HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hey yall! So I did a complete remodel of the tank. I realized that they obviously didn't like the sand I had, and I wasn't digging it either because it was a bag of play sand from walmart and I felt it smelled bad. Boyfriend couldn't smell anything but I didn't want to take any chances! I also bought a different hide away, added a sideways fish bowl hide, and added the coconut fiber climbing wall. Still looking for more shells, once I find some I'm adding a shower caddy on the side wall above the fresh water with a ladder.
I ordered some stuff from The Hermit Crab Patch last night!! I got some fantastic foods spinach mix, zoo med peanut crunchies, honey coral calcium, and crushed oyster shells to sprinkle on their substrate. Tracking says it will he here saturday!! Has anyone tried these items? What did your crabbies think?
Anyways, here's some pics!!

http://imgur.com/gallery/l3nCm40
^^ Top view

http://imgur.com/gallery/5KHPWhY
^^ front view

http://imgur.com/gallery/9PKvu5W
^^ Left side of tank with fish bowl hide and I turned a cocohut hide upside down to give an extra open spot. The green bowl is where I'll add their calcium when it comes in. Also has their half log hide that they really love.

http://imgur.com/gallery/kwPpMPh
^^ Right side of tank is the salt water bowl and fresh water bowl. I wanted to add a bubbler to the salt water but I have to wait. Fresh water has a bubbler. The cholla wood is between to help them navigate, and the empty brown bowl is where their food will be. For right now they have some black beans and some organic sweet potatoes and corn baby food. Trying this out till their food comes in.

http://imgur.com/gallery/tP5YExe
^^ Sebastian testing out some fresh water. He was mainly posing for the camera, he LOVES attention.

http://imgur.com/gallery/kXnF6LI
^^ Rajah running for cover. He hates attention and any pictures. After a few minutes I noticed him climbing around the coconut and fish bowl, just exploring. But once he saw me he stopped and waited for me to leave him be.

Looks great! Substrate should be mixed with dechlorinated fresh water or dechlorinated Marine salt water to make it sandcastle consistency. If just doing ee, I recommend the msw. It should also be a minimum of 6” or three time height of largest crab. Whichever is deeper is what you go with. I know you could have that- pictures can be deceiving- but I just wanted to mention it (just in case)

Do you have any trees on the safe list in your area that are free from pesticides, fertilizers and mosquitoe spraying? These guys aren’t called tree crabs for nothing!! They love to climb! If so, break off some limbs, toss them on a cookie sheet, put oven at 250, crack o en open and bake for a good 15 min to kill bugs. (Keep watch- don’t want to start fire).

Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello I really like those pools!
Personally, i don’t recommend the half logs to others, speaking that they are a pine variety. I never used them with crabs because that wood isn’t typically safe for them.

Otherwise, you have a good setup!

StellaCrab wrote:Hello I really like those pools!
Personally, i don’t recommend the half logs to others, speaking that they are a pine variety. I never used them with crabs because that wood isn’t typically safe for them.

Otherwise, you have a good setup!

There is nothing wrong with the half logs. This is a myth that continues to be perpetuated because some crabbers had losses that were most likely due to PPS and blamed it on the hides.



Sent from my LGMS550 using Tapatalk

soilentgringa wrote:
There is nothing wrong with the half logs. This is a myth that continues to be perpetuated because some crabbers had losses that were most likely due to PPS and blamed it on the hides.

Oh, that's really great to know!
I was just following information that someone gave to me before.
Thanks!

Thanks y'all!! The pools are just plastic bowls with some rocks in them, nothing fancy. I searched all over Wal-Mart for craft mesh but I couldn't find it so I just went with the rocks for now.
I'll add at least another brick of EE next week, I'm ordering things paycheck by paycheck. I have 3 bricks in there now, but I knew it wouldn't be enough. I'm hoping they're dine till next week. Also, I mixed these bricks with dechlor fresh water, I'll mix the next with salt. Great idea!!

My first THCP haul came in today. I sprinkled the crushed oyster shells among the substrate, and I put a little food and calcium out for them. I wont know how they like it until tomorrow morning. I'm hoping they warm up to it all, it seems like great stuff!