HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I just got 4 hermit crabs about three days ago. I have a log from PetCo inside of my crabitat, and I see only two inside of there and 1 is in the hermie hut.... could it be molting? Could he have...been eaten? What should I do?!?! I don't want ot go digging around to find her if she is molting. But I don't have a big enough shell for her yet! I AM CLUELESS

They probably buried to destress and molt. They can be down for up to 3/4 months depending on size.

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So if she molted, I should ge get her shells? Of all different sizes? How do I take care of a molting crab?

You don't do anything. If you have deep enough substrate that is the right kind and at the right level of moisture, they do everything themselves.

And yes, they are going to need more shells - whether they molt or not. If a hermit wants to change shells and there are no empty ones that are the right size and kind, they can go after the shells their tank mates are still wearing.

Oh goodness! I don;t want them fighting! I will be sure to pick up shells tomorrow. Is it okay to use hot glue in the tanks??? I'm wanting to make a second level with a shell shop.
back to the molting!
So, what happens after my crab comes back up? Do I have any jobs then?

Hot glue-no. Hermit crabs are very much a hands off pet. Make sure their substrate, temp, humidity, food and water are all correct. They are nocturnal and need a normal day/night cycle. All you can do is make sure you give them the proper care. The only thing you may need to do after they molt is put them in the freshwater pool and allow them to climb out to get rid of the smell they have when molting. Usually it goes away while they come back up through the sub, but not always. If other crabs smell this they can become aggressive. Make sure you have 3-5 extra shells per crab in the shapes they like-no painted shells. They should be slightly larger than what the crabs are in now. After they molt they will be bigger and need larger shells, they also like to switch every so often.

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shadleanne wrote:Oh goodness! I don;t want them fighting! I will be sure to pick up shells tomorrow. Is it okay to use hot glue in the tanks??? I'm wanting to make a second level with a shell shop.
back to the molting!
So, what happens after my crab comes back up? Do I have any jobs then?

There are three stages of molting; pre-molt, molting (currently underground) and post-molt. Before a molt (pre-molt) a crab will usually show signs of preparation for their months underground, they don't always though. Some signs are eating a lot/more than he/she usually does, shell shopping and switching, digging, their 'molt sack' is enlarged which is where they keep nutrients for energy to sustain themselves for their molt. Sometimes they will dig down for a while, come up, switch shells, eat and then return to/make a cave to molt in.
The molting process itself happens underground, where it's dark and quiet. They pull, shed, wiggle their way out of their old exoskeleton which has become too tight and then growing helps break it off too. Which is a stressfully long process. They will eat their old exo for nutrients at that time while harding a new on that fits their skin better (if that makes sense). I also think that the shell they are in helps their exo harden in the correct shape, I might be wrong.
After a crab comes back up from a successful molt (post-molt) he/she may have changed colors (darker, lighter, purple, red etc.). They will have a sharp black 'toenail' at the end of each leg. They will look fuzzier, or have hair like structures that grew back on their legs called sentae (sp?), which is a sensory type hair and not fur... More like the use of whiskers. They may be hungry. Feed them well afterwards! Supplements like calcium, worm castings, bee pollen, cuttlebone, and Alaska Hermit's (an online hermit supply shop) native crab exo are great options to add along with the usual food.
Being so new, your little guy could be de-stressing or molting or both. Both usually takes longer but leave'em be and he/she should come up healthy! One of my big crabs I brought home, Toby, did both. Took like 80 or so days and I worried a bunch but I left him alone and it was fine, he's healthy


Mommy of 12 PP babies - Baby, Toby, Sid, Matty, Junior, Kaylee, Aries, Adrian, Turbo, Flower, Boo and Freckles.
RIP Octavius

Hot glue is crab safe, but it rarely holds up for more than a few months in the heat and humidity of the tank.