HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi- I am new to the crab world. I've spent many many hours researching and have got my tank up to par. Only issue has been ensuring the humidity is high enough. Today I got a bubbler for their freshwater pool. I was using a pool that was about 4" x 5" and 2 inches deep. I switched to a deeper bigger pool- 5" x 7" and 5" deep. There are rocks on the bottom and I'm using plastic crafting netting as a ramp (the holes in the netting are quite small, not sure how easy it really is for them to grasp it). There is a piece of cholla floating in the pool as well for them to grab on to.
My crabs are all still destressing- I ended up with 9 of them, and all but 2 have been buried for about 2 weeks now. I am not 100% sure that they are not coming out late at nite, but from the food being eaten and such I believe they are staying down.
Anyway, my questions is...can crabs drown easily? How long can they stay underwater? My one "up" crab was curious about what I was doing and came over and was zooming up his knitted ladder and slipped off, ended up in the pool.....upside down. He got himself flipped back over but then it seemed like he was having a hard time getting out, and I didn't want to super stress him so I just took him out.
all my crabs are quite small, one is tiny and all the rest are small size. I believe they are all PP's...mainly because that seems to be the most common kind, where they are sold around here they aren't sold as an actually species, just as "hermit crabs".
If there is any concern of them drowning, I will go back to their old pool, just seems like it would be much more fun if they could go for a dive instead of water just deep enough for their entire body

Hermit crabs can easily drown if they have no place to escape. Hermit crabs would need something to climb out of; a rock, a shell, or anything which they are capable of climbing. I have seen people with mesh, but I don't personally use mesh because my crabs never climb it.

Deep bowls are fine (good really!) so long as they have a safe and secure method to climb back out.

That then leads to the next question. I know they love climbing, so obviously are pretty capable little creatures. Between the plastic netting ramp, the cholla that is right by its side so they can also use that as a ramp (one end is buried in the stones, the other leads out of the water), and a rock bottom, is that enough for them to get out? A few hours ago I had no question as to it being enough but the little guy I was watching seemed to be having a hard time. Or else I am just super paranoid and he was having a good soak! That is also possible. Actually me being paranoid isn't just possible its true I am a vet tech so tend to always see the worst things that can happen and it makes me a bit extra paranoid about my pets (even though we obviously don't see hermit crabs at my work lol!) It's not like he was struggling or anything....he had initially landed upside down and that also freaked me out wondering if he'd be able to right himself....
What does everyone else use for ramps for them to get out? I also have fish tanks, so was wondering about using a some filter material as it's easy to grab on to...I could wrap it around the plastic netting so it would be stable.....

Hello I also use craft mesh. In the Pools I use Aquarium gravel on the bottom, and then I also use Aquarium decor for them to climb onto.

I understand where you are coming from- we share the same profession


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They should be fine. Many - including myself - have had crabs stay underwater for hours (think the longest someone has had was 3 hours?) at a time... they not as delicate as one would think.

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My crabs will climb up the plastic plants more than mesh, however I have never ever seen my crabs getting into the bowl myself.