Ok, so I bought my sister 2 cute little hermit crabs for Chrismas a few days ago and to me, they seem really inactive. One of them just sits in the one spot all the time.

I have them in a large critter keeper with plastic wrap over most of the top to hold the humidity in, and lights shining in for heat (I'm replacing them with a small heat pad today). I spray the tank with water at least twice a day too. There's sand on the bottom, a coconut shell to hide in, a water dish, extra shells, a food dish with fruit/nuts and some objects to climb on.

Do you think they're just adjusting to their new habitat or is something wrong? I'll admit I don't know too much about these little guys, aside from the research I did, but to me they seem very lethargic. I don't want to give my sister sick hermit crabs for Christmas! Any advice??

Chrissy

If you search a bit back through this forum I have a couple posts where I have outlined all the basics of hermit care, though it sounds like you are doing things mostly right. The Kritter Keepers are a definite no no, although the saran wrap should help for the time being. Do you have thermometers or hygrometers in there to measure temp and humidity? Those are a must have. They need the tank to be close to 80º and cannot have it go below 70º. Humidity should be in a similar range.

Do you dechlorinate their drinking water, and if so, what with? They cannot have straight tapwater, same as our fish.

Are you planning on getting the crabs an actual aquarium? I hope so because the KK will not be suitable. The sand needs to be several inches deep, too, so they can dig.

Did you happen to buy them at one of the little stands in the malls? If so it's likely they are already in very poor condition, since they are not kept heated and are kept open so they have no humidity. A lot of times, they just cannot recover from the stress of travel and then being kept in bad conditions, which is why people believe that they just live a couple months. In reality, they can live up to 20 years. I have had most of mine for 2 years or longer.

I would say they are probably still getting used to their new home. Over the years ive found mine go through phases. Sometimes they will be active, sometimes they wont, sometimes they will be into climbing, sometimes digging (not to moult, but just for fun).

I kept my two hermies in a large Kritter Keeper for several years before they moved to a ten gallon which they were in for about 5 years and are now in a 20g .

The water I have always provided for mine is deionised (bought at a supermarket) and I keep the sand about 4inches thick at one end, two inches at the other so they have a nice moulting spot. Barney has moulted more times than I can remember but haerskly less so. I just think it depends on the crab. Barney is also very tame and always has been whereas even after all this time Haerskly still panicks quite a bit with human contact.

I dont actually use any kind of heating for them and never have done, though I always make sure that it never gets too cold. (I live in the UK)

Ive always fed mine household food. They get dog food, apples, brown bread, gamon steak, grapes, banana, fish flakes, rice... most things!

If you google Vanessa Pike Russell you should find her site. She was an excellent friend whenever I started out. She and some others even sent me out supplies I couldnt get a hold of from the US and Au. for no cost. They were a god send. You should check out the hermies yahoo group too. Its been going for donkeys years now so it has pretty much every concievable question going on it already answered

Thanks for the replies/info. Unfortunatly the inactive guy died today, I think he was sick when I bought him, I'm going to the pet store tomorrow for a replacement.

The good news is the other guy is doing very well, he even changed shells the other night . To answer your questions, yes I have a thermometer and hydrometer and both have good readings. There is deep sand and I'm feeding him a variety of food. Hopefully everything will be ok now and I'll hand pick a healthy little buddy for the remaining crab myself.

Thanks again for the help!

Chrissy