Darkness?

casssch · Post by **casssch** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 1:07 pm

Should I be trying to keep the crabitat dark while waiting for my crabs to destress and molt, or should I be letting them have normal day/night cycles? I'm pretty sure at least 2/4 have dug down, and one of them has changed shells.

soilentgringa · Post by **soilentgringa** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 1:12 pm

casssch wrote:Should I be trying to keep the crabitat dark while waiting for my crabs to destress and molt, or should I be letting them have normal day/night cycles? I'm pretty sure at least 2/4 have dug down, and one of them has changed shells.

They need to have normal day and night cycles.

Arosewithashell3 · Post by **Arosewithashell3** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 8:10 pm

I would not like to be rude with the other person, but i disagree. Hermit crabs need privacy and darkness when molting or destressing. Light is a disturbent, you can put a blanket over the tank to help, this is wht i do when my crabs molt. Day light cycles are preferred when NOT molting. Have fun with your hermies! :crabbigsmile:

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 8:24 pm

I'm with the normal day and night cycle. Just provide plenty of shelters and deep substrate so that crabs can seek darkness on their own. It's most important for a crab to be able to take care of themselves.

Crabbers unite!!!

casssch · Post by **casssch** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:38 pm

They've got fake plants, a cocohut, etc they can hide under/in. The room they're in is generally undisturbed during the day, but a bit more active around bedtime, so I've been covering the front with a blanket at night just because the light is typically on/off and really bright. I just wasn't sure if I should leave it on during the day as well. I'll keep taking it off for now.

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:20 am

The blanket shouldnt be needed unless you're up all night. Its an ongoing unnaturalness that you need to watch out for. If you come home from work at 9 and are up until 3am, working out or playing videogames, 5 out of 7 days, you will want to start blacking out and stuff. Someone who likes to read for an hour by the tank shouldnt be an issue.

Crabbers unite!!!

soilentgringa · Post by **soilentgringa** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:05 am

Arosewithashell3 wrote:I would not like to be rude with the other person, but i disagree. Hermit crabs need privacy and darkness when molting or destressing. Light is a disturbent, you can put a blanket over the tank to help, this is wht i do when my crabs molt. Day light cycles are preferred when NOT molting. Have fun with your hermies!

Hermit crabs have natural day and night cycles in the wild, just like almost every creature on the planet. When they start digging underground to molt or destress they are seeking darkness, but are choosing to do so, or are following a hormonal imperative in the case of molting. If you have multiple crabs and you keep them in constant darkness because one or two are molting, you are potentially causing harm to your crabs. Providing plenty of places in your 'tat for crabs to hide gives them little dark nooks to chill out in. Your crabs should be molting underground anyway, in which case they are already in complete darkness and a blanket is unnecessary. If you have a surface molter it needs to be treated as an emergency and in that case you would ISO and make sure it's dark.

soilentgringa · Post by **soilentgringa** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:07 am

I worked nights for several years and am generally up very late. If I am going to be in the room the crabs are in, with a lot of lights on, I cover the tank with a blanket till I turn all the lights back off.

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:59 am

What YYWW and Soilentgringa said.

I provide my tanks with a normal day/night cycle, always.

casssch · Post by **casssch** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:53 am

Well, the light in that room Idra motion sensored, so if I forget to turn it off the cats are turning it on all night long. My husband works nights and has been occasionally getting sent home early. It doesn't take much to be pre-emptive about it. I'm sure it also helps keep the temp in there.

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:36 am

casssch wrote:Well, the light in that room Idra motion sensored, so if I forget to turn it off the cats are turning it on all night long. My husband works nights and has been occasionally getting sent home early. It doesn't take much to be pre-emptive about it. I'm sure it also helps keep the temp in there.

Do what you think is best. Every crabber has a different circumstance, and only you know the facts about your crabs. We are focusing on the day/night thing, and making sure it isnt all day or all night. Think crabby!

Crabbers unite!!!

Arosewithashell3 · Post by **Arosewithashell3** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:55 pm

YYWW wrote: Do what you think is best. Every crabber has a different circumstance, and only you know the facts about your crabs. We are focusing on the day/night thing, and making sure it isnt all day or all night. Think crabby!

Crabbers unite!!!

i agree with YYWW, do whatever you think is best, people know their crabs more than others. Mine just molt better in pure dark. Thats my opinion. Have fun with your hermies! :crabbigsmile:

Arosewithashell3 · Post by **Arosewithashell3** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:57 pm

Btw, i do not do this to other crabs while some are molting. I have an iso tank for molting that i cover. Have fun with your hermies! :crabbigsmile:

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

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