How do I know if my crabs tunnels collapsed?

[blondie0702]

I'm worried about 2 of my 4 hermit crabs. They all used to come out at night, but I was trying to get my humidity to a good level, so I was cracking the lid a couple millimeters to let out some of the humidity. My humidity was at 86-92, but after cracking the lid a bit I was able to get it to 81-87. But now I think my substrate has dried out too much and I'm worried my crabs tunnels may have collapsed. I haven't seen two of them in almost a week. I don't have a camera but I check on them a lot before I go to bed (usually go to bed around 11/12 at night). What should I do? I misted the surface once to try and help the substrate moisture but that was after I was concerned about collapse. I'm brand new to keeping hermit crabs and I'm panicking. Any advice would be appreciated.

Info on their setup
54 gallon
7-8 inches of substrate
81-87% humidity
77-82 degrees
Lights are 12 on 12 off
Heat mat on the back above substrate

Any other info that you need that's helpful please let me know

[KyMart]

I'm worried about 2 of my 4 hermit crabs. They all used to come out at night, but I was trying to get my humidity to a good level, so I was cracking the lid a couple millimeters to let out some of the humidity. My humidity was at 86-92, but after cracking the lid a bit I was able to get it to 81-87. But now I think my substrate has dried out too much and I'm worried my crabs tunnels may have collapsed. I haven't seen two of them in almost a week. I don't have a camera but I check on them a lot before I go to bed (usually go to bed around 11/12 at night). What should I do? I misted the surface once to try and help the substrate moisture but that was after I was concerned about collapse. I'm brand new to keeping hermit crabs and I'm panicking. Any advice would be appreciated.

Info on their setup
54 gallon
7-8 inches of substrate
81-87% humidity
77-82 degrees
Lights are 12 on 12 off
Heat mat on the back above substrate

Any other info that you need that's helpful please let me know

Here is my best advice! Pour water around the edges slowly, this will seep into the middle and moisten all of it! Since you have a 54 gallon tank, you will need more water then someone with a 10 gallon tank. I would do about half a cup at a time, wait a few hours, and then take your finger and poke a few small holes in different parts of the substrate to see if it is sand castle consistency. If it is, the whole will stay and not cave on itself! You should do this before you pour any water to see if it is moistened enough! Then you should take a butter knife, a skewer, whatever and stick it in the corner of ur substrate, all the way to the bottom. this will allow you to see if it is sand castle consistency all the way down, and see if it is flooding (which is why you add water slowly and in small amounts!).

[curlysister]

Here is my best advice! Pour water around the edges slowly, this will seep into the middle and moisten all of it! Since you have a 54 gallon tank, you will need more water then someone with a 10 gallon tank. I would do about half a cup at a time, wait a few hours, and then take your finger and poke a few small holes in different parts of the substrate to see if it is sand castle consistency. If it is, the whole will stay and not cave on itself! You should do this before you pour any water to see if it is moistened enough! Then you should take a butter knife, a skewer, whatever and stick it in the corner of ur substrate, all the way to the bottom. this will allow you to see if it is sand castle consistency all the way down, and see if it is flooding (which is why you add water slowly and in small amounts!).

If a person has crabs that are underground, do NOT take your finger and start poking holes in different parts of the substrate. Just like new decor items should not be pushed into or pulled out of the sub, fingers also should not. Doing so risks causing a tunnel collapse.

To check the consistency of your substrate, take something like a chopstick and push it along the side (or front or back) of the tank right along the glass to the bottom then pull it out. You will be able to see if there is a cave/ tunnel right along the glass and avoid that area. If the sand collapses in on itself, your sub is likely too dry; if there is water pooling in the bottom, your sub is too wet; if it keeps its shape it's good!

Also for future reference, there is no such thing as 'too humid' - you don't need to crack the lid to allow humidity out.

[KyMart]

If a person has crabs that are underground, do NOT take your finger and start poking holes in different parts of the substrate. Just like new decor items should not be pushed into or pulled out of the sub, fingers also should not. Doing so risks causing a tunnel collapse.

To check the consistency of your substrate, take something like a chopstick and push it along the side (or front or back) of the tank right along the glass to the bottom then pull it out. You will be able to see if there is a cave/ tunnel right along the glass and avoid that area. If the sand collapses in on itself, your sub is likely too dry; if there is water pooling in the bottom, your sub is too wet; if it keeps its shape it's good!

Also for future reference, there is no such thing as 'too humid' - you don't need to crack the lid to allow humidity out.

I said small holes, as in very very tiny to see if the middle is sand castle consistency. I didn't say shove your entire finger down in the middle of the substrate. One of my crabs is underground, and I did this the other day, because I was worried about the middle not being moistened enough, and it was! I didn't go far enough down for the crabs tunnel to be there, like 1/4 of an inch!

[curlysister]

I said small holes, as in very very tiny to see if the middle is sand castle consistency. I didn't say shove your entire finger down in the middle of the substrate. One of my crabs is underground, and I did this the other day, because I was worried about the middle not being moistened enough, and it was! I didn't go far enough down for the crabs tunnel to be there, like 1/4 of an inch!

Remember that the sub on the top half to one inch might be (and often is) much drier than farther down in the sub. The top can literally be totally dry, and there can still be a flood happening at the bottom. Sticking your finger a quarter of an inch down won't give you any idea of how the sub is at the bottom. That's why sticking a chopstick down along the glass all the way to the bottom will give you an idea of the consistency from top to bottom.

[KyMart]

Remember that the sub on the top half to one inch might be (and often is) much drier than farther down in the sub. The top can literally be totally dry, and there can still be a flood happening at the bottom. Sticking your finger a quarter of an inch down won't give you any idea of how the sub is at the bottom. That's why sticking a chopstick down along the glass all the way to the bottom will give you an idea of the consistency from top to bottom.

I do both, just to make sure it's moist in the middle. I haven't seen one of my crabs since I put them in the new tank, that crab being Fox. He was very bright in color when he came up (the day I moved him because he showed no signs of molting before he went down and everyone was getting alone), but has always been a digger. I think he is destressing, and I don't plan to bother him.

[KyMart]

Remember that the sub on the top half to one inch might be (and often is) much drier than farther down in the sub. The top can literally be totally dry, and there can still be a flood happening at the bottom. Sticking your finger a quarter of an inch down won't give you any idea of how the sub is at the bottom. That's why sticking a chopstick down along the glass all the way to the bottom will give you an idea of the consistency from top to bottom.

This is also brand new substrate that I just got and I have never had EE or this sand in my tank before, so it's all knew to me moisture wise! I only put about 1/4 of water around the edges the other day because it was a bit dry at the very bottom. When my other crab comes back up, I plan to add egg crate and attach my climbing walls to it so they are more secure and mix my substrate to make sure it is sand castle consistency all the way though, I also plan to add bubblers to my pools, rearrange a bit, add a bit more decor, and maybe even add springtails! I have plans to do all of this some time next month, or later because I still have to order some stuff and I don't plan on them all three being up that soon anyways! I know that as soon as he comes up, he will likely stay up, and the other two are also freshly molted so I will have a bit to do all of this. I just want to give him time up above the substrate in the new tank before I take him out with the others to do all of this.