HCA: Hermit Crab Association

jadewolf wrote:So, I'm trying to work out the best way to handle my cross country move (California > Florida). Making all the arrangements for a move like this is stressful enough on its own, but nothing is more stressful to me than trying to figure out the best way to move the crabs.

So, I have seven crabs (1 just barely a jumbo, the rest medium to large), 2-3 of which are down molting. My move is in exactly one month.

I've already obtained a 15gal rubber tote to transport them in (the biggest tote I could fit in my front seat). They'll be riding with me and the dog in the car as I drive across the country (3-5 days). I've got the tote hooked up with a heater and a power converter so I can run the heat if need be on 8-12 hour drives. Then, once we arrive at my new house, it'll be between 8-11 days until all my stuff (including the actual tank) arrives. Providing the tank doesn't break in transit (fingers crossed that doesn't happen), it'll be the first thing I set back up upon arrival.

OKT- Things to remember to keep handy- either pre-mixed waters, or the dechlorinator etc handy, I would make up pre-mixed baggies of food for however many days total you may need them, it’s just faster and easier of course! Will you be letting them out in a bathtub or anything in between drives? Not a total necessity, of course just a thought as I know some do when traveling. Mostly I think you’ve thought of everything though, and I know the move is coming up quickly, so just hang in there! You’ve been crabbing for some time and it sounds like you know just what to do without me anyway!

Here's my concerns and questions:

1) I'm probably going to have to dig up molters on the day before the movers arrive (the tank must be empty when they get here). My plan is to put them in individual tupperware-style boxes with damp moss to isolate them and put them in the main bin if necessary for warmth.

OKT- As stated, this is pretty much identical to how we moved our molter- in a KK with shallow sand, cocohut, her exo remains to finish, and some moss over the door of the hut for darkness. They’ll do just fine. Dig carefully and at an angle as you go, and I’m sure you’ll do just fine. I bet you’re like me and have been reading and researching the best ways already, so you’re all gonna do great!

Questions:
* How long should they stay isolated before I can reintroduce them to the main population?

OKT- This will mostly depend on your crabs, they’ll definitely let you know when they’re ready to be loose! We had a molter we had to move as well, more on that in a few too. We kept her (she’s tiny) in a KK under a cocohut in the tote we used.

* Should I set up a second, larger tote at my destination as less cramped housing (or isolation for the molters) until the tank shows up?

OKT- mostly that depends on you too, simply bc you know your crabs and how much they usually like or dislike one another or personal space, etc. But for a week or two, they should easily be ok, I’m sure you’ll give them activity items and that sort of thing once you get there. Obvs you can’t during transit in case they shift, but that should help- as long as they have their places to hide and get away from someone if they want or need to, they’ll be just fine. I have some crabs that live in a tote long term, and they’ve got all the same things as the rest so they’ll be fine.

2) I'm concerned that my jumbo (who recently sized up into jumbo territory), who has been up 66 days since her last molt, might decide to go back down before then. She's my favorite and I would be devastated to lose her, so I want to take every precaution to ensure she has a safe move. I also have another crab, who molts very infrequently, but is way overdue. She's the smallest of the bunch, but usually only molts once or twice a year. I caught her digging around today and am beginning to get antsy that she might be going down.

Questions:
* I have a second 20gal quarantine tank that I could put shallow substrate in as a temporary holding tank for them, possibly to discourage molting before the move. Should I consider moving some of the crabs who are up into there to discourage them from molting?

OKT- If you think the molt is imminent then you may want to do this. Only you know how ready they are and how much they need it and if they can wait a couple weeks. Since you’ve had them and they’re already happy and healthy crabs I don’t see any reason this would harm them this one time. We all know it isn’t ideal but has to be less stressful than an interrupted and dug up molt cycle.
We also had to do this to discourage a couple of ours- just be careful they don’t try to dig and molt in the shallow sand when you arrive like one of mine did- she had to go down the very night (2 tops) before I set up their new tank, and I dug her up when she was still soft and hadn’t even started on her exo- I almost had a heart attack! She pulled thru- did the same KK in the tank trick as the other one. As soon as she started trashing the KK I knew she wanted out!

* If they go down to molt in the next 30 days, how likely is it that they'd be at a critical point come moving day?

OKT- there’s just no way to know for sure bc of the varying sizes and since all crabs do it a little different too. Some may stay under in pre molt for some time before shedding, which means it could be likely. Some go down and do their business fast! Use your best judgment here.

3) This move came at an inconvenient time and the week prior to move day, I'm out of the country for 10 days with no way to reschedule. Upon returning, then I have a day and a half to prep the tank before the movers arrive.

Questions:
* If, from the last question, I have put them in a shallow tank to discourage molting, will they be okay for 10 days unsupervised?

OKT- they should be, so long as they have the above mentioned items for amusement and hiding climbing etc. you will know their temperament best, but also yes it will still be a new environment.

At any rate.... this is the most stressful part about this whole move. So, if anybody could provide some suggestions, offer advice, or give me a little reassurance, it would take a huge load off my mind. I am utterly devoted to these little crabs and I want to make this as easy on them as possible.

Thank you so much in advance!

jadewolf wrote:Hey, thank you!!

I ended up moving the big girl to a holding tank while I was on my trip, just to discourage any molting. She did fine in there.

I dug today to break down the tank. Found three crabs, all buried deep but not molting. One was done, with no sign of any leftover exo. Two were probably freshly down, not molting yet. Everybody was active and fine to go into the main holding tank.

Unfortunately I found two casualties. No idea what happened, must have been bad molts. I haven't lost a crab in a long time, so this was pretty heartbreaking. One was the crab I've had the longest.

But, everybody else is ready to move and we set out tomorrow. Transport tank is ready to go. I think everything should go smoothly from here.

Thank you for the advice and help!!

jadewolf wrote:Well, we survived the journey! Between myself, the dog, and the crabs... surprisingly, the crabs handled the journey better than the rest of us. The dog had a meltdown, got sick, and threw up all over my Jeep. I was in pain from six long days on the road. But the crabs? They seemed to handle it fine. Grumpy about the tight quarters and annoyed that they couldn't dig down, but otherwise they stayed active and seemingly healthy.

The tank showed up Wednesday, so they only had to stay 10 days total in the temp housing. I set their tank up that very night and they seemed very pleased to have a proper home again.

All but two were underground the next morning. I suspect a mass molt, since they were probably all due and I had interrupted several of them before they could start when I had to dig up the tank.

I'm still pretty heartbroken about the two I found dead when I broke the tank down in Cali. Still can't figure out what exactly happened, but I guess I'll never really know. I'll miss them, though.

But at least the rest seem to be pulling through okay, despite all the move stress.

Thanks for the advice! Really helped ease my mind a bit.