worried new owner

[Papatoad]

I fully expect to be yelled at someone for this. I babysat two hermit crabs for a couple weeks and ended up inheriting them. When they where dropped off they had leaves dirt and branches in the terrerium. They had been fed cerial, bread and dog food. This was apparent because it was strewn across the bottom. The first thing I did was clean it out and add gravel, and a food and water bowl. looked them up on line and went shopping. I bought the calci-sand,natural sponge,hermit salt, store food to supplement the fruits ect...I was feeding them. A couple months down the road I replaced the sand ( it stuck all over them) with a finer gravel. I also bought a thermometer,hygrometer,excape proof lid some t-rex wall liner they can crawl up,heater ect. Sounds like I am doing the right thing? Here is my problem.They became inactive.I kept looking at the temperature, humitdity. Yesterday I picked one up and it practically fell out of the shell. I tugged on the big claw and in advertantly pulled it off. I was sick with grief. I picked the other one and he was the same way. I thought they were both dead!!!! I kept thinking what I had done wrong. Humidity, and temp were good. I had to leave for an appointment and figured I would deal with them later. When I returned I picked up the second one and tried to pull it out of it's shell. Half of it came out. I looked in the back of the shell to see the abdomen. What I did see was new legs tucked away in the shell. I immediatley put it down and carefully picked up the first one and it was the same way. However, I did pull the big claw off earlier. My question is. Now what? Do I wait till they eat the old shell. Is there a chance I over stressed them? I wish I found this site from the beginning. This is by far the most informative site by far.

[ladybug15057]

Unfortunately too many times when we do get hermies (one way or the other) we are not very informed about the little creature so errors do happen. (I remember our first molt about 9 years ago, long story... but was not aware they molted)
The best you can do for them now is actually nothing. Divide them from each other somehow. (glass of a picture frame or a cut 2 liter soda bottle pushed all the way to the tanks floor)
Make sure they have a dechlorinated fresh and ocean water source. (make sure it is ocean/sea mix sold specifically for salt water fish tanks and left to sit for 12-24 hours after mixing before offering) Since they are on the surface, cover them with some form of a hut or large shell for privacy so they do not feel so vulnerable. Keep the tank within the proper perimeters and when they get down to the harder leg tips and pinchers have some chitin, protein and high calcium foods to offer.
Good luck!

[hermie_lover3542]

I do agree with Lady bug, you should do that with molting, below is a molting article you could read up on!http://www.hermit-crabs.com/molting.html You should also switch to a sand (not calci sand) or Eco Earth also known as coconut fiber. Gravel isn't that easy for them to dig down and molt which is why they probaly did what is called a surface molt. (it's where they molt on the surface). Also do you have natural shells for them. If you have painted get rid of them, they are bad for them. And like lady bug said get aquarium salt, and a dechlorinator. I hope this helps

[ladybug15057]

Wow that information is still the same as in 2002 and there are and have been many changes in crabbing since then? Sort of still contradicts itself too, hermie molts on top of substrate if they cannot dig, yet in next paragraph claims " Surprise! One day you pick up your crab and he falls out of his shell!"
It has also been proven that there are times too once a hermie is moved to iso they may already be weak, or feel comfortable about being alone and may not dig. So yes a hut and such ARE needed in an iso tank. Here our iso's are set up like mini main tanks. And nothing detrimental about surface molters, 669 molters with 667 being successful. Yep, everything provided main tank and iso so if they wanna dig down they can.
As for the gravel, if it is a ultra fine gravel it is fine to use. This is what CrabWorks had used in her tanks for Jon & Kate for 25+ years until it became almost impossible to find the ultra fine gravel.
May I strongly suggest to use the Crab Care section caresheets and the search box in the upper right corner for updated care information/suggestions. (Wai has worked very hard on the Crab Care section) or the care sheets of the Crab Street Journal.

Edited to add: And Jon & Kate did burrow to molt, and as they got very large she had to assist by helping them with a roof to their nest.
http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Gravel

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... s%27+Ormes

[Papatoad]

First let me say thank you for your support. As of this morning, it looks like both are alive and have shown signs of eating the old exoskeleton. How much will they eat and how long should I leave the old skin in?
After I posted I spent at least a couple hours on this site reading as much as I could. I realize I have to change the substrate again, and I could use a better sea salt, don't forget the cuttle bone. Does it ever end? Thank you again.

[emmac350]

Yeah, it's a little humorous as you go through the crab care section and realize everything that you need. Not funny necessarily, but I laughed a little when I realized everything I was doing wrong. Mostly I laughed because at least I was going to be doing everything right soon, even if I didn't get it right the first time.

I'm glad they're both eating their exos! Have you taken any precautions to keep them separated? If not, if one of your crabs recovers more quickly it can steal the other's exo or even try to take his shell while he's still soft.

As for how much of the exo will be eaten, it's really dependent on the individual crab. Some crabs will eat almost the whole thing whereas others will only eat the softer portions (back, tops of the legs, etc.) as opposed to the harder portions (leg tips, bottoms of the claws). If your crabs don't completely eat their whole exos, save the leftover pieces in a bag, break them up into smaller chunks, and you can offer them as a source of calcium and chitin later on.

Oh, and the "need to buy new stuff" will end at some point. Well, it'll slow down more than it will end. I just had to pick up some new stuff for the crabs this weekend, but it's been a good long while (a few months) since the last time I bought them stuff so it's not so bad.

[Wai]

What I'm most shocked about is the money that us crabbers have to spend to keep the little buggers alive! Pet supplies in the US are usually affordable, but in Australia, a mere bag of sea salt can break the budget of those who struggle to make a living.

[ladybug15057]

Possibly things have changed? But a few years ago while conversing with an Aussie crabber (Vanessa) come to find minimum wage and all was much higher in Aus. than U.S. and we determined it about broke even when it all came out in the wash?

[Papatoad]

Here is an update. I have them seperated. The bigger one is still eating the old exo. His color is kinda changing day to day. The little one has a old leg stuffed under the shell and appears to be eating it. I haven't seen him out yet. I feel truly relieved. I read the links on moulting and alot of information on this site and believe everything is gonna be ok. I gave them food yesterday and today but there are no takers. I'm kinda thinking about a larger terrarium and more hermits. Well I'll hold off on that for now. Thanks again for all your support. Keep on Krabbin'

[CrabbyJo]

So glad to hear things are going so well! Congratulations, and I hope you have tons more enjoyment with your little crabs.

They sure are addicting, aren't they.