Bathtime Question....

DesertCrabs · Post by **DesertCrabs** » 02 Apr 2007, 04:05

I want to give my new hermies a bath today, to have a Sunday ritual while I clean out the tank. How deep of a bowl/water do you use, and how many drops of the stress coat do you put in it? Also, what is the best time to bathe them? I was thinknig late afternoon, to give them time to sleep in the AM after a night of cruising the tank...

Thanks!!!

-Stacey

iluvhermies · Post by **iluvhermies** » 02 Apr 2007, 04:45

ok this is what I suggest. I use the decholrinizer only no stress coat. Put in enough water so that you can cover your largest hermie up all the way. Place your hermies in upside down so that when they flip over the water rushes into their shells and cleans it out. Let them walk arounf in there for a min or 2 larger ones could stay longer. Watch your little ones cause they can drowned if left in for to long. I guess that goes for all of them. I give mine a bath once a week around 6 or so. I think evening is better cause they are nocturnal creatures.

Jaci · Post by **Jaci** » 02 Apr 2007, 05:49

i wonder about that nocturnal thing with my hermies. right now ike craig bebe and wendy are all moving around. they have been since adam and i got up this morning. zeus comes out of the hut every so often. so i gave everyone a bath a couple hours ago.

Post by **Wai** » 02 Apr 2007, 12:21

Hermit crabs shouldn't be described as nocturnal (I'll have to update any references to that on my info pages if there is) because they can still be active and running about in broad daylight.

iluvhermies · Post by **iluvhermies** » 02 Apr 2007, 14:01

Ok sorry to use that word however it is my experience that my hermies are alot more active toward the evening and through the night than at daytime. We do have some who are moving around during the daytime but like I said most active at night.

DesertCrabs · Post by **DesertCrabs** » 03 Apr 2007, 00:29

Thanks all!

I gave 5 of my 6 hermies their first bath last night around 6:30. My dd was so proud to help out, and she enjoyed playing with them on the towel as they dried off. One of my larger ones though is darker than the rest (Oceans), so I'm wondering if she is not a PP after all? She doesn't look as bright red as a straw, so what else could she be? I'll take a pic today and see if you all can help me to identify the species.

Also, when I was giving them their baths, one of my crabs didn't want to come out of his shell. I had him upside down for about 2 minutes, but I had to flip him over rightside up and take him out for fear of him drowning. He didn't come out of his shell for a while either, when I put them back in the tank (Uncle Dave) We just got them 2 days ago, so I'm wondering if he's getting ready to molt? Or if he's stressed? I hardly see him walking around, but I know he's somewhat active because he changes spots in the tank when I check on them in the AM and get the old food out.

Thank you guys you've been awesome!!!

-Stacey

Jaci · Post by **Jaci** » 03 Apr 2007, 02:15

awesome! congrats on the first bath. hermies usually love baths. i have a problem with mine not going back into their shells for their bath. they stay out so it's hard to turn them upside down so the water rushes in lol. he could be getting ready to molt, he could also be going through PPS (post purchase syndrome). i suggest just keep an eye on him and see how he does. zeus acted really weird once and i thought he was going to die, but he did a surface molt. so just keep a watch on him and keep us updated.

ayianna · Post by **ayianna** » 03 Apr 2007, 04:00

If a hermit crab doesn't come out of it's shell, I wouldn't suggest forcing the issue. If you swish the water around in their shell and pour it out two or three times, they will still get cleaned off.

Here's a suggestion for that worry about drowning: put rough rocks in the bath time bowl so hermit crabs that don't want to be in the water can crawl up onto them.

z06vette387 · Post by **z06vette387** » 03 Apr 2007, 07:39

jaci.adam wrote:i wonder about that nocturnal thing with my hermies. right now ike craig bebe and wendy are all moving around. they have been since adam and i got up this morning. zeus comes out of the hut every so often. so i gave everyone a bath a couple hours ago.

I have two that move around all day

jacobshaner · Post by **jacobshaner** » 22 May 2008, 02:23

Wow. I have had crabs for years (no pun intended!) and I have NEVER heard of crabs coming out of their shells in the bath! This is new for me. Never never never pull a crab out of its' shell (but you all knew that_)

I keep a bowl of fresh water to drink and a pool of salt water to bath, both declorinized of course, but I never see the crabs in the bath water. I thought they went in themselves. I only read about using the salt water here on this site; previously I only ever used clear water.

I am a newbie to his site, although I had critters for years.... This is a really nice place, and I am glad to have found it.

Bathtime Question....

Bathtime Question....

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