HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi,

I periodically check on my hermit crabs and do a head count, and earlier this morning one of my hermit crabs disappeared. I didn't want to panic, so I just assumed he was in the hidey-hole, and decided not to disturb him. However, it's late in the evening now and I haven't seen him anywhere in the tank. The tank is glass, with a glass lid atop it, and nothing is in the tank that he could have climbed on that extends towards the top of the tank. So there is physically no way for one of my hermits to have escaped, yet he is still missing. I've checked inside empty shells, sifted through a bit of the substrate, and nothing. Even the shell of the crab is missing. However, I did find a small pincer. What does this mean? I am extremely worried and am trying not to assume the worst. But I just bought him yesterday evening, and he was the second most active crab in the tank, and cute as a button. I don't know what to think. Please help.

Anthony.

When you first get them, most hermit crabs will bury down for a few weeks to destress.

May I also ask how much substrate and what you use for it?

If your substrate is properly deep and moist, he is probably burrowed under to destress; in which case you should allow him to do just that.

That said, they can climb up the adhesive in the corners of a glass tank, and possibly lift a corner of your lid and escape. If there's any possible way that could have happened, check the "escape" thread for ideas about where and how to find him (he'll likely be in the warmest, moistest dark place he can find to fit into).

When you say you "found a small pincer," do you mean a whole leg or part of one? Also, does it appear to be "hollow"--just empty exoskeleton? Or still "full"?

What size tank do you have, how many crabs, what are the temp and humidity?

Finding hollow exoskeleton is normal for me. Many of my hermit crabs have spiky shells, hence bits and even whole legs getting stuck in there shells.

***When they come up from a mot*** Sorry if that was confusing.