HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi, all, Nutcracker is in some trouble again, but he's doing what he should to heal. I'm wondering how long his current molt might need to be. He was in a fight and lost his big claw and the two walking legs immediately behind the big claw. Shocking! I have pictures but don't know how to post them. He is big enough to be in a 2-plus-inch turbo shell. More info below, and then some questions.

Background: On January 19, 2017, two months ago, I found that he'd been in a fight with one of the 4 crabs that I adopted in early August 2016. The other crab is called Phoenix (mid-size among adoptees). Nutcracker and Phoenix are close to the same size, about 2 inches (1-inch openings), and Nutcracker should have upgraded before this happened, but didn't choose one of the new, polished (not painted) 2.0- to 2.5-inch turbo shells that I bought for him in July 2016. I did not see the fight, but I'm pretty sure that Nutcracker fought Phoenix because one 3-inch jumbo crab was in the adoption tank and the other 3-inch adopted jumbo had never shown any issues with Nutcracker. Our littlest crab, Button, stays out of the others' way (he just upgraded to a 0.5 - 0.75-inch shell), and Button never could have hurt Nutcracker. We know that Nutcracker had been in other shell fights with our dearly departed (MIA) crab, Blondie (see earlier posts), in whose blue shell Nutcracker showed up one day after Blondie went missing. They were the same size.

Shocking discovery: When I was changing a water bowl that day (January 19), I lifted it up and found Nutcracker upside-down, looking up at me. Something looked wrong, so I lifted him and saw his awful damage. Then I realized that Phoenix and Nutcracker disappeared simultaneously. I found Phoenix buried under another bowl next to the opposite tank wall, much deeper, and unharmed. My kids were very distressed about them both when we couldn't find Phoenix and before I told them that Nutcracker could molt and regrow his claw and legs. I told them that Nutcracker had buried himself as best he could, which is exactly what he needed to do.

After-fight care: Nutcracker has been alone in a 5-gallon Iso since I found him under his water bowl in the 35-gallon tank on January 19. He stayed up for 2 days before burying himself under a clam shell water bowl to molt. He had a good appetite those 2 days, and I think he was not ready to molt but was forced to after the fight. He was walking on his wooden climbing toy and hidey cover in Iso, seemingly rather active despite his injuries. I keep the bowl full for humidity in the tank, and check for bad smells every 2 days. I have enough heat for him but possibly not enough moisture (no hygrometer for this tank). His tank is mostly covered with towels. All seems to be going as it should.

The other crab: Phoenix also buried himself in the 35-gallon tank for a short time (2 - 3 weeks), but I don't think he molted. He did move to one of the 2.25-inch turbo shells since the fight. (He had been in an oblong shell since his adoption, including during the fight.)

So I have a few questions at this point. Having your advice would be great!
1. How long should I expect a 2-plus-inch crab with a missing big claw and 2 missing walking legs to stay under?
2. Should the iso tank be even moister than usual during a molt of this seriousness?
3. How long should Nutcracker stay in isolation after he emerges, eats his exo, and eats his post-molt enriched foods?
4. Is he likely to be bigger than before, or will he have invested in the claw and 2 legs?
5. Will 2 polished turbo shells in the shell shop be enough for him to choose from?
6. Do you recommend different post-molt foods for him than the usual enriched foods?
7. Should I put little Button into Iso with him as a companion before Nutcracker returns to the main tank?
8. Now that both of the 3-plus-inch jumbos are in the big tank, how can I intoduce the newest jumbo (Dempsey) to Nutcracker when Dempsey has shown aggressive tendencies before?
9. Are his regrown limbs likely to need 2+ molds to restore their optimal size?
10. How can I persuade Nutcracker to move to a larger shell?
11. Any other advice for a happy hermit family of five in one 35-gallon tank?

While I'm here, I wanted to mention that both jumbos need bigger shells, and I would love to swap for or inexpensively buy 3-plus-inch turbos. Having more 2-plus-inch turbos might help Nutcracker protect himself better, since he should have changed last summer. So I am interested in finding a number of bigger turbo shells.

Thanks,
Mom of 5 PPs
(Dempsey, Giant Jake, Nutcracker, Phoenix, and Button)

Nutcracker wrote:
So I have a few questions at this point. Having your advice would be great!
1. How long should I expect a 2-plus-inch crab with a missing big claw and 2 missing walking legs to stay under?

LJJ - I'd expect quite a while... regrowing limbs takes a lot of energy, and as you know, bigger crebs equal longer moults.

2. Should the iso tank be even moister than usual during a molt of this seriousness?

LJJ- I'd consider getting a second hygrometer. .. the humidity may be harmfully low, and you'd not know it.

3. How long should Nutcracker stay in isolation after he emerges, eats his exo, and eats his post-molt enriched foods?

LJJ - Once all the eatin' is done & he's moving about normally, I'd put him back. But the crab on crab agression is worrisome; how many shells do you have & what size is your tank? Sounds like some of your crabs are quite large, at which point I'd personally want at least ten gal per crab.

4. Is he likely to be bigger than before, or will he have invested in the claw and 2 legs?

LJJ- probably not much bigger, but hard to say... it likely depends on how much energy was stored in the hepatopancreas & how much water he had in his moult sac before moulting. .. if he had to moult prematurely, he could be in for a tricky moult, and could theoretically come up smaller if the moult sac was small.

5. Will 2 polished turbo shells in the shell shop be enough for him to choose from?

LJJ - I'd recommend more shells... I think the shell fighting is an indicator that two is not enough for this crab.

6. Do you recommend different post-molt foods for him than the usual enriched foods?

LJJ - Protein-rich, calcium rich, raw honey, just lots of high-quality stuff. I like ground ground flax seeds & nuts mixed with ground dried insects & spirulina powder. Also dried fish is popular in my tank - oily stuff, like herring... you could try cod-liver oil, and coconut oil too.

7. Should I put little Button into Iso with him as a companion before Nutcracker returns to the main tank?

LJJ - If the ISO is small , I'd say not. Also, unless you know the humidity for sure, it could be bad for both crabs instead of just one.

8. Now that both of the 3-plus-inch jumbos are in the big tank, how can I intoduce the newest jumbo (Dempsey) to Nutcracker when Dempsey has shown aggressive tendencies before?

LJJ - how big is the tank??


9. Are his regrown limbs likely to need 2+ molds to restore their optimal size?

LJJ - Probs. It's a wait-and-see.

10. How can I persuade Nutcracker to move to a larger shell?

LJJ - Clean out the shell, maybe dip in salt water & hope for the best.
Providing more shells can't hurt.


11. Any other advice for a happy hermit family of five in one 35-gallon tank?

LJJ- I know a lot of guides say 5 gal per crab... but with jumbos I honestly think you need to go bigger - at least ten gal per crab.
Sorry - I know you've probably worked very hard on this tank and I think you mentioned it's new... but bigger crabs are powerful, energetically greater animals and probably need more space. You could try adding a Hampster wheel to let them crawl off some of that extra energy. But right now they're probably still a bit crowded.
It's a bummer, for sure. But jumbos can become agressive in cramped spaces.


While I'm here, I wanted to mention that both jumbos need bigger shells, and I would love to swap for or inexpensively buy 3-plus-inch turbos. Having more 2-plus-inch turbos might help Nutcracker protect himself better, since he should have changed last summer. So I am interested in finding a number of bigger turbo shells.

Thanks,
Mom of 5 PPs
(Dempsey, Giant Jake, Nutcracker, Phoenix, and Button)

I answered with LJJ under your questions.

Sorry you didn't receive a reply sooner - I've been offline a lot lately & your message probs got lost in the mix, so that others didn't see it.
Also, I'd recommend filling out the emerge template to see if there are altrations (other than a bigger tank) that could be made to curb shell fights. I'd Sim for 3-5 appropriately sized shells per crab - but even then, there may be favorite shells that your kiddos are going to tussle over.

http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... hp?t=46102

Hi, LJJ, thank you or your terrific responses. I'm late in replying and will have to be brief now until I can reply better later.
To your main questions:
- The main tank is 35 gallons. (I need to double the substrate but I don't want to overburden a buried crab.)
- The iso tank is 5 gallons.
- I will buy another hygrometer. Should the rel. humidity be higher than the usual 75% - 90% for Nutcracker?
- I have 3 polished turbo shells in Nutcracker's and Phoenix's next size. Neither is being used. I would probably get identical shells from that source (Amazon vendor recommended on this site) if I bought more, so would that help? I recall now that Nutcracker was a wardrobe diva when he was smaller, changing frequently.
- The 3-inch jumbo crabs (Dempsey and Giant Jake) are getting along well with each other and their smaller companions, Phoenix (2-inch) and Button (1/2-inch).
Thank you!

You can add 1 inch of substrate every 24 hours, just do not pack it down.

Humidity should never dip below the minimum of 80. Hermit crabs have modified gills, and need the humidity to breathe.

The hca recommends 3-5 shells per crab. I recommend more. It never hurts to have too many shells and switch them out constantly


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If you indeed have jumbo crabs, they can require 15 gallons per crab.


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GotButterflies wrote:You can add 1 inch of substrate every 24 hours, just do not pack it down.

Excellent advice. That's much better than waiting until they are all up and trying to squeeze in a major tank redo in a tightly scheduled life!

GotButterflies wrote:Humidity should never dip below the minimum of 80. Hermit crabs have modified gills, and need the humidity to breathe.

I thought the appropriate range was 75% - 90%, not 80%+. Please confirm. I remember from college bio labs that crab gills are attached to the walking legs, and this is my chief concern for Nutcracker--he may have lost gills with his 3 appendages. This is why I was asking whether he needs higher than 75% - 90% humidity. I ordered a hygrometer for the iso tank today.

GotButterflies wrote:The hca recommends 3-5 shells per crab. I recommend more. It never hurts to have too many shells and switch them out constantly

I am starting a new business and cash is tight right now. With large and jumbo shells costing $6 - $10 each (for 2-plus-, 2.5-plus-, and 3-plus-inch shells), it actually is a burden to buy 3 - 5 for each of 4 crabs just now. Taking averages, that easily adds up quickly: $8 × 4 shells × 4 crabs + 2 extra shells for Diva Nutcracker = $130. I'm happy to buy what they need, but I don't want to get an excess, especially when Nutcracker hasn't taken any of the 3 polished turbo shells at 2-plus inches that are in the shell shop; these seem to be favorite shells for lots of hermits. Does that make sense?

Regarding tank size, the 35-gallon tank would offer 10 gallons for each jumbo (2 × 3 inches), 6-7 gallons for each large crab (2 × 2 inches), and 1 - 3 gallons for the little one (1 × 0.5 inches). I know it's tight, but I couldn't turn down part of the hermit family I adopted (all but Nutcracker). Probably adding substrate will help, as should vertical climbing supports. The hamster wheel idea someone suggested is interesting, but I thought these were made of metal and therefore dangerous for crabs.

Thanks again for your advice.

The guides for humidity are a little outdated. It doesn't hurt the crabs to have higher humidity. The only issue it can cause is mold growth (which still doesn't hurt the crabs-but can hurt you).

I understand on the tight funds, but I would try to add shells as you can afford to. Surf eBay for deals, check craft stores, etc. More shells in the sizes they need = less aggressive behavior over them.
The modified hamster wheel is great. I have 3 of them. Two in my 100 gallon, 1 in my 75 gallon. They do not have access to the metal. The wheel itself is plastic. You hang it upside down for them in the crabitat. Besides that, the metal is coated. That is the only metal thing in my tank.


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I just lost my whole message and details for the group by scrolling down too far in preview mode (frustrated), but ...

Happy news! Nutcracker resurfaced with all of his legs and a new claw today! He was walking around, climbing, eating food, drinking and setting himself in the water, and more.

His new legs are slender but the correct length, and they even finish in the sharp tips. They are medium orange (not red and purple/gray like the undamaged legs). The new limbs seem as delicate as those of his regular tankmate Button. The new big pincher is not big but has the correct 3-D shape and function (he works it as he walks). It does not reach the walking surface when he walks. It's about 1/4 its proper size, so he must have put everything he had in storage into his new limbs. The new big pincher is smaller than the feeding claw.

I the original message that I lost, I described all the foods I just into his tank, but I don't have time to rewrite now (big day tomorrow). Questions: Where does one find spirulina powder? Would canned fish be acceptable if I don't have dried?

Now that he's up, when might he molt again to achieve his correct limb size? Can I put him in the big tank even with a small claw?

I bought a bunch of shells and they will be here in a few days. If my humidity is okay in iso tank, should I put little Button in iso with Nutcracker?

Thanks!

Hippy healthfood places sell big bags of spirulina for 20+ dollars... many indie crab stores sell more reasonably sized/priced packets... a little goes a looong way.

If you haven't got fresh, I say go for canned - just check it isn't salted & that it has hasn't got any other ingredients, except maybe water. Preservatives are sketchy & prevalent in long-shelf-life-ed food.

Some pet stores have dried single-ingredient fish skin treats for dogs n cats... the herring is popular with my team. Also, if you have a fresh seafood counter at your local grocery store, they will sell you just one shrimp or clam... and the looks you get are priceless!
Some frozen fish are okay too - but again, look out for preservatives.

Anyone's guess how long before next moult. A lot of factors come into play.

I'm leery of adding a crab to iso, but that's just me... it could be beneficial, I suppose.

Glad he's going strong! Don't forget the calcium! Oils like coconut, red palm & and if you have it, cold pressed extra virgin olive oil are good.

How long are you considering keeping him iso'd?

Hi, thanks for replying.

LadyJinglyJones wrote:If you haven't got fresh, I say go for canned - just check it isn't salted & that it has hasn't got any other ingredients, except maybe water. Preservatives are sketchy & prevalent in long-shelf-life-ed food.

Some pet stores have dried single-ingredient fish skin treats for dogs n cats... the herring is popular with my team. Also, if you have a fresh seafood counter at your local grocery store, they will sell you just one shrimp or clam... and the looks you get are priceless! :lol:
Some frozen fish are okay too - but again, look out for preservatives.

I'm thinking of simply canned tuna or salmon in water. The salmon has the fatty skin, too, and bones for calcium.

LadyJinglyJones wrote:I'm leery of adding a crab to iso, but that's just me... it could be beneficial, I suppose.
How long are you considering keeping him iso'd?

Maybe just a couple of days? He seemed a bit wobbly when he was walking on my hands, not himself. I'm not sure that he's strong. I think that time to eat rich foods without the 2 jumbos dumping them and dragging substrate through them, not to mention eating them, will go a long way. With regard to adding the little Button to the 5-gallon iso, I wonder if Nutcracker needs a companion even as he strengthens himself. Amazon says I'll have the hygrometer today, and I could move the one in the big tank temporarily.

LadyJinglyJones wrote:Don't forget the calcium! Oils like coconut, red palm & and if you have it, cold pressed extra virgin olive oil are good.

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I have a calcium-rich cuttlebone in there with meal worms (very popular in my tank); this detail was lost when my previous draft post was refreshed and lost. I have the EVOO and organic coconut oil but didn't think to offer those. Thanks for the tip!

LadyJinglyJones wrote:Glad he's going strong!

Nutcracker is a survivor! He was de-shelled by an old tankmate one Thanksgiving (he got his revenge) and did survive after much support (and panicked HCA-posting and shell-buying on my part). This forum is a large reason why he's alive today. :wink:

I get my spirulina from the health food store. Make sure it's organic, just spirulina. There are plenty of mixtures out there. The bag i get is about $16 - lasts forever. I don't ISO for molting.


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GotButterflies wrote:I get my spirulina from the health food store. Make sure it's organic, just spirulina. There are plenty of mixtures out there. The bag i get is about $16 - lasts forever. I don't ISO for molting.


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But really - a $16 dollar bag of spirulina, if only fed to crabs, may outlast the second comming!

I think I have had more on my hands and clothes over the years than the crabs have probably ever eaten!


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