Crab Stays in One Spot

Where we discuss the behavior of our hermit crabs, as in fights, pecking orders, shell swaps, etc. Please post all naked-crab posts in the Emergency forum.
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ryp
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Crab Stays in One Spot

Post by ryp » Sun Aug 22, 2021 11:02 am

One of my crabs has basically always stayed in one spot since I got him two months ago; I have even upgraded their tank size but kept the driftwood that was in their old tank (where his spot is) and he goes to the exact same place he used to. The first couple of days I had him he explored the tank but since then he's basically always in his spot. I know that this could mean he is going to molt, but I'm not sure since it's been so long and he is pretty small, any recommendations to get him moving? Should I be worried, or could it just be his personality?
2 little PPs - Miss Parton & Funny (RIP Anemone)
2 leopard geckos, a crested gecko, a green anole, and 2 cats

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JoeHermits
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Re: Crab Stays in One Spot

Post by JoeHermits » Sun Aug 22, 2021 6:08 pm

It’s most likely personality, especially if he’s new. That behavior is normal for new crabs. If he’s still alive then I would leave him be.


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ryp
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Re: Crab Stays in One Spot

Post by ryp » Sun Aug 22, 2021 6:52 pm

JoeHermits wrote:
Sun Aug 22, 2021 6:08 pm
It’s most likely personality, especially if he’s new. That behavior is normal for new crabs. If he’s still alive then I would leave him be.


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alright! ty :)
2 little PPs - Miss Parton & Funny (RIP Anemone)
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smolmuffin
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Re: Crab Stays in One Spot

Post by smolmuffin » Mon Sep 27, 2021 2:50 pm

I've been having a similar issue. One of mine hasn't left the inside of the coconut in days. There was no movement upon adjusting the coconut. Could be dead, could be molting. Its hard to tell and i rather not accidentally stress and kill her.

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Hermielover121
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Re: Crab Stays in One Spot

Post by Hermielover121 » Mon Sep 27, 2021 4:00 pm

Most likely coming out late at night and if not I wouldn’t be to worried about it still.


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ryp
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Re: Crab Stays in One Spot

Post by ryp » Mon Sep 27, 2021 4:11 pm

forgot to update, but he molted a week ago and has been moving around much more! 😊
smolmuffin wrote:
Mon Sep 27, 2021 2:50 pm
I've been having a similar issue. One of mine hasn't left the inside of the coconut in days. There was no movement upon adjusting the coconut. Could be dead, could be molting. Its hard to tell and i rather not accidentally stress and kill her.
u should be able to tell by the smell, if the tank smells like fish or ammonia that would most likely mean dead/dying
2 little PPs - Miss Parton & Funny (RIP Anemone)
2 leopard geckos, a crested gecko, a green anole, and 2 cats


mdebard
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Re: Crab Stays in One Spot

Post by mdebard » Thu Feb 10, 2022 10:15 pm

I'm suddenly having a similar situation. This is a crab I have had for 7 years. I found him on a beach in the Fla. Keys. He has always been a fairly active crab, and suddenly for the last several days, he is just sitting in a clear hanging globe in the tank. It's kind of stressing me out. I'm used to them digging to molt, not seeing them for days or sometimes weeks ( four crabs altogether in 30 gal tank ) but this is new. I even thought maybe he was getting old, and crab dementia caused him to forget how to get down. So I gently removed him from the globe, inspected for mites, ( no sign of them) and placed him back on ground level near the food and water. Next morning, of course, he's back in the globe. He seems alert, moves around in there, antennae movement etc. I'm just not sure what to think, or do. If he needs my help, I don't want to be a bad crab parent. I've only had one other crab die in seven years, so I'm kind of freaking out. Nothing else has changed in the tank but his behavior

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Re: Crab Stays in One Spot

Post by JTKermie » Fri Feb 11, 2022 11:35 am

mdebard wrote:
Thu Feb 10, 2022 10:15 pm
I'm suddenly having a similar situation. This is a crab I have had for 7 years. I found him on a beach in the Fla. Keys. He has always been a fairly active crab, and suddenly for the last several days, he is just sitting in a clear hanging globe in the tank. It's kind of stressing me out. I'm used to them digging to molt, not seeing them for days or sometimes weeks ( four crabs altogether in 30 gal tank ) but this is new. I even thought maybe he was getting old, and crab dementia caused him to forget how to get down. So I gently removed him from the globe, inspected for mites, ( no sign of them) and placed him back on ground level near the food and water. Next morning, of course, he's back in the globe. He seems alert, moves around in there, antennae movement etc. I'm just not sure what to think, or do. If he needs my help, I don't want to be a bad crab parent. I've only had one other crab die in seven years, so I'm kind of freaking out. Nothing else has changed in the tank but his behavior
If he's moving around and able to get back into and out of the area, I'd leave him be. They are funny critters and certainly not afraid of heights!
Two 29gals. 3 PPs in each.
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mdebard
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Re: Crab Stays in One Spot

Post by mdebard » Fri Feb 11, 2022 12:58 pm

Yeah, that's pretty much what I've been, and likely will continue to do. My fiance said he saw him last night down at ground level eating, etc. So, we'll just ride this out and see what happens. Thank you for the reply.

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