HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Does anyone have advice on cleaning my tank when all three of my crabs never surface at once? I don’t want to dig up from a molt if occurring but also the cleaning needs to be done. I don’t know how most people clean their crabitats and avoid digging... I’ve had mine for 6 years and no harm comes when necessary digging occurs every 6 months but I don’t like the thought of doing it.

Substrate changes aren't necessary unless there is a flood or bacteria bloom. It just stresses the crabs. I know some people on here have had the same sub for decades with no problems, I personally like to change it every 2 years to be on the safe side if none of the crabs happen to be molting but even that isn't necessary.

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Is there something going on that you feel you need to do a deep clean? Like a flood or bacterial bloom? Or are you referring to just general cleaning?

What is this "cleaning" you speak of?

I've been keeping crabs since 2008-ish and I have never replaced substrate or "cleaned." I don't surface clean, I don't deep clean, I don't clean at all! It's unnecessary, stressful to the crabs, and potentially harmful to fragile crabs or molters.

This was all very helpful! I didn’t know substrate shouldn’t be changed out frequently. In reality, I’ve left mine in for about a year and a half each time. I always just thought it should be changed out more frequently! Knowing that spot cleaning is recommended for only the surface definitely solved my question.