HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello! First time hermit crab owner here. When I first got her she was very active in exploring her tank, but that next morning when she went to sleep, she hasn't done anything but sleep. She isn't dead because she occasionally twitches and her antennae come out and move sometimes. It's been a week now where she hasn't moved.

I originally had her in a 10 gal tank, but moved her into a 20 gal yesterday. I believe she’s on the larger side about 2 inches and I thought 10 gal was too small for her. I am planning to get her a friend, but I'm wondering if she might be surface molting or something. In the new 20 gallon tank, I have a sloped substrate which is over 8 inches on the highest side (5:1 mix of play sand and eco earth).

I have a digital thermometer that reads temp and humidity. Temp is 70-80 and fluctuates and humidity is 75-85%. I have a UTH on the back of the tank which covers a little more than half of the tank.

I also have a saltwater pool and freshwater pool as well as a climb for her. I'm just really worried about her because I want her to be happy and healthy, but I'm not sure if anything is wrong or if I need to do anything to help her.

It's been a week since she's been in the water and even touched food. I do have 2 shells for her in case she wants to switch and am working on getting a few more.

***
UPDATE: This is a very late update, but I wanted to post an update in case any other first time hermit crab owners have the same concerns. So she was definitely just de-stressing. It took a few weeks before she starting being super active especially towards the evening!

Welcome to crabbing! You will want to keep your tank at least 72F, and crabs will be more active with the temps around 80. That said, your crab has gonve thru a lot before you got it, and will need time to de-stress. And if in bad conditions, may need to molt now that they have deep enough substrate. I wouldn't get another crab until you know what's happening with this one. Sometimes all you can do is keep the conditions good, and wait to see what happens.

Thanks for the response! I'll make sure to keep her tank warmer and always above 72F. I just wanted to ask then if it's normal she’s not touching her food or water as she’s destressing? I think that's what’s worrying me the most since it's been a week since she's eaten and gone to her waters.

crawlingcoral wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 11, 2023 12:43 am

Thanks for the response! I'll make sure to keep her tank warmer and always above 72F. I just wanted to ask then if it's normal she’s not touching her food or water as she’s destressing? I think that's what’s worrying me the most since it's been a week since she's eaten and gone to her waters.

Crabs are nocturnal, so it's very possible she is eating and drinking when you are not noticing, crabs also eat and drink very little so you may just not be noticing anything being eaten or drank but it is! Crabs can go a long time without eating or drinking (please don't starve or dehydrate your crab), many crabbers have smoothed sand in an iso with one crab in it molting and seen no footprints for months, then the crab came back up alive! Hermit Crabs eat very little, and store water in their shells, so I don't think it's anything to worry about!