HCA: Hermit Crab Association

My crab has climbed onto the grate at the top of my tank, and I'm afraid that if it falls, it'll get hurt. Should I let it find its ways back down, or try to help it some way? There are branches for it to climb down on, but they're a little short, and I know not to pull on them, or they could lose limbs.

Drake X. Bit wrote:My crab has climbed onto the grate at the top of my tank, and I'm afraid that if it falls, it'll get hurt. Should I let it find its ways back down, or try to help it some way? There are branches for it to climb down on, but they're a little short, and I know not to pull on them, or they could lose limbs.

Let him be. If he falls, he's not going to fall that far. We had a similar discussion a few months ago. I'll have to find that post.

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Here's the link to the 'falling' post. http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... p?t=112801

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daws409 wrote:

Drake X. Bit wrote:My crab has climbed onto the grate at the top of my tank, and I'm afraid that if it falls, it'll get hurt. Should I let it find its ways back down, or try to help it some way? There are branches for it to climb down on, but they're a little short, and I know not to pull on them, or they could lose limbs.

Let him be. If he falls, he's not going to fall that far. We had a similar discussion a few months ago. I'll have to find that post.

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Thanks for the feedback, I'll let him be and have him come down on his own.

My Niki does it all the time I got a new tank ,lid had fun with that ...But if they get up they can get down

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Hi Drake, my fave daredevil crab John dangles and falls every day. I just made sure all the rocks and hard stuff was out of his crash zone/floor
Hes a real nut. I found him sleeping in the plastic cup guard for the lamp, inside the tank hood. I believe he's supposed to climb and dangle. They are tree /vine crabs. I posted about this not long ago. Now that he/they just crash onto sand/soft wood its no problem.

There is some rust on the grate, because I used to, instead of lifting it up to refill their water dishes, pour it through the grate. Could the rust hurt the crabs? Because if it did that wouldn't be GREAT for me,

You should never have metal in the crabitat. Rust could most definitely hurt the crabs and the grate should be taken out and replaced with something asap.


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I agree. You don't want anything that the crabs can eat that can be harmful to them. Instead of that, you can purchase recycled fish net from craft stores

Hermiearth wrote:You should never have metal in the crabitat. Rust could most definitely hurt the crabs and the grate should be taken out and replaced with something asap.

Studies done actually indicate the opposite...
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 37&t=79277

Neeeeeat.^

aussieJJDude wrote:

Hermiearth wrote:You should never have metal in the crabitat. Rust could most definitely hurt the crabs and the grate should be taken out and replaced with something asap.

Studies done actually indicate the opposite...
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 37&t=79277

Really? All I have ever heard was not to have metal in a crabitat? Is this fact wrong?


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Yesterday, I voiced my concern of my crab (now crabs) climbing on the grate at the top of my tank here: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 7&t=113361, and we came to the conclusion that this was natural and they'd find their way down. However, they've now been up there for 24 hours, and I'm concerned that they aren't eating or drinking. Should I continue to let them sit there, or should I finally intervene? I could slip some food on the grate for them to eat.

P.S. I can confirm that they are alive, as they are moving.

Alright, one has gotten down, but the other is currently okay. I no longer require help.

Glad to hear!