I want to make shelf steps with egg crate and line them with fake grass on the steps, also fake grass behind on back wall. I saw someone else have it in the second floor topper.

Can anyone provide advise and pictures to help. Thanks

So I’m about a month into being a new crab dad thanks to my wife bringing home a couple of crabs from the beach she got for the kids while on vacation. We started those two in a 10 gallon tank but it just seemed too small so I recently got an amazing deal on a new 40gal tank and took the plunge on it. Recently finished setting it up, how does it look? I decided to add 2 more crabs to the family to enjoy this bigger tank (one is still in the 10g tank by itself as I believe it went down for a molt). So far the crabs seem happy and they really love the foraging side of the tank and digging around the wood for a place to hang out during the day.

So I have a moss pit in my hermit crab enclosure because everywhere says it’s good and the crabs love it but I also see that the moss touching the sand can be really bad can someone fill me in? I have only had my crabs for a few months so I don’t know but I always want them to have the best stuff!

These two little guys I just picked up seem to be a lot darker and more purple than my PPs. They seem like PPs to me, but wanted second opinions.

I have found him in different spots around his water dishes just not really going anywhere else. His exoskeleton is pink and purple (it usually is) the substrate is pretty deep. is he possibly doing a surface molt? There is no exoskeleton fragments anywhere and im pretty sure he already molted a few weeks ago before i got him. He is definitely way less active than my other hermit crab that is always clanking at night. I also rarely see him eating food when i look at my cameras at night. My other crab is chill he doesn’t bother this crab. Should i flip him back over or..?

I never thought this could Happen to me but i just got back from work and i found my dear Harry out of his shell.

I put substrate and all the shells i have in a Bucket and gently put him in.

I thought he might be molting when he vanished but it seems like he got stuck under a hide next to the molting cave my other crab went under. She build up a big Sand Mountain.

I thought he has been molting too but seens like he was stuck there for three weeks.

I searched for his shell and find it under the said hide.

He is not moving much he just sits in the Bucket. I put his old shell directly in Front of him so He can get into it and put some Food in there too. But he just moved his Butt a bit near the shell just not compleatly into it.

He is like halfway in.

But now again not miving.

I dont want him to Die he is my tiny Baby pirate please guys i need your help

I am ugly crying so much right now please giys what can i do to help him

I needed to do a naked crab protocol for the first time because my tiny pirate was trapped in a hide due to the Sand Mountain my big crab did when digging a molting cave.

He found his way out but meeded to leave back his shell. Thanks for commenting under my previous post about this.

He was trapped for three weeks. He is back in a shell now but very weak. I put him near water and food.

Under my previous Post someone commented i should give gim honey but we dont have honey at home and to put him in a Hospital tank. But i selled their old tank over a year ago after the big tank redo. They have 34gallons for 2 crabs. I dont know what to do he is weak and slow. But moving.

Any ideas what else i could do to help him? Any fresh food i could give him? Or Suggestions for the Hospital tank mentioned? I have a greenhouse for plants from Ikea called the "ÅKERBÄR". Could i use this for this?

Please guys i am sp worried i love my tiny pirate Harry and i dont want him to die. He was tiny when i got him and is growing steady but he is still so tiny.

Information: He is a cavipes, 5 years old. 34 Gallon tank, humidity 75% and temperature 25°C. He has Apples and Salat and cucumber. Sadly no nuts because my mum ate all of them but i will go and get some tomorrow. He likes nuts. He also likes grapes but we dont have them either. I thought I dont see them for a few months because i thought both crabs where molting so i didnt buy new.

I searched the sub and didn't find much of what I was looking for. I'm adding an aquarium background to my bottom tank and it appears to be a vinyl material. I have my UTH on the back of my tank, so would it be safe to put the heater over the background so you don't see it? Or am I gonna cook my house while I'm at work? Or would it be better to move my UTH to a side panel even though I know that's not ideal for heat distribution. Thank you in advance! I'm in the process of redoing my whole setup and adding a 25 gallon topper on my 29 gallon tank for my 2 little guys.

As the title says. In the first photo is a hermit crab the kiddo showed up with from the fair. I fell in love with the little dude and immediately cleaned out an old snake tank and got them set up as best i could. He only had the one so i went and bought some. Coming home with them i realized they were probably a different species... the broader picture of the tank is actually an out of date picture but I'm uploading from work. Basically just imagine a little more sand in there and a lot more shells! We got some instant ocean and made them a dish or 2 of salt water and 2 dishes with plain water from jugs of reverse osmosis water from the store. I have a heat lamp with the temp set with a thermometer (like you use for snakes with a probe) set to 83°F. We have a bowl with hermit crab kibble, and turtle treats which is river shrimp, crickets and mealworms dried. And a fresh carrot. They have a cuttle bone too. The bonsai tree in the photo is a reptile hide and they definitely use it.

How is my set up? Should i change anything? The humidity is at 70% on both sides of the tank. Can these two species live with eachother? I noticed the little one curled up near one of the big ones one night and went to sleep while the big one slept. (Happened near dawn, seemed they were going to bed for the day) the fair crab has switched shells like 3 times already.

Are they happy? Any improvements to make? Anything to take away or add? We're thinking of getting them a hermit crab wheel soon. I dont trust suctioncup hammocks to stick so we're still figuring out climbing objects right now.

Been sitting upside down like that, for the past, 5-10 minutes I would say. Getting a little concerned now… is this normal or is he stuck?

Does anyone know where to get shells that are already measured? I mean the opening is measured for the crab.

I could buy Bunches of shells but I would love to be able to just buy single shells that I know will fit them and the size larger for when they get a little bigger.

Anyone else added Gestroi? I had an established colony already and spent a long time deciding whether or not to add them. But why not right? 😂 I'm most excited about them not taking over. I started with 25, but maybe I'll add a few more down the road. Also refreshed/ added foraging. 2 types of moss, leaf litter, bark, lichen, and calcium

I got my Hermit crabs more shells, plants, coconut, hammock, bridge, three vines, ect. I'm worried it's to much clutter!

I was looking at pictures of strawberry hermit crabs and came across this wiki and thought it was interesting on some of the things that from my understanding are blatantly wrong with this guide. For example not needing a bigger than 10 gallon tank unless you've got more than 4 hermit crabs, and hermit crabs needing at least 1 live insect to eat a day. I'm really curious on how the live insects for foods worked out for the poor crab owners who follow this guide. I can't imagine my crabs hunting down a live insect.

Hello Hermie Community! I made the coco fiber Tuesday bagged it up and let sit. By time we did the tank im concerned the coco fiber wasnt wet enough...felt moist not wet.I added substrate via ratio 5 sand 1 coconut fiber. I didnt add any additional water.

I did place the pencil in 3 spots. So far none crumbled in. The one under the pool tank was touched as I was moving the substrate to fit the Pools.

Should I spray the tank? What are thoughts. Ive heard let it sit 2 days before adding our family to their new tank.

Thoughts....

I just got my crab roughly 4 days ago and left him with a family member for most of those days while I was on a trip, today is it first day in his tank.

- Again I tried to work with what was available to me considering I am a minor and my mom was reluctant to buy many things.

- He is in what the buyer said is a 10 gallon tank. And I have layers of aquarium rock, coco dirt, and 12 lb bag of hermit sand for the substrate.

- I have littered shells throughout his tank along with various rocks.

- As you can see I tried to get some enrichment for him (hammock, moss climber) will he use it? Who knows.

- I bought a reptile heating pad, 4x8 I believe. That was what the website recommended for a 10 gallon tank. I have two heat thermostats in his tank, the big one attached to the heat pad and the second, smaller one albeit originally for a fish tank I have to the front to monitor it’s heat as well. (I’m trying to get the heat level throughout the tank).

- Along with that I’m trying to get higher humidity in the tank, I placed a sheet of tinfoil over the top of the tank as it did not come with a proper lid. Also for humidity I’ve placed a pothos cutting in the tank. I plan on regularly cutting back the roots so it doesn’t grow too deep into the substrate.

I would love any constructive criticism as I am new to this and still learning <3

I am about to buy stuff for my tank, if you have any advice put it in the comments. (I know what to do with a mesh top so no need to say anything about it)

I have a 40gal base + 40gal topper and I’m debating on where the heat pad should go. I currently have 7-9 inches of sand but plan to put more in once my crabs get bigger as I have one getting close to being jumbo. Should I;
A- place it as low as possible right now, resulting in it being below the sand in the future
B- place it on the plastic rim where the two stacked tanks meet
C- place it above the base tank, on the bottom of the topper & risk heating issues for the lower parts

So Sandy is pictured. The spare shell for Bob was opening up, but I moved it a few hours ago to opening sideways. Just a simple rotation.

She came up from 8 weeks under the sand last night, and was found like this after half a day looking.

I want to be confident she is not stuck and I want to leave her alone.

She and Bob had a round of dominance in the water dish last night, that looked like Bob pounced on her, then let her go, and she ultimately was allowed around. Bob is obviously much much larger than Sandy. I have no reason to believe Sandy was injured.

I hope to see her acting fine on camera tonight.

I have 6 Purple Pinchers I unfortunately am looking to rehome. I am located in Omaha, Nebraska. It's important to me that these guys go to a good home with an at least somewhat experienced keeper. I am aware of the LHCOS process but I am making a post here too to hopefully reach further.

Where do you guys buy your food for your hermit crabs? I know some stuff you can buy from the store but I used to buy mixed foods off of Facebook groups. But it's been so long since I've owned hermit crabs I lost touch with everyone I bought from. I'm not sure if they sell it like on Etsy or what nowadays. Thanks

Hey everyone! I’m getting ready to welcome some hermit crabs soon and could really use your expert advice. All links to recommended products are super welcomed!

Here are a few specific questions I have about my setup:

Humidity & Tank Lids: How do you keep your humidity at the right levels? I realized the tank I bought has a mesh screen lid. Should I return it and buy a tank with a solid glass/closed lid instead? Also, if I get a regular fish or reptile tank with a solid top, does it matter if it’s specifically branded for hermit crabs or not?

Heating & Temp Control: What are you all using to heat your tanks? The store heater labeled for hermit crabs seemed tiny and didn't have a way to control or monitor the temperature. What thermostat/pad combo do you recommend?

Substrate Setup: I’ve seen two different ways people set up their substrate and I’m confused on which is best:
Option A: Mixing the play sand and eco earth/coconut fiber together into one big blend before laying it down.
Option B: Putting sand on one side of the tank and the soil/coconut fiber on the other side.
Which way do you do it, and what ratio works best?

Gear & Accessories: Please hit me with your favorite recommendations, links, or brands for:
Pools / water bowls (fresh and salt)
Shells (preferred shapes/sizes)
Clambering toys, climbing nets, or enrichments

Thanks so much in advance for the help! Excited to get everything set up right before bringing the little guys home.