I’m a new owner and have questions about setting up my crabitat

[MyelzandHermie22]

So my son won Hermie at a local fair and I admit I thought it was going to be an easy pet to take care of. After coming home and extensively researching I quickly learned that they need a lot more than I had thought. So I’m trying to do everything I can to give our little guy a good home. I’m nervous because he is not active at all. I go to bed very late and he’s still in his shell and then he sleeps all day as well. I started with a 5 gallon tank and after reading I bought a new 10 gallon tank. We live in a small house so that’s all the bigger that will fit. I have 4.5 inches of beach sand, a coco fiber on the back wall, plants on the left wall and braided rope in the front that comes reaches to the plants which I’ve seen him on. I’m about to attach the heating pad but I’m wondering is it better to put it on the side of plants and his hut? Or his food and 2 water bowls side? I also added a jute net as an upper level in the right. So where should I put his heating pad and is there something I can do to make him more active? Thanks for your help!

[aussieJJDude]

Depending on where you live, the heat pad may not be large enough to keep him happy and healthy. Most people have heat pads to the size of the back of the tank, above the substrate line to keep the temps at appropriate levels.

But to answer your question, if you struggle with humidity, the boost of heat increases evaporation which increases humidity, so can be a useful tibit of info.

[MyelzandHermie22]

Ok thank you. I decided to put it on his hide out side and my heat and humidity are perfect today. But come winter I may need to add another heating pad.

[MyelzandHermie22]

I have another question. So Hermie hasn’t been that active and I’ve been worried but can this be a sign of molting? I finished his new bigger better crabitat last night and this morning he was hanging out in his coconut hideaway but now when I looked for him I can’t find him but beside his coconut is a big mound of sand that wasn’t there before. Does that mean he burrowed down there? If so does that mean he’s down there to molt? When I looked at his shell last night it had a crack in it and I read that happens when they are too big for it. I put shells out but how do I know they are right for him? Will he try to pick one after he molts? Oh I’m so worried!!

[crabocado]

Yes, when a big mound of substrate appears, it means they dug down under, and when they dig down under, it usually means they are getting ready to molt! That is a great sign indicating the crab thinks conditions are good enough to consider molting. It can take a long time, so be prepared to wait for days, weeks, or even months of waiting depending on the size of the crab (see the care sheet on molting).

I don't think I've ever heard of a crab being so big that it cracked its shell, but what do I know, maybe it's possible!

Regarding the types of shells to provide, there is a detailed care sheet about shells also on this website, and a subforum on shells for any specific questions.

Good luck!

[MyelzandHermie22]

Ok thank you so much for the information. You said he could take days to months to come up from molting. Do I still continue to give him food and water while he’s buried?

[CrabbyLover77]

I always provide dry food and water when crabs are under. Sometimes a crab might just be digging for fun, and come back up in a day. Sometimes they may actually be molting and not come up for weeks, but we can never be sure. So it's best to leave out a little food and their water dishes just in case.

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[crabbycasey]

Like CL77 said, crabs love to dig so it could be for fun or it could be for the long haul and he’s ready to molt. He could also have dug under to simply de-stress for a while. I’ve had ones go under and be out of sight for a while, but they still didn’t molt. You won’t know until you do, lol. Also, they’re active at night so it could seem to you that he’s been under for a while, when really the elusive little thing could be coming up every night for food and play and then going back under during the day! The big thing to know about a crab that has dug under though, is to never dig one up…unless it’s an emergency.

Best wishes!


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