Rarely see my hermies :( emergency form
Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 1:57 pm
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
1/5 is mulch like they had at the pet store. the rest is sand about 5" deep.
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
yes. top right corner. currently reads 70% humidity and 80 degrees F.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
"all living things" heating mat. lower right corner - NOT under tank.
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
Both. "all living things" freshwater conditioner - 4 drops per 8oz. "all living things" saltwater conditioner - 1tsp/8 fl oz. 2 small water dishes. one with salt and one with fresh. sand is moistened with saltwater. also i use a mister with saltwater daily. i ALSO have a box of "instant ocean" - that i am waiting to use when the "all living things" conditioner is gone.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
variety - eggshells, raisins, oats, carrots, fresh food etc. calcium supplement. changed daily.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
6 weeks. unsure of the species.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
not sure. the more active crab comes out around every other evening but only for a short while. the less active one i' have only seen a few times in 6 weeks.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20 gal aquarium. screen top that i cover mostly with saran wrap to keep humidity inside.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 - larger than a quarter, smaller than a ping pong ball.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
3
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I have only had them 6 weeks. its very clean. surface cleaning of sand.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
yes. sea sponge. hot water.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No
15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I rarely see the crabs. they stay under the mulch which is only a small portion of the crabitat. the more active one comes out every couple of nights but never explores - usually eats and goes back under the mulch. the less active crab rarely comes out. i've only seen him a few times in 6 weeks.
should i mix the mulch portion of the substrate in with the sand to "push" them out into the crabitat? i got the crabs for my kids and they literally never see them. they don't climb around, walk around the crabitat, nothing. i even have little driftwood pieces for climbing, aquarium tunnels to walk through or hide. they literally never come out of the mulch. and they don't eat much either. i'm worried the less active one rarely eats at all.
help! ideas? mixing the substrate? more water in the sand?
1/5 is mulch like they had at the pet store. the rest is sand about 5" deep.
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
yes. top right corner. currently reads 70% humidity and 80 degrees F.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
"all living things" heating mat. lower right corner - NOT under tank.
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
Both. "all living things" freshwater conditioner - 4 drops per 8oz. "all living things" saltwater conditioner - 1tsp/8 fl oz. 2 small water dishes. one with salt and one with fresh. sand is moistened with saltwater. also i use a mister with saltwater daily. i ALSO have a box of "instant ocean" - that i am waiting to use when the "all living things" conditioner is gone.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
variety - eggshells, raisins, oats, carrots, fresh food etc. calcium supplement. changed daily.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
6 weeks. unsure of the species.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
not sure. the more active crab comes out around every other evening but only for a short while. the less active one i' have only seen a few times in 6 weeks.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20 gal aquarium. screen top that i cover mostly with saran wrap to keep humidity inside.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 - larger than a quarter, smaller than a ping pong ball.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
3
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I have only had them 6 weeks. its very clean. surface cleaning of sand.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
yes. sea sponge. hot water.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No
15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I rarely see the crabs. they stay under the mulch which is only a small portion of the crabitat. the more active one comes out every couple of nights but never explores - usually eats and goes back under the mulch. the less active crab rarely comes out. i've only seen him a few times in 6 weeks.
should i mix the mulch portion of the substrate in with the sand to "push" them out into the crabitat? i got the crabs for my kids and they literally never see them. they don't climb around, walk around the crabitat, nothing. i even have little driftwood pieces for climbing, aquarium tunnels to walk through or hide. they literally never come out of the mulch. and they don't eat much either. i'm worried the less active one rarely eats at all.
help! ideas? mixing the substrate? more water in the sand?
They are $8, digital, run on batteries, and tell you temp and humidity currently as well as low and high for last 24 hours. You can find them in the home improvement section by the air filters. 
Minimum heat and humidity should be 80/80. Hermit crabs have modified gills and need the humidity to breathe. I recommend that you get your humidity up asap. You can add moss pits, bubblers to your pools, or glass tops help tremendously.