HCA: Hermit Crab Association

HerbitHermenBatSquash left his log and went to the top of the cholla log and went inside about 3 or 4 days ago. I am fairly certain that he has not left the cholla. I worry he is lonely (species friend is down for a molt and he doesn't really hang around the others unless he has a sudden socialization urge).

I can't imagine he is not hungry. I also have noticed he is kind of clumsy. Should I extract him from the log? He never has been angry in the past when I needed to (in order to do some cleaning and rearrangements). I also don't want to stress him out though. He seems comfortable being handled. He's just tank shy.

No matter where he is, he usually chirps for no reason. I gave him a bath to make sure he smelled like everyone else but he still does it. It's not the other crabs bothering him. He does it even when they're far away and or sleeping. I am a bit worried about him.

Should I move him? Most of my crabs are pretty clumsy and I wouldn't be surprised if he's stuck.
How can I help him be less lonely?

If you think he's stuck then get him out of there - always better to be safe than sorry!!

True true! I think it is time to make sure he doesn't keep getting stuck too. Must stick a rock in there or something. Thank you!

When I first put my cholla in my tank I put in 4 pieces 3 of my 4 immediatly went in a separae piece and didn;t come out for days. Don't know how one of them fit but he did and they literally stayed for DAYS. now they are dug down but one still goes in the cholla and he is in a shell WAY to big for him I don't know how he doesn't get stuck

at night if you have sand smooth it out and this way you can see if he coming out then going back into it, you can always take him out give him something else to hide in if you are afraid he is getting stuck, a glass jar on it's side covered with what ever your substrate is, or clay pot washed really well, I have a huge fish tank aquaium log I bought for my guys & had caves , huts, they never hide in them. they are always out in the open, hey look at me!!!

I think I shall never know if he was stuck. I got them some more hiding things. It is funny because he seems to enjoy being out. My sand is sadly so dark it is hard to see toe prints. Plus the others run over everything

if you are desperate I guess you can take the shears and start cutting the wood and maybe he will come out and like it was said block the ends with huge rocks so he can't get in there. I threw out all my wood stuff and quit using it, got tired of messing with the mold issues. It's all fish tank aquarium type stuff, corner caddy's, huge rocks or slate rocks to climb

yup, my chills seems to not mold but I keep it off the ground and don't spray it

I spoke too soon, my cholla does mold a bit.

my cholla has molded and my cocuhut but it was because my humidity was really high and they was right up against the wall of the tank. I have took out the wood and hut and cleaned it and boiled it and keep it off the side of the tank and mine has done fine ever since

I am rather worried of the mold problem myself. The hermits seem to really love their first log that has multiple entrances and such. I will probably just replace it every now and then if I notice any mold. I worry about my humidity. I just fixed a puddle issue =(

Salt water kills the mold, then you can clean and bake it over and over again. I've cleaned my cholla after finding the mold and now it's all clean again. I clean 3 cholla rather quickly with very salty water and then microwaved them dry.

Ohhhh I shall have to try that