HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Oliviet #1, my crabs really LOVE murex shells so much they don’t want to wear turbos. I’ve tried offering turbos but both of my girls will just shell shop but as soon as I put apple murex in, they will try them on for a little bit but then change back to their old shells. I’ve found it is very impor...

Mine are particularly picky. They will not wear turbos, but will wear Apple murex shells. I put in turbos, no interest. But, take those out and put in Apple murex, and BAM! They check them out. After wearing the new shells, though, the crabs go back to their old shells. Mine also will reject shells ...

Mine is a 5:1 ratio. I bought 20 lbs of play sand off of Amazon (I know, expensive. But I don’t drive and I’m in a 3rd floor apartment) and then bought a brick of EE. I mixed in the EE and it gave me about 3” of sub. I then bought another 13 lbs of play sand. Which brought it up to 4”. I am planning...

I was saying that because people over at the Crab Street Journal have said that. They seem to think the log hides are harmful when put into a closed off space or that the crabs will eat the wood and get sick and die. But that’s if you put wood, bark and needles straight from the tree into the tank a...

Last night I thought about those toxic corner half pine logs and I realized I could break apart a cork round I already had and make it similar to those to fit in the corner of my tank as a hiding spot for my crabs.

Motorcrab, I agree that Cypress is in the pine family. But Taxodium spp. is not an evergreen. My mom has them and they drop their leaves every year. It’s a deciduous conifer. I just double checked the safe and unsafe list. It’s on neither one of them. It’s not on CSJ’s safe and unsafe list either.

I use play sand and Eco Earth. I just recently switched from a Fluker’s Beach Sand and EE mix, to just play sand and EE this week.

I just ordered another 19 lbs of play sand after realizing that the sand that came in was enough to cover the bottom of the tank, but not enough for the crabs to dig down to molt. For the 5:1, do I need just one brick of EE or 1/2? Update: I just ordered the Eco Earth. It will be delivered tomorrow....

Motorcrab, my tank is 20 Gallons. I’m suspecting I might end up needing another bag but I want to wait until I have it in there to see how much sub it gives me.

The sand is going to be delivered tomorrow. EE is next on the list. I am glad you agree with my decision to avoid the aquarium sands and get play sand. I understand it’s a lot cheaper to buy from a hardware store but I don’t drive and there is no one available to take me at the place where I live. T...

I have gone from using play sand, EE and “live sand” to Fluker’s Beach Sand and Hermit Soil, now I am finally changing to regular play sand. I finally decided to break down and buy play sand and just avoid the aquarium sands and the sands marketed towards reptiles such as the Exo Terra Riverbed Sand...

GB, they do not spray for mosquitos in my area as far as I know. The oak trees in my yard are also never sprayed. I live in Texas. If freezing doesn’t work, what do you recommend?


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It has not molded.


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You can cook it. That’s what I prefer to do. I currently don’t have a moss pit in my tank for you to view but I would like to do that.


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A 10 Gallon tank will work but a lot of people mix in play sand because they find it holds the shape better. You’ll need about 6” of substrate. You will need three extra shells for the other crab. Not enough shells can lead to shell fights that can result in death. Crabs LOVE moss pits! Yes, you sho...