Moulting or not?

[jrizzo77]

Hello! I recently purchased two hermit crabs for my son while we were at the beach. I put them in our ten gallon tank with a substrate called The Beach Path. I also put logs in there for them to climb on. They both seemed happy to get in their new home. One of them really has been lethargic for the past few days, hardly moving at all. I was getting concerned about him. This morning when I got up, he was drinking from the sponge. In fact, I had to wet the sponge a second time because they drank all the water out of it (they also have a water dish and I keep the sponge wet). He also ate a lot this morning. They both really seemed to enjoy the corn I put in there. He has not gone to sleep yet. He was digging in the tank. I thought that maybe he was getting ready to moult because I have read if the conditions are not right at the pet stores that they may not moult there. I put him in an iso tank (the one that we got with the crabs (2 gallons). I did buy some cuttlebone today. He has not tried to dig at all in the ISO tank and is really liking the cuttlebone. Everything I have read says that hermit crabs are active at night and sleep during the day. His antenaee are sticking straight out and do appear to be a little tangled. He won't let us see him too much, he usually hides in his shell if we are looking at him. Is this pre-moulting or is he just becoming acclimated to his new home? Should I put him back in the regular tank?

[ladybug15057]

It would be difficult to say without a little more information as well as the hermie being new. Please do answer the following questions for us so hopefully we maybe able to help you.

What is the volume of your main tank?


How many hermit crabs do you currently have? How big are they?


How long have you had the hermit crab(s) that you are concerned about?


What substrate or combination of substrates are you using? How deep is it?


What do you feed your hermit crabs?


Do you use distilled, bottled or tap water? If you are using a dechlorinator, what brand is it? Does it state to remove all heavy metals, chlorine and chloramines?


What brand of sea salt are you using to supply your hermit crabs with salt water?


What heat source are you using and where is it positioned?


Have you calibrated your thermometer(s) and hygrometer?


What is the air temperature range and humidity inside the tank? If you are using an under tank heater, what is the temperature range of the substrate (it is likely to be different to the air temperature range)?


Do you have any photos of your tank or hermit crab(s) of concern? If yes, please attach them to your post.

[CrabbyJo]

He could possibly be getting ready to molt, but it is hard to say for sure. it does sound as though he may be exhibiting some pre-molt symptoms, do you provide an ocean salt water dish? If not, get to the pet store and get them an ocean salt water mix that is meant for salt water aquariums. Avoid any hermit crab salt water products. If he is going to molt, he will need the salinity and enzymes and electrolytes present in ocean salt water to help his molt go more smoothly.
Are you feeding him a well balanced diet including items high in protein and chitin like freeze dried (or fresh steamed) shrimp, mealworms, krill, etc? Seaweed is also very important in the hermit crab diet.

But again, I agree with Ladybug, without some more info, we can't say for sure. How is the temp and humidity?

With a few more answers we can be more sure about our own for you

[jrizzo77]

Thanks for your responses.

My main tank is 10 gallons and there are two small-medium sized crabs in there. We have had them for about 2 weeks now. I am using a sand/wood chip combination substrate currently, but after doing some more research, I think I should just get a sand substrate. I have been using bottled water with dechlorinator added to it. The dechlorinator is Hermit Safe and it says that it removes all metals. I just recently learned that they need the salt water, so I will be adding that to their cage as well. I have been feeding them hermit crab food and fruit and freeze-dried shrimp. The temp. is around 78 degrees in the tank. The humidity is staying around 70%.

The crab I was concerned about seemed to go back to "normal" behavior. I am thinking that he may have needed calcium because he was all over the cuttlebone for a day or so. I actually didn't realize they couldn't eat it whole, so once I realized that, I ground it up started mixing it with the food. But, I put a few small pieces in there and both of the crabs seemed to just love the cuttlebone and were almost laying on the small pieces. They ate the food (as they had previously been) too. As I have been doing more and more research, I seem to think he may have become a little more comfortable with his new home. They both came from the boardwalk and were not in good conditions (I didn't know this until my research on hermit crabs), so I am glad that we are able to provide them with a better home now. They are both still very jumpy and easily scared, but I think that will get better with time.

[jrizzo77]

Also, where would I get seaweed? I am sure I can't just use the seaweed from the Chesapeake Bay. Is there a special pet store I would buy that at?

[Gizaroo]

Most of the petstores have it. I get mine from PetSupplies Plus and Petsmart...just depends which one I go to that day. Do you have either of those where you are? Also, I think places like Wholefoods (or the equivalent) may carry it.

[emmac350]

The sort of foods you'll want for seaweed won't be in the crab section - they'll be in the fish food section. Look for foods that are advertised as being for vegetation-eaters, or herbivorous fish, or something similar. Check the ingredients to ensure there are no preservatives, and they'll be good. I know most Pet Supplies Plus stores at least have sheets of seaweed in the fish food area.

[Gizaroo]

Yep! And it's with the ocean salts at petsmart

[CrabbyJo]

I'm a cheapskate, and I get my spirulina and kelp granules in the health food section at my local grocer. they have it in bulk, and I can get a tablespoon or two of spirulina (which lasts forever) for less than $1. Same with the kelp. The rest I get from purchasing dry mixes from online crab food providers like Keep on Crabbin' and the Hermit Crab Addiction store.