is my hermit crab moulting?

x0xm0lly · Post by **x0xm0lly** » 21 Aug 2010, 05:35

so i bought two hermit crabs about 2 weeks ago, and i recently transfered them from a 5 gallon tank to a 10 gallon tank. one of them named Hermes has been spending a lot of time in his coconut hut and usually would make a big pile of sand in the front of the entrance, he hasnt been as active as the other one, if he has i havent seen it during the night. anyways today i found that Hermes is buried in about 1 inch of sand, do you think he is stressed out because of his new home? or do you think he is moulting? i recently purchased an outside tank heater as well, so i was hoping he wasnt stressed because of that, its 79 degrees in the tank and 85% humidity. anything i can do for him? do they come up while moulting to eat? and what should i do now? thanks

CrabbyJo · Post by **CrabbyJo** » 21 Aug 2010, 07:34

You say he's buried in 1 inch of sand - is he just down 1 inch, or is there only 1 inch of sand in your tank?

His activities with the sand in front of the cocohut tell me that he may have been pre-molt while he was doing this, and now he's gone down to do the deed, if 1 inch is all the deeper your sand is. If he stays in the one spot, I suggest sectioning it off with something like a cd jewel case (but something the other crab cant' get over - make sure there are no plants above it either, they can climb the plant and drop down). Make sure he has his own fresh dechlor and ocean salt water and fresh foods.

sometimes a molting crab will come up and refresh himself on food and water, but often they don't.

Remember, don't bother him, just leave him be, and never dig up a buried crab.

x0xm0lly · Post by **x0xm0lly** » 21 Aug 2010, 16:41

no theres probably like 4 inches of sand. maybe 3

Hi, i just did what you said to do, i seperated about 1/3 of the tank for the moulting crab and put 2 water dishes on the sides of his part and on the other 2/3 of the other tank, along with food for both. he is only about one inch and there is about 3 inches of sandall together. is there anything else i should do? should i change that water daily? thank you

CrabbyJo · Post by **CrabbyJo** » 21 Aug 2010, 16:44

Hi Molly,
I went ahead and posted your personal message to me as I think it will do more good on the open forum. Others can give their input as well, and give you more ideas, as well as other people reading who may learn from your situation and the responses you get. Make sense? I do hope you don't mind.

Yes, change the water at least every two days, and you should do this always for your crabs. Imagine drinking a cup of water that sat for three days - it tastes kind of wrong and nasty doesn't it? Our crabs depend on us for fresh water, so we have to be sure they get it.

If he's only dug down one inch but could have dug further because you have several inches of sand, my guess is he's destressing, not molting. Hermit crabs, when they dig to bury, will bury completely because they feel very vulnerable when they are molting, so make themselves a safe little cave under the ground.

In either case, you still don't want to disturb him.

x0xm0lly · Post by **x0xm0lly** » 22 Aug 2010, 11:08

okay thanks, do you know how long it takes for them to destress? should i still make that little area for him to not be disturbed?

hermitcrabs :) · Post by **hermitcrabs :)** » 24 Aug 2010, 04:20

well my hermit crab (sparkle) has been burring in the dirt and i can not find her to feed/play/train her so i have no clue to weather she is moulting or not i can never find her please help me thanks

ladybug15057 · Post by **ladybug15057** » 24 Aug 2010, 12:15

If your hermie has burrowed, you should not be digging to find her/him. Leave him be to do as he feels he needs to do. And if he is hungry he will be up to eat, if he wants exercise he will be up to climb or continue to dig about, and train? Not sure how one trains a hermie? I wasn't aware this was possible??
Please check the perimeters of your tank to make sure they are in order, and please do read the crab care section.

hermitcrabs :) · Post by **hermitcrabs :)** » 25 Aug 2010, 01:50

OK thanks well i was reading a care sheet from a pet store and everything i wasn't sure of i googeled it and it said you can train them to do tricks and be handed

ladybug15057 · Post by **ladybug15057** » 25 Aug 2010, 02:33

Longer version shorter, majority of the time pet stores do not have a clue as to the needs of a hermie. Whereas there is a a lot of good info on the internet that can be read, there is also a lot of bad information as well.
Please do read through the care sheets here at HCP.

x0xm0lly · Post by **x0xm0lly** » 28 Aug 2010, 15:21

i recently purchased two hermit crabs, who are the exactly the same size. i purchased them about 2 1/2 weeks ago. i bought a 10 gallon tank and filled it with about 3 inches of beach sand. i have one coco hut, 2 water bowls. one with dechlorinated fresh water, and one with dechlorinated salt water. i have a food bowl, and i feed them a variety of things, such as popcorn and cheerios. they have a second tier that is a hemp net and a lot of plastic plants to hide under. recently (the past week) Hermes, has dug himself into the sand about an inch down. i secluded a spot for him with a plastic cd cover and gave him his own water and food. i havent seen him since. my other hermit crab isnt very active at all. i have a heater that leaves the heat around 76 and the humidity is about 76. i was just wondering is it normal that the other one isnt even that active at night? am i doing everything i can be doing? and is there anything i can do to make them more active? thanks

is my hermit crab moulting?

is my hermit crab moulting?

Re: is my hermit crab moulting?

Re: is my hermit crab moulting?

Re: is my hermit crab moulting?

Re: is my hermit crab moulting?

help i dont know if my hermit crab is moulting!

Re: is my hermit crab moulting?

Re: is my hermit crab moulting?

Re: is my hermit crab moulting?

am i doing something wrong?