Is this colour normal for small hermit crab?

[Dirtnitro]

Hi, Just bought 2 small hermit crab from pet store,

Tank Condition:

Substrate :Marine reef Sand 1.5 inch think
Tank Size: 1ft x 1/2 ft
Size of hermit : 2 to 2.5 cm of shell
Temp: 28 degree C
humidty: 75%

They are in this pale colour when I bought them, most of the smaller crab are in this color shade at the pet shop, after few weeks they are also not active and remain as this colour, may I know is the normal colour for young crabs and why I they not active? This 2 crabs are kept in my office with air conditoner from 8am to 6pm. Compare to my crab at home the colour of my crab changes from this pale colour to abit brownish after few weeks, they are bought from same pet shop.

Please advise thanks

[ladybug15057]

Your hermie almost looks like a rug hermie? His left rear leg from the little I can see almost looks 'armored'. Without a clear picture of his large pincher and his left rear walking leg it is hard to say? (he does not look like he has the candy corn shaped eye stalks?) Some younger rugs are and can be a lighter beige in coloring, where some can also be quite dark.
http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... ingers.jpg

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... -shell.jpg

The one you provided the picture to me looks like he is in premolt and could be why he has slowed down. The bottom of his middle joint where it joins the last section I can see new exo under the old in the joint area.

[Dirtnitro]

Thanks for the reply, meantime any suggestion on what can I do, as they have been inactive for past few week after I bought them, and they did not even buried themselves just hide in the small cave

[ladybug15057]

Have you also been monitoring the substrate temp for a warmer and cooler side to it? (if so what are the temps?)
If they have been in need of molting prior to being captured they could of postponed molting until the conditioners were right for them to do so. You maybe about to under go what is called a mass molt with your hermies.
Hermies do not always need to burrow to molt, they can and will surface molt at times too. If this happens one should be prepared as to a way to section them off from the others for their own safety.
The first couple of weeks they could of been destressing and it is good they did not burrow. Staying on top of the substrate they were able to adjust better to captive living and easier for them to smell the food which would encourage them to eat.
From this... now it very well could be molting time.

[Dirtnitro]

Thanks, FYI I am living in Singapore, so the temperature here in room temperature is about 28 degree C, any way to make the tank with a Hot , Cool substrate temperature? As I need to bring dwn the temperature.

[ladybug15057]

A cooler side can be done:
http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... ing+a+tank
I had done the ice bottles prior to us getting central air conditioning. Just keep an eye on the humidity level.