Added substrate while hermit crab was buried.

[undyingdm]

Hello! This is my first post here, and I usually look for my question online but couldn't find any.

So today I got some new sand for my hermit crabs to make the substrate six inches (1:1 mix) I put one of my hermit crabs out of the way, and thought I had put the other in a different spot, unfortunately it was his old shell he changed from and he had buried himself.

I didn't realize until I went to measure his claw because I need to get them new shells, and I sort of connected to dots. I added maybe three inches of substrate and even mixed it around, I know you aren't supposed to dig up hermit crabs, but I'm extremely worried I may of collapsed his cave. I in hindsight feel really stupid for this mistake.

[curlysister]

I don't really have a good black and white answer to this. It is certainly possible that you disturbed a molting cave, but if you did some mixing and didn't feel a shell, maybe you didn't.
If you are that worried, you could gently go looking for him, starting at a corner and working horizontally. Be prepared to isolate him from you other crab, if he is indeed molting.

[undyingdm]

Hello! So unfortunately I did end up digging up my hermit crab, fortunately he is very much okay and they're both exploring their Crabitat again.

Thank you for the help!

[curlysister]

Great news!