HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I was just straightening/cleaning the 55, mainly filling in the daily holes. I was about to smooth sand into a hole and saw movement! There is a soft crab there! I wonder if someone dug down to him. Should I bring him out and I so or what? I have 4 New E's in there. I put a hide over the hole with t...

I can't imagine that they haven't molted. Didn't Carol Ormes big crabs molt in some sort of gravel when she first got them?

I also would think that now that they are in proper conditions, it won't be too long before they will be going down.

Any time I have used silicone, I had to set the item outside for a week to get the smell out.

....to smile and shake your head at 2 am when you hear a loud "thunk" from the aquarium across the room.

I always try to buy the day of delivery. And so far, that has worked out well. I figure the faster they get out of the stores low humidity and temperature, the better. I would call reach store and ask when their shipment of hermits come in, and buy that day. I just bought 4 from Petsmart Thursday, t...

Yep! I have a gorgeous download in my 55. I was so happy because they left it alone...for about 3 weeks! Now it is nearly stripped.

I watched a video of them forcing crabs into painted shells...It is so unpleasant. They didn't show how they get them out and I really don't want to know.

Good point there!

Better size tank but definitely get that sub up. That is # 1 importance. Personally, I would take out that big center thing and put in more natural climbing stuff, like sticks or driftwood. Maybe some greenery also. This is what I feed: Honey nut cheerios, pulverized, honey, Apple core, carrot piece...

What's for dinner today?

My beautiful bromeliad!

It looks/sounds ok to me. I was going to say something about it being painted but then read about covering the whole thing with aquarium grade silicone, so that would be ok. Make sure it is aquarium safe, and make sure no paint is able to be picked off by the crabs, because guaranteed they will find...

Good job! Keep us posted.

Just curious why you are digging them up before they are finished molting? Are they close to the surface?

Glad the first guy made it!

Woodsorel, I just love reading your posts! No matter the subject, you are intelligent, knowledgeable, and concise. You make every subject interesting and easy to understand, even for the youngest among us! Thank you for being on this board!

Usually when they pig out then stop, their body is preparing for a molt. She should dig down. If she doesn't appear to want to dig, I would iso her, dig a depression in the sand for her to mimic a cave, and make sure she is in darkness. How long have you had her? Are your conditions good? It sounds ...