HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Shelldon has resurfaced, but in the process has dug up her brother in mid molt. He was sitting upside down, top level. I picked him up and looked close at him, he's alive, but very pale and soft looking. So quickly dug a shallow hole and gently placed him inside. He is chirping and shrieking now. Can I possibly ISO in a fish bowl?

Substrate is cocofiber and sand throughout the tank. Depth varies from six to ten inches.

Both fresh and saltwater available.

Temp is 85, humidity is 85%

Nothing new in the tat

Food is fresh, a veggie mix, some krill, and a drop of honey

The only thing happening is a molter digging up.

Im sorry, I can't wait for a response, I'm moving him into the fish bowl. Too worried at this point, dont want an avoidable death!!

If the fish bowl has heat, a lid and humidity, then I am guessing he will be okay. But, if it won't replicate the same conditions, it wouldn't be a bad idea to put the bowl with in it, back in the tank do the same conditions are there but he is separated from the others until he can harden again. I am so sorry you have to go through this! I have never found a crab mid-molt, but have tried to ISO crabs in critter carriers and found it better to keep them in the main tank. Please update! Also, what is the fishbowl like?


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Its a plastic hexigonal fish tank. My ac is out, so no need for a heater at the moment. I put some dirt from the crabitat into the bowl, gave it a good spritz for extra humidity. I have a plastic sandwich bag over the lid (with a gap at the bottom for airflow) I have salt water and freshwater in with him. Crushed krill and nut in a flat shell. Since I've put him in, he has buried down. Two days before the transitions to the new tank.....

2 days? That's crazy. I am glad you caught it now because he could have died in the transition. Depending on when the AC comes back, because it takes a long time for crabs to re-harden their exo, which is the majority of the time a crab takes to molt, you might want to consider a heater for him down the road. Or, like I mentioned before, moving the entire container to the bigger tank with a lid, so he's in the same conditions but separated. You are doing all you can. I am glad you caught it! Please, keep us updated!


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I definitely will. I dont get paid until tomorrow, had a big trip planned to the next largest town to the pet store and lowes. Everyone is getting upgraded Friday. But now, I may end up going tonight. A day before my payday, but I have a way to buy the stuff now.... It just means ill be putting whatever I spend tonight back into whichever bill slot I pulled out of it sucks. I have an aquarium stand only half way done, a twenty nine gallon still needing to be cleaned and no dirt. Shelldon, darn you, your so darn clumsy!

I hope he pulls through for you! What bad timing...

I'm not entirely understanding of what is happening. How did he get dug up? Did you (accidentally) do it? Did another crab find him? Did he surface on his own? or??

Sounds like Shelldon dug up the crab in mid-molt based on the first post--- Correct me if I'm wrong.

Okay, I just re-read--I missed the antecedent on the first read. Bummer.

I think you are doing the right thing. If you can find any of his exo that he hasn't consumed, put that in with him too. If not, be sure to offer him something that is calcium rich so he can replenish and harden correctly.

Im not exactly sure. I woke up this morning to find the usual destruction left from Godzilla. Because of the canopy at the back of the tank, I can't really tell who is who. At eight thirty this morning I discovered a significant gap between the substrate and saltwater bowl, which us the location that shelldon chose to molt. In my excitement, I removed the cardboard from her window, there is no window left, just the remnents of what used to be an exo. I noticed dirt spread out across their food dish, lifted the lid to get the dish out and dust if off, then noticed a shell on the top of the substrate in the back. As well as a mound of dirt and a dip, looks like someone buried down. So im thinking that shelldon came up, went to the back of the tank, and buried back down, but in the process knocked shellshock to the surface. I am hoping to find his exo tonight, but in the meantime I have a part of an eggshell in with him. He has buried down once more. I haven't had my hand in the crab tank in a good while now. The only reason I go in there is to put shells back, dust another set of chia onto the dirt, feeding, and water changes, right a stick, or fluff up the climbing vines, s no it wasn't me I've learned my lesson about messing with my crabs constantly. Theyre very vocal, and yes sounds mean they are alive, but sounds sometimes also mean stress. I hear their complaints and leave them alone most of the time. I had to this time, intervention had to be done. I hope he pulls through. After my trip to petco tonight, I will be setting up the 29g. I have to stay up late to catch them as they emerge and move them into the new home. Ill be leaving the dirt in the ten gallon and moving shellshock back in once its vacant, just so heck have space and isolation. Im happy shelldon is up from molt, but unhappy at finding a mid molt on the very top of the substrate.

Thanks for the support, guys. ^^ I nearly cried this morning. And this community is the only group who understands the stress when something like this happens! My old man was no help this morning, I dont know baby, I've never had hermit crabs. Ive always had dogs, cats, and goats. Lol

Hope he pulls through!!!


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Me too no change this morning. He's in the same spot.

For those interested, shellshock is now completely buried in ISO. The ISO container is inside of the crab tank, the lid covered to keep the others out. I'm very happy that he is still alive, I just hope he comes back up okay...

Rather than an egg shell, a shrimp tail would be a better source of "exo-substitute." You can also offer freeze-dried baby shrimp.