HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I have a 90 gallon aquarium with about 8 to 9 inches of substrate. I have 12 PPs. 1 small and all the other ones range on the medium side, and one seems to be a small large or a large medium. I am wondering if I should be worried about overcrowding. My one crab keeps digging little holes right along the front side of the tank even though their is no room their as their is a fake plant and cholla logs, as well as a chia garden she destroyed trying to burrow in (but she could not burrow in it as is in a like 1 in a half in dish that is buried). Should I be worried? Prior this year she was with 18 other crabs in a 40 gallon (I know really cramped switched to larger tank ASAP). I don't understand how she could be overcrowded with a 90 gal.

I feel like my crabs started digging tunnels like crazy right before they went under to molt. I personally wouldn’t assume overcrowding...since some crabs just like to dig. I was the OP on another related post and didn’t know what to do with the tunnels left behind, lol. My main digger, Turbo, came up from his molt, but he still digs down every day...even though there are only 2 (including him) up and active...so he’s not digging bc of overcrowding! A 90g seems big enough, but maybe check out the care sheet on size of tank vs how many crabs.


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crabbycasey wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 20, 2021 6:58 pm

I feel like my crabs started digging tunnels like crazy right before they went under to molt. I personally wouldn’t assume overcrowding...since some crabs just like to dig. I was the OP on another related post and didn’t know what to do with the tunnels left behind, lol. My main digger, Turbo, came up from his molt, but he still digs down every day...even though there are only 2 (including him) up and active...so he’s not digging bc of overcrowding! A 90g seems big enough, but maybe check out the care sheet on size of tank vs how many crabs.


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I didn't think they were overcrowded but I double guess myself all of the time. Usually mine also dig, but this time they were not actual holes they weren't very deep unlike the super deep craters they otherwise make. I keep checking the requirements, but it also states that if you have over a 55 gal you can fit more than what the care sheet recommends, or at least that is how I read and interpreted it. I would like to again upgrade to a bigger tank but anything over 125 gal or 150 gal is my limit.

I agree with the post above
My crabs are constantly digging, sometimes for fun and sometimes to molt:)
Hope this helped!!!