New Owner

[Wysper]

Good morning!

My name is Crystal, I live in North Carolina and I have recently become obsessed and fascinated by hermit crabs! I had 2 empty 55g aquariums and decided to set up a crabitat in one of them the past few weeks. Saturday I went and got 4 of the little one's from PetCo, believe it or not they were in an OK set up. 80% humidity and 80 degree's temps, but not enough to be able to dig.

Wouldn't you know it, 3 of the little buggers vanished into the substrate within 2 hours! The 4th one started a surface molt. I've since moved him and his exo gently into a small container with a lid and holes, with some substrate and a capful of their prime-treated freshwater.

So now I'm looking at pet sand, for who knows how long. lol

[Wysper]

[Hermiesguardian]

Welcome and congrats on the set up! It looks great. I see you are using an analog therm/hygro. They are highly inaccurate. Digital is best. Many of us use the Acurite. About $10. Your heater should cover the entire back from the substrate to the top of the tank. It would be difficult to maintain the heat with anything smaller.

[Motörcrab]

Its always fun having an "empty" tank. You can have a lot of fun with people that don't know what you have. Tell them you have a chameleon cobra in there! When they are looking for it in the tank have a toy one on stand by! Then let the fun begin!

Depending on the size of your guys they can be down for 2-3 weeks or months! The worst is always waiting out their first molts. You never fully get accustomed to their molting but tend to tolerate the process more. Hang in there.

[Wysper]

Thank you for the comments.

I do have an analog therm/hygro but there is also a digital one in the center of the tank, and a digital one hanging behind the tank on the wall (temp gauge is in the tank). The heater I currently have is centered in the back, I have another one on order that should be arriving soon as well. Temps are staying around 80 degrees, with about 85% humidity.

[Hermiesguardian]

Thank you for the comments.

I do have an analog therm/hygro but there is also a digital one in the center of the tank, and a digital one hanging behind the tank on the wall (temp gauge is in the tank). The heater I currently have is centered in the back, I have another one on order that should be arriving soon as well. Temps are staying around 80 degrees, with about 85% humidity.

[aussieJJDude]

Welcome to the board! And congrats on the new crabs!


(Since the store at least maintained heat/humidity, I do wonder if your clan will have a better adjustment period to captivity compared to other crabs from other stores....)

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[RiNiKy506]

Hello and welcome! Your tank is beautiful!


Rod♡Salty♡Bob♡Squirt♡Crabina
»-♡-> Our Purple Pinchers <-♡-«
Who♡Fearless♡Crimson♡LittleBit

[angelbearpuppy]

Hello and welcome to HCA

[Wysper]

Still no sign of them this morning. I'm wondering if they buried down and died. The one in the little container is still alive though! Checked him last night and most of the exo is gone. Added small bits of veggies and a river shrimp next to the exo for him as well. Hopefully in the next few days he will be moving around and I can put him back in the big tank!

[RiNiKy506]

They’re probably ok, they make you wonder if something happened and then they pop up out of nowhere. I had one of mine finally come back this morning, it’s such a relief when you finally see them. Just give them time, if it’s been a few months then might start to worry.


Rod♡Salty♡Bob♡Squirt♡Crabina
»-♡-> Our Purple Pinchers <-♡-«
Who♡Fearless♡Crimson♡LittleBit

[curlysister]

Don't worry about the buried ones. Don't try to dig them up. If they are molting, it could take weeks or even months! Don't worry until at least 4 months has gone by.

[angelbearpuppy]

I know it can be hard, but I second every one else. They will come up. Try not to worry.

[Wysper]

Makes you want to pull your hair out. lol On one hand I'm worried something happened to them. On the other I'm worried I didn't even see them eat or drink anything before they all vanished, and not even sure where they went to because they backfilled behind themselves. Two of them had little windows the first day up against the glass, but they covered those up. Just makes me wonder how long they were holding off their molts if they went down to do it literally less than 4 hours after being put in the tank!

[Hermiesguardian]

Makes you want to pull your hair out. lol On one hand I'm worried something happened to them. On the other I'm worried I didn't even see them eat or drink anything before they all vanished, and not even sure where they went to because they backfilled behind themselves. Two of them had little windows the first day up against the glass, but they covered those up. Just makes me wonder how long they were holding off their molts if they went down to do it literally less than 4 hours after being put in the tank!

It's possible they are just destressing. And they know if they needed to eat.