HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I adoped three larger Caribbean / Purple Pincher hermies from a family friend where the kids were no longer interested. They were in a wire cage with a thin layer of gravel and no salt water, stuck in painted shells. I took them home and put them in a ten gallon with playsand and offered them saltwater and natural shells. The biggest of the bunch, Ryan (formally known as Lucy) almost imediatly changed her shell, even though I'm sure it's a little too small.

My tank is a ten gallon. Because I was hesitant on putting 50 lbs of sand on the desk the tank is on, about 1/3 of the tank has sand 6.5 inches deep, then it slopes down for 1/3 of the tank and the last third is about 4 inches.

I was playing with my crab Bandit (formally Fred) and I noticed two hard yellow flaps on the front on his claws. They are very small, no more than a mm or two long, and half circle shaped. What are these?

And of course, is an iso tank really required for molting? I don't have one now and I don't know where I'd put it. I assume the crabs are due for molting soon because of their former conditions. Also, is there any household object I can substitute for an iso tank if I need it. I can buy one if required, but if I don't have to spend money why shouod I?

EDIT: I noticed Ryan, another one of my hermies, also has tje yellowish growths. I think they are just a part of their exo that I noticed and ocerreacted to.

Hello,
So glad you rescued these hermies!

Hermit crabs tunnel around when they molt, so make sure your sand is at least twice as high as your largest crab.

As for the yellow flaps, I'm not really sure what those are.

There are many people here who do not isolate molters, I personally do not isolate molting crabs, because sometimes they don't show signs of molting and it is hard to tell when to ISO them. It is also more natural to let them molt on their own. Many people have "time out" ISO tanks for hermits that are causing trouble. Some people use ISO's for sick crabs.

Can you get a pic of the yellow things on the claw?

It is a good idea to have some kind of ISO on hand for sick or injured crabs. This can be a 10g tank, a tote, or even a good sized food storage bowl if it'll fit inside the main crabitat (to keep conditions right since it probably would be difficult to heat one). ISOing for normal healthy molts is unnecessary and as Hermitcrab24 said, can be difficult to always recognize the signs anyway. As long as you have enough space and proper substrate, allowing them to molt in the main tank is best.

I really don't recommend sloping substrate. You'd think a crab would molt in the deeper section, but that isn't always the case. A molter on the shallower side would be at more risk. Best to have sub deep enough for your crabs to safely molt in all the way across. This is usually recommended to be 2-3x as deep as your largest crab is tall.
Welcome to the HCA and congrats on your adoptions!

Hello!
I personally used to have an ISO set up just in case. However, with my crabs they don't usually show any molting signs before they go down for a molt. My crabs go down overnight, and I can't ISO them in time. (unless you use the soda bottle technique) Personally I think there is no urgent need to have ISO for molting reasons, but it is a great idea to have one for a bullied crab, a sick crab, or a crab that is showing some distress.

I have an ISO for emergencies and adoptions and right now my adoptee is living (molting) in it. It's good to have but probably not necessary.


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I found this article helpful http://www.hermitcrabpatch.com/Hermit-C ... -a/138.htm

Crabs dont normally need to be ISO'd for molting. Molting should be good and natural. ISOing is really for a surface molter, a bullying victim, a weakling/sickling, or sometimes a menace. It should hardly be in use, but when the time arrives it can be a great help to already have an ISO set up. Don't waste your electric bill heating one, but have it ready to plug, with all the other fixins, if you happen to catch a surface molter.
It's also smart to ISO newcomers. Sometimes they might have mites or something that you want to control before they go in and meet their new family


Crabbers unite!!!

Thanks again to all for all the advice! I'll hava an iso on hand for bullied/sick/injured ect crabs. But its good to know I don't have to isolate for every molt

Dedinitely don't iso every molt that'd be stressful for everyone, including you!


Crabbers unite!!!

I highly recommend having an iso ready and waiting just in case. I didn't have an iso for the first year of crabbing and I had deaths because I had no way to separate a crab that had gone on a killing streak, or the crabs he injured/ended up killing. Whether you end up needing it or not, having an iso just in case is a good idea that helps bring some peace of mind. You wont necessarily need it, but its there if you do. Hopefully you don't!

Using a empty plastic container inside the main tat can work as an emergency ISO too. There is also the plastic bottle ISO where you cut off the bottom of a large plastic bottle and push in down into the sand around a crab that needs ISO.


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