My newest crab has been missing for nearly a month

[WacklieCacklie]

So as the subject says my newest crab has gone missing. I do not know where he is. When I first got him he immediately changed shells and dug a hole. He's since changed holes but now he's vanished from said hole(I could see him in there from the surface), and I can't find any sign of digging elsewhere.
Recently the top of the substrate has been getting really dry no matter how much I spray so I'm worried he might have gotten stuck somewhere. Should I dig around for him? Or worst that he ended up passing and is just underneath the ground where I can't see or smell it.
There is also no way he could've escaped. There's a hole in my lid but he was way too big to have gotten put through there.

[Moonlightdreams]

So as the subject says my newest crab has gone missing. I do not know where he is. When I first got him he immediately changed shells and dug a hole. He's since changed holes but now he's vanished from said hole(I could see him in there from the surface), and I can't find any sign of digging elsewhere.
Recently the top of the substrate has been getting really dry no matter how much I spray so I'm worried he might have gotten stuck somewhere. Should I dig around for him? Or worst that he ended up passing and is just underneath the ground where I can't see or smell it.
There is also no way he could've escaped. There's a hole in my lid but he was way too big to have gotten put through there.

Your new crabbie is probably molting, or maybe just destressing. I wouldn't worry too much. I would definitely advise against digging him up. If he's molting, he's very vulnerable. Unless you notice a strong fishy (I believe) smell, he's probably fine. The only time to dig up a crab is when you have a bacterial bloom, a flood, or an ant infestation.

I'm not sure what to do about your substrate, sorry. One of the more experienced crabbers may know more.

[LadyJinglyJones]

Heya, sorry your tank is so dull right now!

Please dont dig. This is normal & is something all crabbers deal with sometimes - especially with new crabs! Moults can (and very often do) take months at a time; or a new crab will spend a lot of time digging because it feels safer underground (we call this "de-stressing"), and will only sneak up briefly at night for food. Often, it's impossible to tell whether it's a moult or a destressing crab.

Crabs will sometimes leave holes, and will sometimes backfill them. You won't be able to see into a backfilled tunnel.

How deep is the substrate, and what is your tank's humidity and temperature? We may be able to come up with a strategy for keeping the sand from getting too dry. Though if it's only at the top inch or so it may not be a serious problem... so long as the sub underneath is still moist enough to hold a tunnel.

[WacklieCacklie]

So as the subject says my newest crab has gone missing. I do not know where he is. When I first got him he immediately changed shells and dug a hole. He's since changed holes but now he's vanished from said hole(I could see him in there from the surface), and I can't find any sign of digging elsewhere.
Recently the top of the substrate has been getting really dry no matter how much I spray so I'm worried he might have gotten stuck somewhere. Should I dig around for him? Or worst that he ended up passing and is just underneath the ground where I can't see or smell it.
There is also no way he could've escaped. There's a hole in my lid but he was way too big to have gotten put through there.

Your new crabbie is probably molting, or maybe just destressing. I wouldn't worry too much. I would definitely advise against digging him up. If he's molting, he's very vulnerable. Unless you notice a strong fishy (I believe) smell, he's probably fine. The only time to dig up a crab is when you have a bacterial bloom, a flood, or an ant infestation.

I'm not sure what to do about your substrate, sorry. One of the more experienced crabbers may know more.

Heya, sorry your tank is so dull right now!

Please dont dig. This is normal & is something all crabbers deal with sometimes - especially with new crabs! Moults can (and very often do) take months at a time; or a new crab will spend a lot of time digging because it feels safer underground (we call this "de-stressing"), and will only sneak up briefly at night for food. Often, it's impossible to tell whether it's a moult or a destressing crab.

Crabs will sometimes leave holes, and will sometimes backfill them. You won't be able to see into a backfilled tunnel.

How deep is the substrate, and what is your tank's humidity and temperature? We may be able to come up with a strategy for keeping the sand from getting too dry. Though if it's only at the top inch or so it may not be a serious problem... so long as the sub underneath is still moist enough to hold a tunnel.

Thanks to both of you for your advice. I've had two of my crabs die before but never notice a strong fishy smell so I was worried that he might have died and I just couldn't smell it. I admit I did dig a bit where I had saw him last and all I found was bone dry substrate. I'm guessing it was dry because he had been turning it. But good news is all I found was substrate with that sandcastle consistency, and not a molting, de-stressing or dead crabby. The hole was at least 2-3 inches deep and my substrate in total is 6-7 inches depending on the area.
I actually have trouble keeping humidity at the proper levels. It's usually in the 90s since I mist the substrate trying to keep it wet so much. Since it's winter the temp got super low recently all the way down to 62 fahrenheit Y I K E S. But it's reached a stable 72 as of late with the help of space heaters.
I find the dry substrate is usually caused by my crabs digging so much, there are piles of it all over the habitat :/

[LadyJinglyJones]

Prior to misting, what's the typical humidity in the tank? Dry sub is less likely (though may still happen) in tanks with all-the-time high humidity. When I kept a ten gal, maintaining humidity was hard.

Also, what kind of lid are you using, and do you use bubblers in your pools?

[WacklieCacklie]

Prior to misting, what's the typical humidity in the tank? Dry sub is less likely (though may still happen) in tanks with all-the-time high humidity. When I kept a ten gal, maintaining humidity was hard.

Also, what kind of lid are you using, and do you use bubblers in your pools?

No bubblers. The humidity was usually around 75 or 80 when I don't mist. I use the lid that came with the storage bin. I did cut holes into it and then covered those with screening to keep them from getting out. I put duct tape over the holes so I can cover and uncover then depending on the humidity.

[LadyJinglyJones]

Okay, gotcha. Keeping the temp around 80 might help and, of course, be better for the crabbos - gotta recommend bringing the temp up... can you insulate more? If you add a bubbler, its more effective at bringing up humidity with deeper pools.

The problem with spraying a lot is that the water can be wicked towards the bottom, eventually building up & making your sub too wet at the very bottom, even while youre misting dry sand at the top. If you mist a lot, check the bottom of the sub for pooling water regularly with a chopstick inserted down the side of the tank (tote, in this case).

Edit - also, if you can increase the humidity by covering holes, I would, to reduce the need to mist all the time. Stabilized humidity is ideal - though not possible in every tank.

[WacklieCacklie]

Okay, gotcha. Keeping the temp around 80 might help and, of course, be better for the crabbos - gotta recommend bringing the temp up... can you insulate more? If you add a bubbler, its more effective at bringing up humidity with deeper pools.

The problem with spraying a lot is that the water can be wicked towards the bottom, eventually building up & making your sub too wet at the very bottom, even while youre misting dry sand at the top. If you mist a lot, check the bottom of the sub for pooling water regularly with a chopstick inserted down the side of the tank (tote, in this case).

Edit - also, if you can increase the humidity by covering holes, I would, to reduce the need to mist all the time. Stabilized humidity is ideal - though not possible in every tank.

Gotcha I can definitely bring the heat up no problem. I'll see if I can add a bubbler. I'll have to rearrange some stuff to find a plug for another airpump. Between my aquariums, chameleon, and crabs, outlets are in high demand. I'll figure something out though. Even if I have to make a new outlet, my babies come first.
Thanks for all the advice this has been really really helpful. I'm sure my Tavi and Chowder would thank you as well if they could

[LadyJinglyJones]

No prob!