New owner with a few questions

chie96 · 09-17-2008, 01:52 PM

Good afternoon! When we were at the beach last Sat., DH & I bought our DDs two hermit crabs. We had no idea what we were getting into, as we assumed the little wire cage they gave us and the sponge and food were enough.

When we returned home Sun. I started looking into caring for these cuties and realized that we had nothing ready! As of yesterday we have a 10 gal. tank, heater, temp/humidity guage, both salt and regular water (de-chlorinated), some type of wood log to climb on, and some sort of coral-looking rock that we were told the crabs would like to climb on and that they could actually get calcium from it! I hope we have all we need for now...

OK, so Sweet-Cakes and Sarah now have a nice new home, but they are acting strange. One has disappeared. I think I see a place where she may have burried herself, but am I to just leave her alone? I read on a site that she may be de-stressing and not to bother her. But what if she is actually moulting? I think I am supposed to move her or get some sort of tank so she will be alone, right? How will I know what she is up to if I have to eave her alone?

And the other looks to be too large for the shell she came in, but I could not find any shells yesterday when we went into town, so I am going to order some online. In the meantime, she has wedged herself into a hole in the coral-looking rock and hasn't come out since last night. I am not sure if she is stuck or just hanging out. Is there something I need to do with her?

Anyone who can help, I would appreciate it!!! I'd hate to think I was doing something wrong here.

**HERMEZ** · 09-17-2008, 04:18 PM

Leave her alone molting or not- Please read the sticky on crab care in case you might have missed something in your set up- congrats on the crabbies

The other crab is probably going to destress too- each crab has their own way

**HERMEZ** · 09-17-2008, 04:19 PM

http://www.hermitcrabsrus.com/forum/...rabs-what.html

chie96 · 09-18-2008, 08:28 AM

TY for the info. I re-read the sticky post and found a few new things! Also both crabs came out around midnight last night! I was happy to see that they were OK. When I woke this morning, the crabitat was trashed, LOL! At least I know they were in the water and food!

09-17-2008, 01:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
chie96 Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 9	New owner with a few questions Good afternoon! When we were at the beach last Sat., DH & I bought our DDs two hermit crabs. We had no idea what we were getting into, as we assumed the little wire cage they gave us and the sponge and food were enough. When we returned home Sun. I started looking into caring for these cuties and realized that we had nothing ready! As of yesterday we have a 10 gal. tank, heater, temp/humidity guage, both salt and regular water (de-chlorinated), some type of wood log to climb on, and some sort of coral-looking rock that we were told the crabs would like to climb on and that they could actually get calcium from it! I hope we have all we need for now... OK, so Sweet-Cakes and Sarah now have a nice new home, but they are acting strange. One has disappeared. I think I see a place where she may have burried herself, but am I to just leave her alone? I read on a site that she may be de-stressing and not to bother her. But what if she is actually moulting? I think I am supposed to move her or get some sort of tank so she will be alone, right? How will I know what she is up to if I have to eave her alone? And the other looks to be too large for the shell she came in, but I could not find any shells yesterday when we went into town, so I am going to order some online. In the meantime, she has wedged herself into a hole in the coral-looking rock and hasn't come out since last night. I am not sure if she is stuck or just hanging out. Is there something I need to do with her? Anyone who can help, I would appreciate it!!! I'd hate to think I was doing something wrong here.

09-17-2008, 04:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
HERMEZ Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NC Posts: 1,294	Re: New owner with a few questions Leave her alone molting or not- Please read the sticky on crab care in case you might have missed something in your set up- congrats on the crabbies The other crab is probably going to destress too- each crab has their own way __________________ 22 PP's~8 Rugs~9 E's~ 4 Straws~2 Indo's~4 Violas~ http://photobucket.com/albums/a96/Herm-EZ/

09-17-2008, 04:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
HERMEZ Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NC Posts: 1,294	Re: New owner with a few questions http://www.hermitcrabsrus.com/forum/...rabs-what.html __________________ 22 PP's~8 Rugs~9 E's~ 4 Straws~2 Indo's~4 Violas~ http://photobucket.com/albums/a96/Herm-EZ/

09-18-2008, 08:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
chie96 Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 9	Re: New owner with a few questions TY for the info. I re-read the sticky post and found a few new things! Also both crabs came out around midnight last night! I was happy to see that they were OK. When I woke this morning, the crabitat was trashed, LOL! At least I know they were in the water and food! __________________ I Ka Pono (Cultivate the Goodness) ~Laurie in VA Wife and homeschooling mother 5 PP: Sarah, Sweet Cakes, Pumpkin, Emily, and Hermie (all named by my daughters!)

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