Ahh, what have I done?

[Brio444]

I thought I was doing fairly okay following the pet store instructions, which were WAY more complicated than I remembered from hermit crabs as a kid. But apparently, nope. (I should have anticipated this. I joined a betta forum 5 or so years ago and now have 3 bettas in 6 gallon tanks each...)

I got three small crabs in a big old tank that’s been empty and dry for around 6 months. I don’t know how many gallons, but it’s a half hexagon, roughly 28 across, 12 deep and 22 high.

Sand and coconut (hermit beach?) and dirt mix (3:1). Rocks and a giant piece of drift wood to play under. Fresh and salt water. Food. Heater under tank. Gauge. Been fighting with the humidity, but once I got a bunch of moss and sealed most of the top of the tank, we’re hovering around 70-80 on each.

I now see I probably need deeper substrate. I’ve only got about 3 inches in there, which seems fine for the size of the crabs, but not for the tank?

One crab is out and about and happy. One is mostly burying himself and I’m trying to give him some space. And 5 days after set up, I found a leg and a dead third crab. Replaced him yesterday, and today found the new crab next to his big claw one one leg. He was still alive, but an hour later... not. Ugh. What is going on? Just purchase stress?? Or is Buster (active crab) an ******* that Snakey is hiding from and he’s killing his tank mates??

Local pet store only has the silly painted shells. Would love to coax them into less embarrassing shells but they seem uninterested. I bought 6 In what seemed like appropriate sizes and the right swirly direction...




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[Motörcrab]

Welcome to the group! It is really hard to tell the condition of crabs when you purchase them from a store. They are active one day then overnight stop moving and become sick. Your crabs may very well be suffering from PPS (Post Purchase Syndrome).

Here is the link to help assist you with their care sitting their transition time. viewtopic.php?f=27&t=92531

Having deeper substrate will help your heater attached to the back of the tank work more efficent. The deeper substrate will also help maintain your humidity too. This is the link to help you with getting your substrate correct. viewtopic.php?f=26&t=92542

[curlysister]

Welcome! Many of us got our crabs before we knew about proper care. You are off to a start, just need to make a few adjustments. I answered the questions and asked some more in bold, below.

Here is the link the the care sheets:
viewforum.php?f=120

I got three small crabs in a big old tank that’s been empty and dry for around 6 months. I don’t know how many gallons, but it’s a half hexagon, roughly 28 across, 12 deep and 22 high.

Sand and coconut (hermit beach?) and dirt mix (3:1). Rocks and a giant piece of drift wood to play under. Fresh and salt water. Food. Heater under tank. Gauge. Been fighting with the humidity, but once I got a bunch of moss and sealed most of the top of the tank, we’re hovering around 70-80 on each.
Curly - What do you mean 'dirt'? What type of sand?
ALtho they are called 'UTH' they never go under the tank - always on the back or side. You want to heat the air not the sand. On the bottom they can create hot pockets that can kill a buried crab.
What are you using for dechlorinator and for salt (ie- what brand)?
What kind of food? Most commercial food is not considered safe. See the food care sheets for lots of info.
You can seal the top completely - they will get enough air when you open the tank to change water/ food.


I now see I probably need deeper substrate. I’ve only got about 3 inches in there, which seems fine for the size of the crabs, but not for the tank?
Curly - substrate needs to be at least three times as deep as your largest crab, or 6 inches deep - whichever is deeper. It needs to be moistened with dechlorinated water, to be sand castle consistency.

One crab is out and about and happy. One is mostly burying himself and I’m trying to give him some space. And 5 days after set up, I found a leg and a dead third crab. Replaced him yesterday, and today found the new crab next to his big claw one one leg. He was still alive, but an hour later... not. Ugh. What is going on? Just purchase stress?? Or is Buster (active crab) an ******* that Snakey is hiding from and he’s killing his tank mates??
Curly - Could be PPS, but could also be things lacking in the current conditions.

Local pet store only has the silly painted shells. Would love to coax them into less embarrassing shells but they seem uninterested. I bought 6 In what seemed like appropriate sizes and the right swirly direction...
Curly - HCA recommends 3 to 5 extra shells per crab. They won't choose a painted shell. Check the shell guide for proper type of shells to buy. There are online sellers, check the shopping guide.

[Brio444]

@curly this is what I’m calling dirt - I guess it’s coconut? https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostor ... -substrate



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[Brio444]

Sand: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostor ... -for-crabs

No dechlorinator. We’re well water.

Salt water: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostor ... rmit-crabs

Food: might be crap? From pet store. Jurassidiet. Plus apples, coconut, lettuce, banana.

Did not know about under tank heaters not being under tank. Even if it’s a giant open space underneath? Can move that.

And obviously more sand.



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[Crabby7Crabber]

Sand: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostor ... -for-crabs

No dechlorinator. We’re well water.

Salt water: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostor ... rmit-crabs

Food: might be crap? From pet store. Jurassidiet. Plus apples, coconut, lettuce, banana.

Did not know about under tank heaters not being under tank. Even if it’s a giant open space underneath? Can move that.

And obviously more sand.



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Please get rid of the Jurrasidiet. It contains copper sulflate, which is extremely harmful to your crabbies(I made the same mistake for a while).
Make sure you're giving your hermies calcium(cuttlebone and or eggshells are great, you can also buy some specifically for hermies), grains, certain meats and fish (check out the safe food list. I use shrimp for this category) and nuts, too. Maybe crabbers here at HCA have Etsy stores that have organic food and other supplies thst are great for your hermies. The Hermit Crab Patch, a website, also has a lot of great supplies and organic food, too (I love how they have pre-mixed substrate, since I'm a lazy teen and that appeals to me ).
I am new to HCA, but I would also like to welcome you to the community along with the other crabbers !

[Brio444]

Yeah, I don’t know why I trust the pet store recommendations for food when they sell 1/4 gallon filterless bowls for bettas like they’re a good idea...




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[Crabby7Crabber]

Yeah, I don’t know why I trust the pet store recommendations for food when they sell 1/4 gallon filterless bowls for bettas like they’re a good idea...




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I'm sure many of us crabbers have made that mistake at one point, so don't feel bad The sad thing is, nearly all pet stores don't know what they're doing and how to properly care for hermit crabs, which in my opinion, shouldn't be allowed. But hey, it's modern day life. Oh well, I can dream. If any of us ever become president we need to make a law for everyone to care for their hermies (and pets in general) properly!!

[Hermiesguardian]

Sand: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostor ... -for-crabs

No dechlorinator. We’re well water.

Salt water: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostor ... rmit-crabs

Food: might be crap? From pet store. Jurassidiet. Plus apples, coconut, lettuce, banana.

Did not know about under tank heaters not being under tank. Even if it’s a giant open space underneath? Can move that.

And obviously more sand.



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Yes, you need to remove the heater from under the tank. It can basically cook the crabs. They will dig down sometimes to cool off if the air is too warm. It's much cheaper to get a 50lb bag of playsand for under $5.

[curlysister]

Yes, the coco fiber is what you will see referred to as EE (Eco Earth). That's good stuff. Many of us mix it with play sand in a ratio of 5 parts play sand (like HG said, cheap!) with one part EE. The Fluker's mix that you posted is okay, but will cost you a lot to get deep enough substrate.
I also have a well. But I don't trust it for my crabs. There has been a couple of discussions over the years about well water, with mixed consensus. I use RO (reverse osmosis) water for my crabs, you can also use distilled. If you aren't sure of the compilation of your well water, I would still treat it with a dechlorinator such as Prime. Read through the 'water' care sheet for everything you ever wanted to know about water, LOL. Unfortunately, that salt water isn't correct either. It won't harm them, but long term does not have all the minerals that crabs need. Most of us use Instant Ocean (comes dry and you mix it into declor/ RO/ distilled water - I make mine by the 2 cup/ pint with 1 Tablespoon of Instant Ocean).
Like C7C said, crabs can eat many of the same things we eat (see safe/ unsafe food lists). They do need calcium and protein daily. Personally, I feed some dry foods (I order from Hermit Crab Patch or Canadian Chubby Crab) and some fresh foods. They like a varied diet. FYI - Cuttle bone is found in the bird section, to save you the time I spent looking all over the pet store for it, LOL.
If the UTH heater you have, has a sticky side - unfortunately it can not be re-used once it's peeled off. The types that you have to attach with electrical/ duct tape can be re-used, and can also be insulated over. Don't shop by the tank size it says - that's for reptiles. Go by the size, and get the biggest one that will fit across the back of your tank. You want to mount it above the sub level, to heat the air not the sand.
Crabs are a learning curve! It's great you are looking into making their home better!