New hermit crab enthusiast, need help

[MaDog0420]

i have 3 new hermit crabs. i just bought a 10 gallon tank, and would like help on what to do with bedding, hut, water,heating, humidity stuff, plant life, etc. basically every think, the works but keep in mind price. and i would like to know what to do with the hermit crab from the time you buy them. i have the it a 3-5 gallon plastic think but want to move to the 10 gallon. so i need everything for a new tank, the best, but not costly. and the store on online store to get them. i live in Fremont, CA, so 25 mile radius of stores is good for me, like San Fransisco.

i was think of coconut fiber stuff with gravel as a base, and have like 1/4 of it water, like a beach look. if possibly a water fall rock think with pump.and a second store with a basket or net for shells. with I've plant life so they can feed and looks cool.

the hermit crabs species are the most common ones at stores, it starts with a "p" but there dark with black, purple coloring. and one of them looks like a strawberry type but its not, i know its not but i looks close but its littler in color and its not all red. they are all small. about a nickel and quarter size(with shell). between the to sizes. all are the same size thou.two are very action. the strawberry looking one and one of the others. but i have concern about the other, its been digging ever sense I've got it, i thou i might be molting but i really cant tell because its really shy. but its crabs are shiny if that helps.

i like hermit crabs and i just want to do the best, so any help at all would be alwsome.

[ladybug15057]

I would like to suggest you read the Crab Care section:
http://www.hermitcrabparadise.com/crabcare/

Most of the questions you are asking, you will find the answers to them in that section that Wai worked so hard at updating. The Crab Care section is also broken down into individual topics, which makes finding the info easier to find.
And to the top right of the screen you will also find a search box that will pull up loads of info too. If you have any particular questions after reading the info please post the questions here. We will be happy to help.

[Wai]

The most important sections of the Crab Care section have been completed, while I'm still working on the not-so-urgent ones.

[MaDog0420]

i have 4 really small hermit crabs. all about the size of a quarter. in a 10 gallon terrarium. Ive have all of the for about 1 months. 1 Ive have for 2 months then got the rest. i first start the first one in a small plastic terrarium. then got more hermit crabs. move all in to the 10 gallon one. little did i know the 3 month one was just getting done molting. i got all of them from pet smart.

ok the reason I'm here is because all of my hermit crabs are hiding. i haven't seen them for about 3 weeks. one has been coming out at night and the reason i know that is because the food is miss and there's sand in it. and i worried they might my died.

Im really worried about the 2 month hermit crab because i moved him not knowing he was molts and he didn't get to finish eat his stuff. there was a claw and some small stuff left. and in realy worried hes died.

my set up is: Aragonite sand sugar size bag, big walk in pool(its called a jakgoosey pool) small salt water dish. all plastic by the way. a plastic hut that looks like a log. a drift wood climb thing in the mid going up. a plastic hanging plant stuck on the left side above the pool. a lot of extra shell around the drift wood. and 2 food dishes. 1 with the same food every day. and the other different testing food. like tuna, apples, grapes, flowers, somewhat random stuff. everything been boiled in dechlorinated water stuff and or baked. there's about 3 to 4 inches of sand and a 10 gallon terrarium heat pat on the rights size wall. so one size has all the water is around 73 F (cold side) and the heating pat thing gives the out about 83 F (warm side). the hut is long and has boths size open and an opening in the front. so it hut is in the middle of the to temp. ill try to get pics up.

[mamaturtle2000]

Well, I always start these by saying I am by no means an expert and am just learning a lot myself; but I also know what it feels like to freak out over my crabbies and wait for an answer, so I will offer what advice I can.

Use the search box and look up PPS. It tells you all about what you are supposed to do with new crabs and maybe you can't do it now, but it will explain why your crabs are doing what they are. I would GUESS that they are just de-stressing since you haven't had them that long. I have also read (in regards to your molter) that they don't always eat all of the exo after molting. Did he look gooey when you moved him or had he hardened up (back to his normal color)?

You said you know someone is coming up at night to eat....they may all be coming up to eat. I have read that often a good way to check is to smooth all your sand (or substrate) before you go to bed and then in the morning you will see where anyone has come up in the night. You might be surprised and see evidence of more than one of them coming up at night to eat.

The experts may ask you about your salt water, too. Like what kind you are using.

They could also be hiding because they are getting ready to molt too, you never know and I have heard not to worry about them being buried until you smell a really stinky fish smell coming from your crabitat. Once you know how many are coming up at night you may have a better idea.

I'm sure the people who know way more than me will weigh in on this, so I will let you go. I just wanted to offer my opinion to help ease your mind a little bit. Like I said, I know what it's like to freak out and wait to hear back . So, best of luck and I hope your crabs are okay. It also sounds like you have some pretty fun stuff in there for them!

[MaDog0420]

thx u mamaturtle2000. it eased my mind

heres some pics.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.c ... Id=2554201

[mamaturtle2000]

No problem, like I said I am not an expert and am still getting schooled on my crabitat,lol. But your tank looks great!

[ladybug15057]

Have you read the Crab Care section to ensure you have met all the criteria the hermies need?
With a 10 gal tank, and a high temp of 83*F it would be hard to have a cool side of 73*F. Please lower the high end temp and do check the substrate temp as well as the air temp of the tank.
The UTH in reality does nothing much for heating the substrate to the temps the hermie must have when it is mounted on the outside glass wall.
There isn't much cover in the pictures of your tank and could be why the hermies are not coming out very often too. Cover gives them a bit more security to be out and about.
What are the brand names of the dechlorinator and ocean/sea salt mix you are using?
What kind of wood do I see in your tank?

[MaDog0420]

wood:
Zilla Malaysian Driftwood; and its been boiled.
http://www.petco.com/product/7351/Zilla ... SiteSearch

sea salt:
instant ocean sea salt;and i use a hydrometer to test its. getting it around 1.023. give or take.

Dechlorinator:
microbe-lift

and i have 2 piece glass set cover. that is lifted giving it a small crack around the top;and i have a black blanket that i put on when its cold and at night.

the UTH (heater thing) is on the side, yes, but its on the side of the sand.

[ladybug15057]

Doing a search for the dechlorinator “microbe-lift” it appears this is for out door ponds?
http://www.microbelift.com/htmls/aboutus.html

Which one of their products do you use?