Florida Vacation

[Princess R.]

I'm going to Florida for a week and I was wondering what I could do to take care of my crabs. As far as I know, no one in my neighborhood knows anything about caring for hermit crabs and I need to find a way to keep them happy while I'm gone. Any ideas?

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[purplepincher]

make sure you have a freind come over to take care of them. if you have none, make sure to put 2 food bowls of dry food that wont rot for a week, 2 bowls of fresh water and 2 of salt, all filled to the brim, make sure they cant knock the bowls over. then make sure the humidity is contained and that it wont drop, but dont leave any humidity things running. i suggest keeping the lights on full time and the tank light off. it will provide some light, but not enough where they will think it is day 24/7. plus, the lights will make burgalers think someone is home. then if you can, make sure the crabs cant fight somehow, and good luck!

[purplepincher]

also, make sure to have sponges in all 4 dishes, plus at least 20 gallon tank.

[purplepincher]

and dont forget to have apropriat sized shells!

[Princess R.]

Thanks, purplepincher. I hope that your advice works. But why do I need sponges in the water dishes? I didn't think that was good for them.

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[teachincrabbie]

Sponges aren't recommended, according to all the care sheets. They tend to breed bacteria, especially since you won't be able to check on the sponges when you're gone.

[curlysister]

I have left my crabs for a week and had no problems. Like PP said, dry food will last longer than fresh. I leave them a nice selection, knowing that at least some of it will be moldy by the time I return. I only leave one dish of each salt and fresh because that's all I own LOL. I don't recommend sponges. I don't use tank lights (ever), or leave a room light on when I am gone; the room my crabs are in does have a window so they get the natural daylight cycle.

[Princess R.]

Thanks, Curlysister. I feel a lot more comfortable in leaving my crabs for a while now. The only thing is that when ever I delay in changing the water, my hermit crabs will start burrowing under the water dishes. I'd rather not have that happen. Also they will kick a bunch of dirt in the water dishes so it soaks all the water up. What if that happens 30 minutes after I leave?

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[aussieJJDude]

Deep water dishes help reduce both scenarios from happening... or consider placing the dishes on a small rack slightly elevated to reduce the chance of the water being flipped over?

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[odelayheehoo]

Wow, what a coincidence, I am going to Florida soon as well!

I went on vacation last summer and left my crabs at home, but I filled their pools all the way to the top and put a large bowl of dried foods that I made at home, and when I got back it was still in good condition with no mold growth at all. I recommend putting the lights on a timer if you have one, otherwise you can just leave them off for that time.

Enjoy the trip, stay safe!

[Princess R.]

Deep water dishes help reduce both scenarios from happening... or consider placing the dishes on a small rack slightly elevated to reduce the chance of the water being flipped over?

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Thanks, aussieJJDude, but I have two minor problems- currently I do not have very deep water dishes, and even though they're deep enough for purple pinchers, they aren't very large- they are the small flukers stone water dishes. Also only have a ten gallon tank, and don't have room for anything bigger. Any ideas?

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[GotButterflies]

also, make sure to have sponges in all 4 dishes, plus at least 20 gallon tank.

Sponges are no longer recommended in the crabbing world.

When going on vacation, leave lots of dry foods for your hermits. Leaves, bark, snake skin, seeds, oyster shell, sticks, eggshells, moss, dehydrated foods, bugs, cuttlebone, and fresh water with bubblers in them. Use tupperware bowls for their water bowls. You can use craft mesh for ramps in and out of the bowls.

Good luck!

[aussieJJDude]

Thanks, aussieJJDude, but I have two minor problems- currently I do not have very deep water dishes, and even though they're deep enough for purple pinchers, they aren't very large- they are the small flukers stone water dishes. Also only have a ten gallon tank, and don't have room for anything bigger. Any ideas?

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I may of missed this. Sorry!

A wire racking shelf could be used, it should be smaller enough that it can fit in a 10g. Or better yet, plastic, to reduce chances of rust developing.

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[Princess R.]

Thou mean to go uhh bidder three dish? I wish I'd thought of that!

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[Princess R.]

Sorry - I meant, " you mean to put the rack under the dish? I wish I would have thought of that!"

-I'm just getting used to the swipe option on the Samsung keyboard!

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