How long...

[harleyucollins]

How long can a hermit crab live outside of its tank??? I am asking this question, because somehow.. and i don't know how, two of my hermit crabs have escaped my tank. I checked every possible place that they could have escaped and none of them seem logical. I found one on the floor.. so I did a head count.. and I am still missing one. I have searched under furniture and every place that is dark... I am wondering how long I have until it ends up dying? I am hoping that I will hear him bang against something during the night so I can find him and put him back in the tank... i just don't want him to die.

[Wai]

If all else fails, set up some food and water to lure him out. That worked for me when Huya went missing.

[CrabbyJo]

I've heard of their ocean salt water being a great lure. Place it on some newspaper on the floor so you can hear the paper crinkle if he goes to it.
I've heard of them living for up to a few weeks, so don't despair!
He doesn't have a water source, and they are uncanny at detecting the water they need.

[harleyucollins]

Thanks for the help. As soon as I went to put out food and water, I found him. :]

[CrabbyJo]

Congratulations on finding your little escapee!

Ok, what kind of lid do you have on your tank? You would be surprised how STRONG those little guys are when they can use their little bodies to pry the lid open.
I highly suggest a good weight on top of your lid, if it doesn't have clamps to hold it closed (do some lids have clamps? Seems I've heard of these).

Also, don't expect that they can't get out if there is nothing like a wire or something to climb out on - they can get their pointy little leg tips into the silicone glue in the corners and climb up that way. I've had it happen.

[harleyucollins]

I have a lid that used to be on my mom's salt water fish tank. Thanks for the idea, I will put something to weigh it down.