help - New Hermit crab de-stressing mistake

[ExponentMars]

this is my first week owning hermit crabs.
when I bought my 2nd and 3rd crabs, I put them straight into the 10 gal tank with the original crab, without putting them in a small box first and waiting for them to destress. Do I still put them into this box, or do I just leave them where they are? I'm afraid if I put them into the boxes it might stress them out even more because then they would be moving yet again.

[ExponentMars]

Just searched up the signs of stress - one of them being constantly staying in a burrow. both of the new hermit crabs as well as the original one are doing this

[curlysister]

I'm not sure where you are reading anything like putting new crabs in small boxes? I don't recall anything in our care sheets saying that.
When introducing crabs, you can give both the old and new ones a quick dip in the fresh water so they all smell the same.
Crabs go through a lot before we get them, they often need to de-stress when we get them. Crabs also often need to molt when we get them. Either scenario will involve crabs burrowing under the substrate.
If you haven't read through the care sheets yet, start with the 'basics' one. It will give an over view of what you need to know.

[JoeHermits]

Avoid the extra steps, adding them now won’t do you any good.


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[ExponentMars]

Ok thanks!