. I'm starting to regret crabs. (Don't judge plz)

kadynadair16 · Post by **kadynadair16** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 4:57 pm

I have three crabs that are never up, I spent all of this money and time on them and i am not getting any pleasure out of it.(just stress) I have had them for seven months now and I have barely ever seen them, one of my crabs Oswald has only ever come up three times.( literally three times!) I guess what I'm wondering is why they aren't out and will they ever just stay out for a while, or what I can do to get them more comfortable?? I love these crabs with all my heart and i defiantly want to keep them and have them for a long time! Thanks.

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 5:08 pm

They can be rather boring at times. Definitely not for everyone.

Will you go over your crabitat conditions just so we can double check nothing is off there? What species? What sizes?

kadynadair16 · Post by **kadynadair16** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 7:23 pm

CallaLily wrote:They can be rather boring at times. Definitely not for everyone.

Will you go over your crabitat conditions just so we can double check nothing is off there? What species? What sizes?

All of my crabs are pp. my crabs Oswald and Sharkbait are tiny crabs and my crab Sebastain is almost a medium crab

megmaholm · Post by **megmaholm** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 7:56 pm

Definitely not a pet for everyone, and no judgement here - they're an unusual pet and when you have none up it can be extremely boring, so I for one fully understand that not everyone is as obsessed as me.

Some crabs just like to stay under...I have a few that I haven't seen in ages, unless I'm randomly up at 3AM and they sneak up for food/water and disappear again. They just really like hanging out underground.

But, like Calla said, if you want to give us more info on your tank (tank size, substrate depth/materials, humidity and temp, etc.) that would help us offer some suggestions.

There's a great template in the Emergency section (click here for the link) that you can copy and paste and fill out.

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 9:20 pm

Tiny crabs do spend a lot of time under and molt pretty frequently. That could explain why you're hardly seeing them. The bigger they get, the less often they go down to molt - but when they do molt, they're under for a lot longer.

If you're up to answering those questions, it would really help just to double check everything else is good. I know it stinks when you're caring for what looks like an empty tank.

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 10:02 pm

I have also felt "crabber's remorse" after having another baby and crabitat components strewn about my house, receiving complaints a-plenty. On top of all that i only see 0-2 out of 5 crabs up at any given time. But it helps for me to recall my original inspired motto on crabbing: they're like fish with more personality.
After setting up the right tat, you can tweak it to make maintence easier on yourself. That way the work you put into it can equate the action you're seeing from it, and you won't feel such disappointment

Eventually, you will see more action than the work you do, and crabs won't be so bad after all!
Let us know your conditions, as well as any issues you have with upkeep, and maybe you can discover something that puts it all in a different light. Hopefully the crabs can still bring you joy.

Crabbers unite!!!

kadynadair16 · Post by **kadynadair16** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:34 am

Here they are

kadynadair16 · Post by **kadynadair16** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:42 am

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? I have Eco earth substrate it is 4 inches deep. I have some play sand mixed in also

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? I don't have one right now because it broke so I am goin to go to Walmart and get a digital

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? No I took it off because te therm was saying t was over 100 degrees and I took it of to make it cooler. I need a therm first before I put it back on right?

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 salt And fresh water are available. I dechlorinate them with tetra Aqua safe+ and I put one drop of API stress coat.i don't remember the brand of salt because I threw away the package. But I just put a pinch of it in the bowl and mix it up till it dissolves.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I do cucumber orange ham chicken honey and peanutbutter (I only do peanut butter and honey every once and a while)
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? I have had sharkbait and Oswald for seven months and Sebastian for six they are all PP

7. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? 10g glass hermit crab tank I have a mesh kid and a towel over it to help keep humidity in

8. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 3 crabs Sharkbait an Oswald are tiny crabs Sebastian is almost a medium crab
9. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 7

10. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? No

11. How often do you clean the tank and how? I haven't clean it before because they have been in the substrate the whole time

12. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? No
13. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? Moss and a big fresh water bowl

14. 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.)? I haven't really played with them a whole lot because it stresses them out and right after I put them back in the tank after playing they dig down again

. I don't have an ISO tank I'm looking into getting one but my parents won't let me unless I pay and figure out a place to keep it jn my room.

15. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. Regret. I love my crabs and I'm obsessed with them but when I think about how they are ALWAYS under I realize I am bored

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 11:47 am

1. Try bumping it to 6 inches by sprinkling 1 moistened handful in each day until it's just over 6 inches.
2. Yes, gauges are essential. Try to calibrate the new one before you use it.
3. The crabs really, really need the warmth. I would advise using it again.
What type of heater is it? If it was a UTH just put it on one of the short sides, far from crabs, (if you know where they might be) above the substrate level. If its too hot the crabs can go to the other side. Touch the back of the UTH after it has heated up. If you can't bear to feel it, then it might actually be too hot, which could mean a defect and you might need a new UTH. If its warm and toasty just leave it there.
4. Sounds good, but not the salt. The salt you should be using requires a half cup to a gallon, and this ratio is very important. You can use a cheap gallon jug of distilled water to mix the salt in it. I use Instant Ocean sea salt. It can be ordered off Amazon and is really essential to your crabs. They need to soak their bums in it and also drink it to help them after their molt.
5. Sounds delicious! You are missing a calcium source. You can rinse used eggshell halves and place them in an off oven overnight to dry them out. The crabs will pinch and eat bits of shell for calcium.
6. Cute names!
7. Sounds good!
8. Sounds good!
9. Should be ok, are they all usable to each crab? My crabs all ended up taking shells bigger than i anticipated.
10. Good
11. That's great, cleaning might not be needed. You should only have to clean after a disaster.
12. Goooood!
13. Sounds nice!
14. You don't need to handle them. Just let them destress and get used to you. All the humans they have met before were never nice to them, so they need to reeeeally get to know you.
15. They aren't exactly puppies! Try to stick it out. After getting your conditions absolutely perfect they might feel more comfortable. One day they will figure you out to be a good, friendly being, and be more comfortable with coming out and playing. Until then, do your best and best of luck!
My crabs are mostly under, too. Out of 5 crabs i often see 0. 1 will pop out and eat here and there. Sometimes i can see 4, but those days are a cause for celebration!

Crabbers unite!!!

aldebaron0626 · Post by **aldebaron0626** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 12:57 pm

I haven't owned my crabs as long as you have, but there is only one of mine who is finally starting to get comfortable enough to play and hang out topside. It took 2 molts! (He was "friendly" to start with, too. My other E is always underground. Currently, he has a cave at the absolute bottom of the tank, beneath the SW, where he watches the world. I have some hope that after his next molt he might not be so skittish. He was skittish when I got him, after his first molt he spent a week topside before disappearing for his next molt. Now he's never topside that I can catch him.

Just have patience.

Hermit-Yote · Post by **Hermit-Yote** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 1:42 pm

I don't see my PPs much either. I tell my boyfriend all the time: "you've never know I have 6 crabs in that tank". :b

Crabinski · Post by **Crabinski** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 1:59 pm

As the others have said, hermit crabs tend to be secretive creatures so interaction with them doesn't come easy. Of my 5 PPs, only 1 is up right now, 2 went under last week; the other 2 have been underground for over 5 weeks and haven't even met the two newest crabs adopted on 11/20.

The more interesting and inviting the tank is, the more likely the crabs will be to explore. Frankly, part of the fun of crabbing is getting to spot one (or more) of the little guys periodically! One of the underground guys, Felix, is my daytime crab, always climbing, exploring, eating. With him down for several weeks now, the tank is quiet (and neat

) as the one new fellow tends to primarily stay near the UTH and the food dish. I didn't see him for most of yesterday and assumed that he, too, went under but there he was last night, poking in the food dish! Still up this morning, sleeping on top of the log by the UTH. Maybe a few of the others will come up to check for Christmas presents later in the week

!

Post by **wodesorel** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 3:46 pm

Over the years I've found that the more cover they have in the tank, the bolder they get. You have to think about how they have to survive in the wild - they eat, and they seek shelter from predators. Incorporate those two ideas into the design of your tank, and they'll come out more. Creating safe zones where they are not exposed to birds (number one enemy) and feeding them in those spaces will keep them in the open. These are not domesticated animals and they are never going to be comfortable around humans or in a captive environment, so it's our job to make their new environment adapt to how they've evolved. They have no clue that they're not outside anymore, at risk to the elements or to predators.

Also, make sure your temp and humidity levels are at the very least within the recommended ranges of 80 degrees and 80 percent. You may need to play around with this and go higher to find your hermits' "sweet spot" in terms of where they are the most active. Some people's crabs are perfectly happy and are about and about at 70%, but mine aren't super active until there is fog in the tank and it inches towards 100%. (Seriously, my tank goes from empty to WHEN DID I GET THIS MANY CRABS every time I refill the humidifier.) Same thing with temp, some crabs really are okay with 75, but most want 80-82, and some aren't really active until it gets up near 90.

When they're new, they've also been through heck. They're starved, dehydrated, stressed and most likely injured by the time they make it to a pet store. That takes a lot of time and some molts before they're able to completely recover. You're also supplying them with constant access to food - something that no wild animal has. They're going to be pigging out, and then molting since that's what their biology tells them - eat and get bigger as fast as possible so you don't get eaten. It can take about a year before they settle into a regular schedule and adapt to their new reality. This is especially true if you got a bunch of new crabs that are roughly the same size at the same time, since they're molting cycles are going to be almost exactly the same and they're all going to start off wanting to molt as soon as they get home.

That all said, there is a reason why I have so many freaking hermit crabs. It's hard to say "I don't have space" to crabs needing adopting when the tank seems so empty all the time.

They are not a pet for everyone. They can be extremely boring for long stretches of time. However - you are NOT a bad owner for thinking so. Nor are you a bad pet parent if you decide to treat them as something to enjoy looking at and not interacting with. They are not a "pet" in the sense they need interaction and cuddling and require constant attention. Like the posters above have pointed out, they're like fish, or a tarantula, or a frog - interesting to keep, a bit of a challenge, but not something you should ever feel guilty about so long as their basic care needs are met.

kadynadair16 · Post by **kadynadair16** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 5:30 pm

When your crabs aren't out do you still put food out for them? Thanks so much! I got my substrate up to 6 inches and I put the heaters on, I also fixed the salt. Tomorrow I am going to get a temp and humidity reader. Owe and I fixed the lid to where it will hold in the humidity. So hopefully that helps! Thanks so much

MuseCrazy · Post by **MuseCrazy** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:17 pm

kadynadair16 wrote:When your crabs aren't out do you still put food out for them? Thanks so much! I got my substrate up to 6 inches and I put the heaters on, I also fixed the salt. Tomorrow I am going to get a temp and humidity reader. Owe and I fixed the lid to where it will hold in the humidity. So hopefully that helps! Thanks so much

Yup they will come eat when you're asleep, you can use dried food when most of them are down, it lasts longer

HCA: Hermit Crab Association