Can my hermit crabs get lost in the sand?

[Elainedean124]

I’m not really sure if this would fit in crab behavior, molting, or crabitat, but I have a total of 6 hermit crabs in a 60 gallon tank that has sand with varied height (the peak is about a foot, and the valley is about 6-8 inches), however, 2 and sometimes 3 of them end up digging so deep that i can’t even find their tracks where they might’ve dug. They dig habitually but I haven’t seen them surface in a few days. If it is molting, i’m making sure not to disturb them but I just dont want them to get trapped under that deep of sand if they can’t tell which way is up or down or something else.

Any advice or opinions are much appreciated. I just don’t like the idea of a “lost” crab.

[piratetoothgir]

Hello Welcome to the HCA Elainedean124!

They know the difference between down and up, but they might not know where they are going exactly when digging.
When the crab decided to come back up, it'll just dig straight up, or diagonally. They might bump into something sitting on the sub, like wood or a rock, but it won't hurt them

Mine always came around the objects they bumped into, but they made their way up
Just resist the urge to dig for them, and you're good!

[GotButterflies]

Hello! Welcome to the HCA!

They dig down for several reasons. They will come up when they are ready Whatever you do, don't dig

[aussieJJDude]

Ill just parrot above, they both offer good advise of why crabs dig!

Also, welcome to the board!

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[curlysister]

Agree with the above, they won't get lost and will find their way up when they are ready. Do not dig them up, except under very dire circumstances (the only time in 7+ years that I have dug up a crab is when there was a flood).

Also, it is important that the substrate is kept 'sandcastle' consistency so that tunnels and caves don't collapse.