Hermit crabs dying after five years

[Wai]

Assuming that the hermit crabs were not attacked by others, why do some hermit crabs in captivity die after about four or five years? If temperature and humidity were the causes of death, wouldn't they have died after about a year or two maximum?

I know Marie and Carol have had theirs for ages, so they haven't had this problem. I have read many stories about hermit crabs that appear to living well in captivity, but instead of living on for another few decades, they die after the five year mark. Could it be malnutrition or long-term intoxication from food and water?

[emmac350]

That could have something to do with it. Depending on the size (and therefore age) of the crabs, it could just be their natural point to go. Every human doesn't live until we hit 106, although some do. Some people die of natural causes in their 30s, although it's almost as uncommon as people living into their 100s. There could be something physically wrong with the crabs inside (similar to heart failure in humans, or cancer) that we can't see or know about.

[ladybug15057]

I sort of agree with Emma. And if one actually stops and reads my crabbing 'method' and CrabWorks 'method' they are 2 totally different methods.
Damp substrate vs dry
But I (like Carol) too am a firm believer that exercise has a LOT to do with the health of a hermie too. Keeping them within even a 5 foot by 2 foot tank IMO is NOT enough exercise room regardless of the climbing items within it. With exercise (like all creatures) also gives one a greater appetite.
And yes I too think that nutrition plays an important role in the health of a hermie.

[CrabbyJo]

Marie, I think I have to totally agree with you. It makes complete sense that they need exercise to stay healthy, every creature does. It's like a hand slap to the forehead. Duh!
And the nutrition - I'm very glad Wai pulled up that old thread by Julia Crab about Xeaxanthin (I think I said this very same thing in that thread too), I feel like I've got something I can really focus on that will definitely do my crabs very well.

I don't think I can mention enough that taking the crabs out to play in the "jungle gym" playpool is really helping me to connect with them like I was not doing before. I am becoming much more confident about how to lift and move them (putting a hand under to help them feel they are touching something instead of hanging in mid air, as I feel they pop out of their shells in a sort of panic to get a foothold on something), and lifting them back into the tank, letting them crawl off my hand into the tank. It's so cool.

So the exercise pool gives your crabs the exercise they need (yes, I've seen a difference in the food dish now, they are eating more), as well as a way for you to connect with your crabs if you are mostly a hands off kind of person with them.

[ladybug15057]

Another note too about the pick up and moving hermies from tank to pool area for exercise... there are times that for some reason a crabber must pick their hermies up to move them, be it for deep cleaning, aggressive behavior, protection, surface molting, etc. IMO the hermies do get use to being handled and KNOW that being handled (by certain scents anyway) mean them no harm. This in turn can also be less of a stressful situation to the hermies when they must be moved for one reason or another.

[CrabbyJo]

I agree Marie, I already notice my crabs are more comfortable with being picked up. When I pick up Wembley, he doesn't even pull his eyes in until I've actually got him aloft.

I also make sure I talk to them gently when I do it, so they get used to the vibrations of my voice as well, and associate it with something that is okay.