HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hermie, my oldest E, has been tunneling like crazy for the past week. At first I thought it was because he was lonely/bored since everyone else is down molting (and he came up first), but I've been reading on other threads that tunneling seems to be normal at this time of year.

My worry is that he's bothering the other guys molting. Also, is it ok to push the sub back into the holes? I don't want to block anyone's molting cave, but Hermie has the tat so messed up that it looks like a tornado hit! There are food shells falling into holes, a major hole under the lava rock and my second level moss pit keeps falling because he's been knocking out the stick brace that I have helping hold it up.

Is it ok to take everything out and smooth all the holes or will it hurt my molters?

I smooth my substrate pretty regularly since my guys seem to think they're part gopher and love destroying the tank It's fine to do, just don't pack the sand down or anything.

Yep, I gently smooth the surface now and then with no issues.
As long as you have 3x as deep as your largest crab is tall (but no less than 6 inches) substrate depth and you're not overcrowded, your crabs should be fine with him tunneling around.

I think crabs party together downstairs.


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My 2 hermits crabs(djskit and pluto) always stick together in the little tunnel I put in their tank. Now that djskit has gone under the water dish and made himself a hole about twice his size, pluto stays in the corner of the tank. Alone. I'm assuming djskit is gonna molt. But im not sure. He doesn't come out at night so I don't know if he's eating. But pluto is eating..alot it seems. Could he be ready to molt too? I'm new to hermit crabs. So thx to anyone who can give me some advise.

Thanks everyone! I think I'll be doing some smoothing and light cleaning of the tat this weekend. If nothing else, it'll give Hermie a blank slate to start over his re-decorating!

It has looked like an earthquake happened in my tank for the last 3 nights. I fix it before bed and the next day it looks the same. Since some of my crabs are humungous the holes are huhe. Many times they have swallowed up hides, plants and more recently their dry food bowl.