a peek (then go back to bed of course ) I suggest this because then you may see that they are coming out more than you think.

I also thought my crabs were pretty lifeless, until I woke at odd times or stayed up extra late to see my PP meandering across his tank. Now we have days when we see almost nobody at all, and days when it seems like 2 or 3 are out at a time. Those are less common.

[Annitude]

Yeap I have a coconut hide out, I have some of those suction cup plants in the back, for them to climb up on.
The crabs are tiny, They range from nickle size, to maybe quarter, there still little. I know that they will molt more than bigger ones to. Ive been wondering if they are molting or what. I only see one crab on the bottom...I cant see the others, Hes still alive too, I seen his pinchers moving when I looked I hope the others are doing good too...

[CrabbyJo]

How about adding a few more goodies to their tank that they can crawl behind or under, like a hidey log and some cholla wood, and maybe some fake plants to just stick in the sand. They will feel more secure without too many wide open spaces, and you will see them a little more often.
Don't despair, I had lots of hidey places for my crabs at first too, and it took them 2-3 weeks before I started seeing them out.

[ladybug15057]

An idea too is since you use sand as a substrate is to gently smooth the top of it. In the morning you can look and see if there are any hermie tracks in the sand. What type of foods are you offering? Any smelly ones that would entice them to come to the surface to eat? You mention your humidity %, did you test/calibrate the gauge to see how correctly it is reading? With an air temp as you mentioned, have you also checked the substrate temp?
And being so new, they maybe destressing too. Depending on the conditions where you got the hermies would also depend on how your tank should be set up for now.

http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... storyid=22

Doing as the article above will also help them to destress easier.

[Annitude]

I just smoothed out the gravel . I added some dried veggies fruit and meat * moistened with spring water.
I did test both my hydrometers using the salt method and the one is 2 degrees off, the other one is perfect.
How do I check the temp of the sand?

[ladybug15057]

Well for now you can use the inner part of your wrist to feel the substrate. Otherwise one can use a thermometer with a probe to take the substrates temps.

[HermieLove19]

When you take the temp of the substrate could you use a thermometer that you would use to take the temp outside and inside your house? We have one of those by the window in our living room and I think it has a probe. Can I use one of those or is there a reptile thermometer?