HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi, thanks so much!
Yeah, I have a heater so the temp never really goes under 72, but typically in the winter it’s around 75 and in the summer it’s around 78. I try to keep it as close to 80 as possible.

While crabs do like and eat both of those foods, there aren't actually an '24/7' foods that must be in the tank all the time for crab health. A varied diet can include those, but it certainly does not need to. Crabs will get all the nutrition they need by feeding a varied diet. Yes, definitely not ...

Hi! I was recently at the beach and in a shop that had massive bags of turbo shells for super cheap!! I (of course) bought them, because I needed more, and now I want to donate the ones I don’t need. I know of some great charities like make the switch 4 nature (although their instagram account has b...

That’s very normal and very healthy! In fact, worm castings are recommended to be available for crabs as one of their 24/7 foods (like greensand) and moss is also really healthy.

Hi!! My 3 year old hermit crab, Hubert, just finished molting! It was her second molt, yay!!!! I was lucky enough to be there when she emerged, watching her crawl out of the sand :) Unfortunately, shortly after when she went for her food bowls I noticed that she was missing her smaller pincher. I do...

Hi! Hermit crabs often like to molt near water bowls. It sounds like he might be trying to molt but not having enough strength yet to successfully do so? Has there been any change in his environment or diet? I’ve had crabs behave like this before they were able to get the strength to mold. He might ...

My crabs love homemade leaf litter!! The list curlysister gave above is very helpful to us too, thank you so much!! I will definitely be expanding the menu this year

Hey! How big are your water bowls? Are they pools? Because when I go away, mine are big enough so that the water will not dry out during the time I’m away (although I’ve only been away for a week before). Or are you more concerned about the water being dirty from not being changed for so long? Havin...

Hi! I’m so sorry I never responded, unfortunately it started to smell and he did pass away. I’m very sad about it. Thank you for the help!

myllkti wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:19 pm

(This has been resolved within the server but for anyone looking for the answer - it can be skinned of course but does not need to be. The person is skinning it as an extra precaution, and anyone else looking to feed it can follow suit or choose to find as is)

Thank you!!

He is one of two crabs in the tank and I cannot see the top of his shell

sooo I’m not currently looking for another crab but I live 45 mins from Philly and I might need another bc of a potentially dead molting crab who’s been under forever. can u keep us updated pls? because if you still have them in a month or so I will probably be interested!!

Hi!! My hermit crab has been *presumably* molting right beneath the surface (not even below an inch of sand. just a tiny bit) for a while. Since the middle of April, like 2 and half ish months, and he is medium sized so shouldn’t he have come up by now? his shell opening is one inch. I’m so worried ...

Hi!! I’m fairly new too (I’ve had my crabs for almost a year) but I would probably say that just a heater is good enough, as long as the temp stays above 77- 80 degrees. Do you have climbing toys or places for them to hide? Also, plants (fake are good, but some real ones can be better too. I would l...

That sounds great!!