HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi all,

I got two hermies that I bought and brought out on the same day in the same store, and they were last two in the store's tank. One is slightly bigger than the other named Big Cake. Hence the other smaller one is Small Cake. They are PPs. Both were active but Big Cake mostly active at night, while Small Cake plays either night or day.

Small Cake went down and came up with successful molt. He got all new shiny toenails and antennae with deep matte red on the carapace. His molting time is about 4 weeks. He is up for almost 7 weeks and is very playful at either day or night.

On other hand, the sister of Small Cake, Big Cake is only active at night and she will be either hiding in the coconut hut or tuck her shell's opening with her body facing into the cholla wood hole. She been doing this since the few days after she got into my setup.

Small Cake is now almost Big Cake's size. Here are some of my concerns and questions.

1. Is Big Cake suffering PPS?
2. Would Big Cake going to molt anytime soon? Since her brother is in the same tank had molt.

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1: Probably not. You've had them for a while now and they're both active. Big Cake probably just likes being nocturnal more. PP's seem to like sleeping inside cholla so it could be that she wants to rest inside the hollow of the wood, but she can't quite make it inside because of her size.

2: This is a question that only you can answer. Sometimes PP's don't show molt signs, and go into molt. The usual pattern is the pre-molt crab drinks a lot, eats a lot, gets lazy, does an optional shell change into something smaller and then disappears into the substrate. If this behavior becomes apparent over the course of the next few days, then the answer is yes, she's up for a molt. If this behavior isn't apparent, the answer could still be yes, but the likelihood is significantly less.

Someone more experienced could probably give you a more detailed answer.

From What I have seen crabs suffering from PPS do not move much at all. They will sit in one spot for days then move to another area for days and not move. If he is moving around at night chances are he is being a normal crab. Crabs usually hide during the day, you do get crabs on occasion that will be active at all hours. I think some has to do with how safe the feel and how quickly they can run to a safe spot if they feel threatened. I bought two log shaped fish hides for my guys over the coconut hides. Each end is open with a hole on each side. They love them, sometimes there will be two or three in them at any given time. I have a few crabs that as soon as the see movement outside of the tank they run right for them. I also have some that won't flinch if I pick a food dish up right next to them.

Here is the PPS Guide and how to care for crabs suffering:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 67&t=92531

As for Big Cake molting. How large is he? The larger the crab the less they molt. Also be sure your substrate is at least 3 times deeper than your largest crab. Usually 6-8" of substrate is plenty. Be sure they are getting a proper diet at all times. A proper diet as with any living animal will keep them healthy.

Here's the Hermit Crab Nutrition Guide:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 25&t=92554

Safe Foods List:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 25&t=92557