My two medium sized crabs burrowed as soon as we put them in their new habitat and don't really come back out.

[PeeWee-Herman-Tito21]

PeeWee and Herman are their names. We got them from a friend who had them in the normal plastic cage you get them in. We got them a 20 gallon tank and made one side the coconut fiber soil, part the hermit crab sand and part the desert blend sand. As soon as we put them in they both burrowed all the way to the bottom of the tank and have basically stayed there. Tito are other hermit crab has been out and about but also burrows constantly. Are the other two molting? Or are they stressed cause of the home switch?

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[tifflililu]

These are my babies too!! PeeWee-Herman-Tito21 is my wife and they are our babies and we are very concerned. She had some as a small child but I've never had any and don't know anything about anything. Please help!!

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[myllkti]

Hi! It could be either stress burrowing or molting, like you said. Either way digging them up will just stress them out so you can just let them chill. Coco fiber and plays and are awesome! The desert mix idk much about but ik similar things like crushed coral or crushed shell can only be used as a small amount mixed into one of the other two. Maybe someone else can jump in w more info but that’s what I have for now Best of luck to you and your new baby crabbies!!

[JTKermie]

You've come to the right place! Hopefully you've read up on the recommendations.

Main thing is to read the tutorials on what it takes to properly keep them. Ideally, you use play sand and EcoEarth (coconut fiber) in a 5:1 ratio, thoroughly mixed, to a minimum depth where the largest crab shell can burrow 3x it's depth. Preferably deeper.

They need a marine salt water pool and a fresh water pool deep enough to fully submerge. Both dechlorinated with Seachem Prime or similar.

Temperature and humidity at ~80F and 80%, so you need a tank with a mat style heater and a cover on the tank.

Like said, it's hard to say what your hermies are doing, but if all the above are in order (and then some), all you can do is monitor and wait it out. I like to throw some hope in there too, although it's a horrible strategy LOL.

[wodesorel]

All playsand, all cocofiber, or any mix of the two are safe and great for hermit crabs.

The sand sold specifically for hermits is usually dangerous because it's made of calcium and can clump and harden, but a little in a mix isn't normally a problem.

Which desert sand did you use? Some are safe (plain quartz), some are not (calcium sands), and some are sold as sand but are actually walnut shells and those will rot and mold! The Desert Blend Sand product is walnut shells and should not be used with any pet that needs it moistened.