How To Keep Your Hermit Crab Alive After Purchase - The P.P.S Method | By Crab Central Station

How do I keep my hermit crab alive? Is my hermit crab sick? Is my hermit crab dying? Update: The sickness talked about in this video has changed names. It is now called PPDS or Post Purchase Death Syndrome. Same sickness, different name! You may hear us say the new name in upcoming videos, this is what we are talking about!
*The PPS Method is not guaranteed to prevent all Hermit Crab death, but it can help in most cases.*
Basic Care Guide Video- • Basic Hermit Crab Care...
Nutrition Guide Video- • Hermit Crab Food 101 |...
Links Mentioned In Video:
PETA Hermit Crab Video -(We do not agree with all of the care tips about Hermit Crabs PETA provides, but this is a good video advocating for Hermit Crabs) - • Where Hermit Crabs Com...
CrabStreetJournal- crabstreetjournal.org/
PPDS Article - crabstreetjournal.org/blog/20...
The Shopping List:
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Prime- amzn.to/2YR9zqK
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Top Tank Necessities:
Instant Ocean Marine Salt- amzn.to/3aluc6z
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BN-LINK digital heat mat thermostat: amzn.to/3arCtWN
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Hermit Crab Shells: theshellstore.com
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[@robertahue8108]

Omg, u r a lifesaver. I need that heating pad.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you!

[@jenniferjohnson201]

As a pet store employee, thank you so much for making these videos! They are so much easier to learn from and great to show to new crab owners! I'm learning a lot already!

[@CrabCentralStation]

This is such an encouraging message! Thank you for doing your part as an animal advocate!

[@aqmitchell]

@@CrabCentralStation I really need help with my hermit crabs I’m scared they won’t make it my tank heat is at 75 and the hum is at 80 or above - I notice they were more active in the beginning ( 4 days ago) but now they just most sit in the same spot for hours and moving slowly- do you have a forum or way I can send pics or videos so I can get advice - I’m watching all the videos but I don’t know what is the actual cause, I don’t know if they are eating the food but I’ve seen them eat the moss I’m terrified my little buddies are going to die 😢

[@lmstallings13]

@@aqmitchellare they still alive they eat moss

[@stutzbearcat8425]

OMG. thank you for making these videos! I am about to acquire 2 hermit crabs that someone couldn't take care of anymore and I really want to make sure they lived a long life! Your videos are extremely helpful!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you so much for watching and being subscribed! I'm so glad our videos are helpful!

[@altheamcnabb2829]

Also, may I say this video is great. YOu are straight and to the point. You don't dilly dally around because you like to hear your own voice and waste our time. tyvm for that.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you so much!

[@petcraz2417]

Thank you for all the advice! I have partly set up my P.P.S tank!

[@Enchantedfawn4357]

So grateful for this channel and for watching this video before buying my first two hermits thank you so much for all your knowledge and for what you do for the hermit crab hobby 🦀🤗

[@CrabCentralStation]

Awesome! We're so glad you have joined us on your journey. Welcome to the #CCSCrabCrew! Thank you for watching and supporting our family.

[@alexaperez3389]

Thank you. We are on 15 days and our 2 littles aren’t doing well. One lost a pinched other is still. So glad to have found your channel and will set up the pps tank ( which is basically what we just did to upgrade from the small plastic tank to a 10 gal ).

[@CrabCentralStation]

I hope they are doing well! How did the PPS method end up? Is everyone doing well?

[@furinasminenotyours]

Tysm for doing this video. I just got my hermit crabs 3 weeks ago from a beach souvenir shop and I didn’t know that’s how they got them. Me and my older sis got one and I want to make sure they live such a long life and this video is gonna help me a lot so they don’t be stressed that much anymore. Your videos helped me a lot to make sure how to care for hermit crabs.

[@CrabCentralStation]

You are very welcome! I'm so glad you found our channel and found our videos to be helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Note: the 10 gallon tank in this video is only used temporarily. For a permanent enclosure, you need at least a 20 gallon tank or larger with at least 2 crabs following the 10 gallon per crab rule!

[@crazypetsyt.9579]

Crab Central Station I like using the 2 gallon per a crab rule! It seems to be working fine for me, but is it hurting my crabs?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hi! Unfortunately, It is hurting your crabs! The main reason is molting space. When your crabs go under to molt, they need to have space. When crabs molt, they give off a scent that attracts other crabs to them. If there isn’t a big enough tank, the non molting crabs will find your molting one and possibly eat it. Also, if you have more than one crab molting at one time, they may not have enough space to do that and can cause deformities.

[@alicia5508]

Do you have to use sand because i heard that it is not good for them

[@CrabCentralStation]

Where did you hear sand isn’t good for them? Most hermit crab species live in beach areas where there is sand. Hermit crabs need sand to molt. If the people are recommending just eco earth, there are a few reasons we don’t agree with that. The first one is that eco earth becomes very acidic over time which isn’t good for hermit crabs in high concentrations. It also retains moisture a bit too well, which can cause too much humidity in the tank. Food molds quickly, bacteria grows, and bugs are attracted to this kind of environment. Also, eco earth doesn’t hold molt caves well. We started with just eco earth and had several deaths while molting. This is eco earth alone. When mixed with sand in the 5:1 ratio, it works wonderfully! Sand is definitely safe for hermit crabs

[@lucysantiago3382]

I was planning to purchase a 10 gallon tank but it’s not a good idea? I’m only planning to have 1 crab is that not a good idea too?

[@GOKU-nb7rn]

Thank you guys for all of this information it's truly been helpful

[@CrabCentralStation]

You are very welcome! Thank you for supporting us and loving your hermit crabs!

[@Whammytap]

This explains so much. My sister's hermit crabs (we were kids) didn't last a year, and my godson's crab didn't survive the trip home from the pet store. Imagine my surprise when I learned that these crabs can live for a century. Turns out they need more than canned dust to eat and a damp sponge. I always wondered about that.

[@debralauesen4225]

Watching for the 4th time! So good, thanks!

[@nerdboy1439]

Thanks for adding this video because I am just getting brand new hermit crabs and I am so sorry for all of hermit crabs that passed away 😪😪

[@malinachainey1564]

Im really glad I found this channel as I just got my kids 2 hermit crabs and had no clue so much goes into going to keep them happy, healthy, and safe (I know feel guilty for the tank I had as a child for my hermit crabs Rocko and Angelica...it was the mid-late 90s, I was a kid, and I loved Nickoldeon cartoons hence their names. But I also now get when they didnt live longer than a few years. Both died during one of their molting stages I guess they didnt like the shells I had for them and was left heart broken). Anyways, I was so happy I gound an employee who seems to really care about hermit crabs and had a lot of knowledge on them and what I needed to build a happy enviroment for them. Right. Now they are VERY small so we are using a starter tank 10 gal), but I have a 30 gal tank to move them too once they get a bit bigger. I have the floor with thats half sand (3-4 inches deep for them to burrow in) and coconut fiber mulch sorta thing that had to be soaked to decompress (about 5 inches and goes up to a slight slope from the sand for the crabs climb and burrow in (they seem to LOVE this and our one crab Nico burrowed right in it after checking out his new home and eating a bit and out other crab name undecided by my 6 year old seems to be a bit more shy and eventually went right over where his/her brother is laid with him). I didnt know I shouldnt have gotten the half coconut shell right away during the PPS method but did get one cause when I bought the crabs they were hanging out in one with the other 2 crabs that were in the tank so I wanted to give them something that they recognized and felt comfortable in. Besides that we got the heating lamp (20 inche strip pad that fits an 18 inche lamp thats 15 watts). I bought the chemicals to make the salt water and safe drinking water, food dish with hermit crab food and little snacks for our crabs (I was told not to buy freeze dried as much as possible cUse it looses the nutrients. And was shown some type of dried flowers that lizards and crabs like to eat. I was also told they like egg shells? I will be watching your videos to see what else I should be feeding them. But they also got a climbing log and for a netting wall I bought this all natural coconur fiber wall but the adhesive on it sux. So I need to get some more or simpmy might cut it up and make climbing strips for them and then but something else for the netting wall. I also need to get some more plants for them. My partner is visiting our family in Ecuador right noe so I have him on the hunt for coconut shells that have been halved and prepared for decor in the tank so our crabs can have something more natural in their home. Oh I also got 8 shells for the crabs to choose from when molting (all natural no painted ones). I am hoping this will all help them to feel comfortable in their new enviroment and to thrive.

[@Joe-vy3pu]

GREAT videos !!!! Keep up the hard work.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you so much! We appreciate your support!

[@lm5585sysmatrix]

Wow! Had no clue crabs were treated so badly.

[@samanthagaming2859]

same so sad :(

[@laruestudos1126]

Me too when i watched this i cry:(

[@Plushieworld1070]

It's actually sad to see them in stores because those shells are not what they are supposed to be and they're supposed to be in their natural shells not ones with toxic paint on it and all those pallets they give you that is not the food for them it's really really sad

[@CrabCentralStation]

It really is! 😪

[@caylee.9021]

Omg Tysm!!! I’m getting 2 Hermit crabs from a beach store and I never realized they went through all of this! Now I know how to help them! Thx

[@CrabCentralStation]

Awesome! Thanks for watching. We are so glad our channel was able to help you on your hermie journey!

[@heatherduckworth4519]

Day 1, Week 1 of PPS method. Anything to help because loss of a family pet/member is always hard. Thank you for sharing 💕

[@CrabCentralStation]

Trust the process... that's my best advice 🥰

[@connorhoward6465]

Super helpful, Thankyou!!!!

[@CrabCentralStation]

You're welcome!

[@Growingwildthings]

This video is super helpful thank you. I just got some hermit crabs for my classroom. We will definitely be doing this method as we get them used to their new environment. I put Fresh food in there tonight and within minutes. One of them was on top of the food and eating. I have not seen him the four days i've had him. Before tonight I just have the pellets.

[@Ciantrex]

Thank you so much!! My crabs are now partying so much and I put in a hamster saucer and they have been loving it!!

[@CrabCentralStation]

YAY! So glad you are seeing some happy and active crabs!

[@christinaaa_xo]

Thank you so much for these wonderful videos! I am so sad and horrified to see what they do to these crabs. I'm so happy these people didn't want their hermit crabs so I was able to get them, and now can give them a proper home. I can't believe the condition in which these crabs are kept. The crabs I just "rescued", weren't even being kept at the right temperature. Obviously being fed "hermit crab food". Water wasn't being primed, and they definitely weren't giving them the "instant ocean". No salt water at all. Just a bunch of sponges and that gross food. They already seem to be more active since they are warmer and ate some *real* food. I truly appreciate these videos!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Wow! Thank you for taking these crabs in and saving them! They are lucky to have you!

[@Mothcrys]

I woke up this evening to my mom bringing me back a surprise hermit crab from a beach shop. He came in a cardboard box and not a mini tank for some reason?? I'm watching him until the pet store opens to get him a proper big tank and set up, but I'm super thankful for you guys, I'm binging yall's videos to make sure he has a good transition and happy life.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hi 👋! Welcome to the “Crabby life”! We are so glad you found CCS and that our videos are helping you on your hermie journey!

[@OliviaGrace603]

I’m 8 and me and my brother are trying to learn how to keep our hermit crabs alive. Thank you 😊 ❤

[@rrogers717]

OMG!!! First off I cried when shown what they do to these hermit crabs I had no idea! How horrible!! Second just got my hermmies and will be setting them up for PPS!! Thank you so much for your help!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Isn’t it so sad 😞 the industry is horrible

[@rrogers717]

@@CrabCentralStation I actually told a cashier at wal mart who said she had an exotic snake what the industry does to hermit crabs! She was so shocked!

[@cupzify1207]

Rly helped a lot thanks 🙏

[@CrabCentralStation]

Glad to hear!

[@BillieRC]

I never knew you had to do this!!

[@CrabCentralStation]

It helps the crabs slowly acclimate back to the correct conditions. It also gives them time to rehydrate and gain back the nutrients they lost during capture-transit-sale.

[@Hnikkigrace2003]

Yay! Keeping up with the #hermiejourney

[@JaydonWalter]

Yay a new video

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you! Let us know what you think 😊

[@nikkilovetheyardsale-again2608]

The abuse litterally makes me cry. It's SO TRAMATIZING I can even imagine being taken out of my home by force and relocated. Absolutely heart breaking... lucky my hermits is 3 yrs old now and just changed her shell 5 different time in the past few nights so she growing and do SO GOOD!! I absolutely love you girls SO MUCH!!! I'd love e to foster or even adopt some of the babies you girls have let me know if I can do that!! My girl crab needs a friend she's aa blue claw I know usually you need the same species and around the same size she's the size of a 50 cent piece with her shell. So pretty good size. Lmk. I'd love to help out.

[@CrabCentralStation]

I agree….. makes me cry every time! I can’t believe people do this to these poor crabs! Now they are becoming endangered in some places! I’m so glad you found CCS and that our videos are helping you on your journey! Our captive bred babies will be available to adopt at CrabCon 2023! Josh’s Frogs also has some captive bred babies for sale. Thanks for your kind comment!

[@marissaglasschroeder4242]

Wow thank you so much for alllll your videos! I’ve been obsessed with them and following the suggestions to the T. I do have concerns about my crabbies. I’ve had them about a month. Unfortunately they are very inactive and not eating or drinking. Can you help me?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Awesome! We are so glad our videos are helping you on your journey! We do have a video called, “How to have an active hermit crab” that might be helpful for you. Thanks for watching!

[@altheamcnabb2829]

If the coke bottle does not work...I have used the little cheap clear plastic square transport containers they try to sell you at the beach shops to buy the hermit crabs as homes. I have 2 of these. They come with the vented plastic lids that snap on and a door that hinges on. I put a little bit of the substrate in that and put the molting crab in it and snap the lid shut. They still get all the benefits of the temp and humidity of the cage but total isolation from the other crabs fear of eating them. And you can see them as they molt and are ready to come back out. IVE USED THIS METHOD SAFELY FOR YEARS AND YEARS. I had a crab that surface molted for a couple of years for some reason and it worked every time for him. He buries himself now, finally.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Yes! We use these all the time too! It is my preferred iso. I just wanted to show the Tupperware container in the video because it's something everyone has available. Thanks for sharing!

[@rinazeller4295]

I just bought my lil guy about 4 days now and we are currently doing the PPS method. He was super active during the first 2 days - Exploring his enclosure, eating, drinking, etc. But the last 2 days he seems lethargic and just stares into space in the middle of the tank. At night I do see more activity but not like those first 2 days. I'm not sure if he's preparing for a surface molt or if I'm doing anything wrong! I did have some white fuzzy mold on the food but it was due to my lil man burring the piece of egg and it got lost.. 🤦‍♀ Set-Up: ~ 10-Gallon Tank ~ UTH on the back side of the glass ~ 5:1 play sand to coco fiber (Only 1" deep) ~ 2 water pools (Fresh/Salt) ~ Temp stays around 75 day/night ~ Humidity stays around 80% (May be too high right now?) ~ Food: fried egg(nothing added; not even butter/oil), egg shell, bell peppers, cabbage, apple, strawberries, black berries *Food is taken away after 24hrs & replaced

[@aw5311]

Hi - we just purchased four crabs and I think they are all doing pretty good so far. 🤞🏻 All of them have changed their shells and a couple of them tend to dig. How do we handle a molt if we are still in the transition PPSD tank? I watched your video on what to do for a naked crab but don’t want to disturb if they’re molting and not sure how to tell the difference. And thank you SO much! We were uneducated impulse buyers but now working so hard to give these little guys the best home. 🥰

[@CrabCentralStation]

Great question amber! Thank you so much for educating to give these guys the best life possible! It is people like you who are overturning the industry! If a crab is molting in the PPDS tank above the surface, that is called a surface molt. The crab should be isolated (you can do this by placing a cut in half 2 liter soda bottle around the crab (including a few extra shells)) from other crabs. You will know it is surface molting because it will have left it’s shell, and show little to no movement for days/weeks at a time. It will slowly remove its exoskeleton and then proceed to consume it. You will know the molt is over once the exoskeleton is fully eaten and the crab is in a new shell, walking, eating, and the new exo is vibrant and hardened. If you have anymore questions feel free to DM us on instagram!

[@catw392]

Thank you so much

[@CrabCentralStation]

You are very welcome! Thank you for watching and supporting our channel and our family 😊

[@laragreyson4387]

I want to thank you for your great, informative videos! I have a question...I'm about to get some hermit crabs from someone on Craigslist (I couldn't buy from the store after hearing the horror stories about how they're treated). The crabs are coming with a 20 gallon tank. I already have all the supplies needed based on your videos. The crabs have been in a tank with no lid or heater and have a small layer of coconut substrate. It looks like they've been fed dry fruit/vegetables and pellets. They do have two shallow water bowls. Should I complete the whole P.P.S. process? Or since they're not from the store should I modify it?

[@CrabCentralStation]

I'm sorry that I missed your comment! How are things going now? What did you decide d to do? Thank you for rescuing instead of purchasing!

[@emilydoogan1020]

30k views!!! That's amazing!!! 💜💜💜

[@CrabCentralStation]

Eeekkk!!! Yay! 🥰

[@SkylerTauntsrandomstuff]

great vid!!!!! finally a vid on acclimation of land hermits🤣💕. for some reason, it also make my babies more active. quick question: iyou said that we want to prevent burrowing or hiding;. I have three crabs I just got yesterday, and even in one inch of substrate, they still managed to burrow, what to do?🤔 thx!!!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Are they completely under the sand? We want to prevent burrowing so that they don’t end up molting before we get their nutrients back to where they are supposed to be. That way they don’t die in molt.

[@CrabCentralStation]

And thank you!

[@SkylerTauntsrandomstuff]

Crab Central Station unfortunately yes. what to do what to do. I am thinking a bare bottom crabitat or maybe moist paper towels?🤔🤔

[@CrabCentralStation]

I assume your crabs are small? As long as they aren’t molting, they should be fine. You can reduce to 1/2 inch if need be. We have never tried with paper towels or bare bottom. I would think with the increasing humidity the paper towels will rip apart and the crab may eat them. We can’t recommend anything other than sand. Keep an eye on them and if they aren’t moving around and eating, you may want to reduce the amount of sand.

[@brittward5705]

I was a little upset when my sister bought my daughter crabs at the beach without asking- but I am going to do everything I can to help them thrive!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Please feel free to ask us any questions. We're glad you are here at CCS!

[@brittward5705]

@@CrabCentralStation right now I’m struggling with pools & water setup. Are two sponges wet daily ok for 3 medium crabs or do they need a water dish? Also should I set them up a saltwater pool or just take them out once a week and let them submerge? My pet store is giving me different info than what I’m reading online ?

[@CrabCentralStation]

@@brittward5705 You will get a lot of conflicting and misinformation when it comes to hermit crabs. Hermit crabs have a soft abdomen, which is why they must carry a shell. They have an abdominal lung that must remain moist at all times. Hermit crabs also have modified gills, which is how they are able to live on land as well as breathe for long periods of time under water. Therefore they must have high humidity in order to breathe. Most pet stores don't know about hermit crab anatomy or what they actually need to live. They only know the poor care that they are told to provide within their pet store. In order to keep this lung and gills moist, hermit crabs carry their own personally mixed brackish water in their shell. This is why hermit crabs must have both fresh water and salt water pools (deep enough for your largest hermit crab to fully submerge in). Just make sure you provide a safe way in and out of the pools. You never have to "bathe" your hermit crabs or dunk them in water. This actually messes up their brackish water mix in their shells. Providing the resources to the crabs allows them to drink/dunk themselves as they need to without the added stress of humans intervening. We have a video on basic hermit crab pools and advanced water pools. Check those out for some good ideas! I hope this explanation was helpful.

[@brittward5705]

@@CrabCentralStation I’m going to check that out now!!!

[@Adelaideanegg]

Great video! What brand of salt would you recommend to countries like Australia where there isn't access to instant ocean? I use red sea salt- do you think that's okay?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you! We recommend Instant Ocean. I’m not sure about Red Sea salt, is it from a pet store or a grocery store? What brand is it? I’ll look it up!

[@Adelaideanegg]

@@CrabCentralStation It is for saltwater fish and coral, etc. I simply have no access to instant ocean :(

[@CrabCentralStation]

Do you know what brand it is? We just want to make sure it is safe! Otherwise we may be able to help you find some alternatives in your area. Also I missed that you said there wasn’t instant ocean in my original response! So sorry about that!

[@CrabCentralStation]

So sorry for the late response, my app didn’t notify me you replied! Yes it is a safe salt to use!

[@LulaMae21]

Red Sea blue bucket is a great salt for saltwater aquariums. Red Sea black bucket has higher magnesium/calcium/alkalinity for stony coral reefs. For land hermits, blue bucket should be fine.

[@georgiathain5023]

Thank you for this really helpful video! I was wondering if our iso-tank is a separate tank to their forever tank, after completing all 4 stages in the iso-tank is it safe to simply move the crabs into their set-up new permanent tank provided the temp & humidity are the same?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Yes! That is how you do it!

[@amberwhite9599]

Thank you SO much! So extremely helpful. Question, though. I turn on the fan in my room on at night. If I have a hermie, can I still have it on or would I have to turn it off bc it would get to cold for them?

[@CrabCentralStation]

If your tank is completely sealed, it should be okay. You will need a good digital thermometer/hydrometer to keep an eye on the stats in the tank. If you have a wire top, you will want to change that to a glass top as soon as possible. If the temp. Drops you will need additional heat, I Sulaiman, or perhaps increasing the temp in your house.

[@karrahhayslip4427]

I got mine in Virginia Beach and they were sold with the wrong things like most hermit crabs but surprisingly they did not come in a painted shell they were in really good shells

[@CrabCentralStation]

Oh wow! That's really good to hear that they didn't have painted shells! I'm so glad you found our video on PPS. Let us know if you have any questions. Welcome aboard Crab Central Station.

[@julsa1580]

Hello! Gotta question. How does the 30 L Aqueon Top fit a 10 gallon tank?? I just bought the 20 L and the plastic attachment prevented the lid from being completely sealed. That’s all. Love how you guys are advocating for hermit welfare btw! 😍

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hmmm.. I can't imagine how a 30L top would fit a 10g tank. I know that sometimes the plastic attachment on the Aqueon Tops don't fit enough to create a sealed tank. we just use clear packing tape along the back of the top and attach it to the tank to seal it. If we ever need to completely remove the top, it's as easy as replacing the tape along the back. I hope this helps. I'm so sorry our response is so late. We really try and answer all of the comments/questions. Somehow your's slipped by unanswered. Forgive us!

[@silvannamk8339]

I’ve seen so many videos about what to do when you get a hermit crab and I’m just now seeing this. I feel defeated! My daughter got one as a gift and now I’m trying to make it happy and feel like I failed.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Dont feel like you have failed! You are leaps ahead just because you are resarching proper care!

[@visionwise]

Hello! I just bought 3 Hermit Crabs yesterday and was misinformed due to other videos on initial care. I currently have about 6-7 inches of Eco Earth and a little cave cut out thingy. All 3 of my hermit crabs are in the cave and I haven't seen them come out to eat yet. I have Fresh Strawberrys and greens for them, any advice on what I should do?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hello. Welcome aboard Crab Central Station! We're songlad you are here. If your crabs have not buried under the substrate, I would definitely start the PPS method in this video. You only want a small amount of substrate, preferably 5:1 play sand to Eco Earth. Go ahead and take out all hides during PPS. The goal is to discourage buring or hiding until they have enough nutrients and hydration to sustain a molt. You also want to slowly acclimate them back the the correct heat and humidity so that they don't go into shock. If they have already buried fully. Don't dig them up, that could lead to worse things.

[@visionwise]

@@CrabCentralStation Thank you for the quick reply! 2 out of the 3 crabs have already buried under the substrate and i'm now concerned :/

[@CrabCentralStation]

It's okay. It happens a lot. The best thing to do is wait it out and let them do their crab thing. Hopefully they all surface in the next few weeks- months and then you can make some changes.

[@KittyKraftStudio]

I started the post purchase stress method with new my crab about three weeks ago. I got up to the optimum heat and humidity but during that monitoring period I thought the crab was dying because it stopped moving around and eating, but it actually just surface molted today (was sure it was hanging out of its shell dead but nope). Once it starts moving around and eating again is it ok to move it to the deep substrate? Should I still wait?

[@jessicaortiz2297]

Hi! So we purchased our 2 crabs a week ago while on vacation before realizing what all was needed 🤦🏻‍♀️. I did as much research as I could and quickly set up a 10g tank with sand/eco earth, heat pad, food, and water bowls. Both crabs started digging but one would come out and play in the water (our bowls are not deep enough i’m realizing), eat a little, etc…it was fairly active! The other dug in the corner and stayed there for days. i’m not sure i’ve seen him eat or play in the water at all but he did move occasionally. We got them 2 hiding huts and he’s relocated there but hasn’t come out (but isn’t digging). The other one that was active dug again and I haven’t seen him/her in 3 days. I know not to dig them up but should I try and coax her out and do this method? We have already had their head/humidity in ideal ranges since we got them…would it hurt more than help at this point?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Welcome to CCS! We are so glad you are here with us on your hermit crab journey! Definitely don't dig up your new crabs, that will cause more stress. If they are on the surface, you could take them out for a short time while you remove some substrate and hides. Leave the heat/humidity as it is since they have already been in those conditions. The big thing is to remove the hides and deep substrate so that they can concentrate on eating and drinking (as the video describes). I hope this helps!

[@KaylaUrban]

I just adopted/rescued 2 crabs that were bought at a beach shop over the summer by a coworker and kept in the little plastic tank. I've been following the PPS system. Both crabs have changed shells and been eating. However we're 2 weeks in (75-77 temp right now. Increasing again soon) and even though they only have 1 inch of sand they both now buried themselves. Do you think they're trying to molt this quickly and is that ok in the pps tank? I was hoping I could add more sand before they tried that. They did eat well before burying. I assume I should wait for them to be done with whatever they're doing before upgrading the tank to the full deal, do I continue to increase the temp and humidity weekly with them down there?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you for adopting/rescuing!!! It's possible they are trying to molt. Go ahead and continue increasing heat/humidity per the PPS method. Keep adding food/water, they might be coming up at night to eat and drink.

[@lahayaya]

Great videos! I'm slowly working through all of them. Saw this one about a month too late. I had already moved them into their larger tank and followed the guidance of 6in deep substrate, thinking I was doing the right thing. 4 of the 5 crabs buried deep and haven't been seen much since that first week. One of the crabs is up and around all the time, changing his shell periodically. But he must be lonely, and the others are just MIA. Is there anything I can do other than offering stinky foods? Put a mirror in there? I'm worried the molting crabs are too weak.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Welcome to CCS, we are so glad you found our channel. I fortunately, the only thing you can do is wait for the crabs to return on their own. Digging them up can cause injuries or even death.

[@IntoTheSummer]

Those good dishes you have are perfect in size and height! Where did you get them? We want to move away from the plastic ones we first got.

[@CrabCentralStation]

We got them from Home Depot in the garden section. They are the dishes that go under the plants to catch extra water as it drains.

[@emmyu3380]

So I got three hermit crabs last month and sadly about a week later it passed. I did a TON of research and I thought that may have been all I needed to do but sure enough I have been learning new things everyday like what else to use! I want to adopt another and get it a little more comfortable then my ones now are! My crab sebastian always comes out but pickle is always hiding from me. I did not do the pps method but if you have any tips to get them more comfortable as well as what to do for the new baby I will be adopting soon please let me know! Thanks!

[@CrabCentralStation]

P.P.S. method will definitely help with that! Also, some crabs are just more shy than others. We have a crab who walk to the glass to greet us every time we walk into the room, and another that still startles easily and hides in her shell when we move our hand. We have had both of these crabs for the same amount of time. Sometimes a crab is just shy, and will take a while to warm up to you!

[@Molly8294]

I entered the giveaway 🥰 This video is my favorite. I watched it while setting up a ppds tank.

[@CrabCentralStation]

YES!!!! I'm so glad you found this video and were able to complete PPS with your new crab! You gave him/her the best chance at a great life with you!!! Good job!

[@Prudencejo]

Thank you so much! Which I saw this last week! Our subtrate is too deep. Both crabs have dug and disappeared 😕. They came out and ate day 1. I have changed food daily... it has been at least 5 days since food or water havw been touched... Suggestions? I know we aren't supposed to dig them up. I am worried about them. Not sure where one is. One I can see the shell in a far corner way under the subtrate. Ideas? They are in a 10 gallon tank. I have a 20 gallon for them with heating pads on side of tank.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thanks for joining us on your hermie journey! Welcome to the CCS crab crew! Unfortunately, once the crabs bury down, you just have to wait it out. Digging them up can harm them even more. Keep up the great work of researching and learning!

[@meganstrong444]

Hi! Thank you so much for all of your content. So we purchased two crabs on Saturday and are now watching your videos. Our two crabs are in natural shells. They burrow every day in the 3 inches of substrate but emerge every night. Do we need to remove them and set up our tank as PPS?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hi! Welcome to Crab Central Station! Thank you for watching our videos and for doing research on your new pets. If your crab friends are emerging at night, I would definitely do the PPS method. It is so helpful and we have never lost a crab that successfully completed that process. If they are buried and not emerging on their own, I would leave them be. Digging them up can cause more harm at that point.

[@meganstrong444]

@@CrabCentralStation Thank you so much. They emerged last night, we converted to PPS and are hopeful! We are so grateful for you!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Yay! Great news! Let us know how it goes 😁

[@meganstrong444]

@@CrabCentralStation hi there, thank you so much for all of your videos. We have watched so many and purchased many of your recommended products. Crabs are doing well. One of the crabs is much more active and will be ready for the new tank next week. The other crab is adjusting slower. We have one problem with humidity. We actually bought the thin Acurite gauge. We have small water dishes but humidity keeps going up to the 95% range. I just removed the sand and replaced with dry sand and that seemed to fix it. Overnight however, the heat is back up. We keep the tank vented due to this. Is it possible it is the 10 gallon size tank? Amy suggestions?

[@biohazard9410]

aww i feel so bad, i only have ever gave my crabbies 3-4 inches of sand. Now they get around 7.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Yay! So glad you are giving them more 😊

[@palm-man9467]

Thank you

[@CrabCentralStation]

Great! You found the PPS video! This is a GREAT place to start!

[@palm-man9467]

I got mine at a beach shop Friday trying to put him in his new tank. All of the stuff I needed to get him was so much money And I still need to get him a few more things. Poor hermit crab 🦀 LOL

[@Blooming.Zinnias]

This may be a bit of a silly question! But after the 30 day period, how would you transition them and get them use to the deeper substrate? Do they naturally figure it out (like the depth of the substrate). And also another silly question! Where would you put the hermies when redecorating their tank, like giving them the proper inchs of substrate they need after the 30 days?

[@CrabCentralStation]

They will adjust to the new environment pretty quickly. While you redecorate, just get a tupperware container. Put some substrate and a little hide, maybe some damp moss, and a lid, and they can stay in that while you decorate their tank and add more substrate. You want to have a good plan in place so that they don't have to be in that little container for very long.

[@ANonymous-rx6lu]

@Dani M I have this question too. What do we do about our substrate if we already have 8 inches in there and the store isn't that far off? The Petco has them at 60-65% humidity and 75-77 degrees. Both readings are the cruddy analog dial thermometers. The substrate is about 3/4" of sand which looks pretty damp. The issue is their food is just a plate of pellets. 60-65% is about normal room humidity here, and 77 degrees can easily be our tank heat with the thermostat, which I agree is awesome, I tested it and we can keep it up to about 83 if needed, 75-77 is no problem at all. I'm not sure how to reduce the tank humidity though, because our tank with the water tanks in there keeps it around 85%. I can try cracking the lid a bit, and if the heat gets too low just turn up the thermostat. We also have about 8" of substrate in there. I was thinking about maybe taking only a teeny amount out, like an inch or so, and then covering it snugly with plasticcore or plexiglass and then adding back 1/2" and ecoearth on top of the plastic sheeting to prevent digging. We do have another 10 gal tank, but we have our current crabs down for a molt. They've been down since around 4th of July weekend. So we figure another week or so. The thing is, we can't see the point of letting the crabs at Petco stay there another week or two... or three... in the pet store before we buy them just to wait on the two guys molting to clear out the old tank to use it for PPS... It seems like it would be better to buy them and bring them home now where we can feed and acclimate them properly and them move our two molters into the new Crabitat with the new guys we plan on getting already in there. The way I see it, waiting to buy them just makes them weaker. There are no adoptions here in Juneau Alaska, I did already try to find some. The closest are in Seattle, and we aren't travelling now, obviously. Thanks for your so helpful videos. We have watched them all multiple times because of such good info.

[@CrabCentralStation]

As far as the heat and humidity acclimation goes, you are doing great! Since the pet store wasn't far off for temperature I wouldn't worry too much about that. If you could possibly regulate the humidity for your new friends that would be good. 45%-65% humidity from the pet store is pretty low and I wouldn't recommend throwing the new guys into 85% humidity right away. As far as the PPDS for the new crabs, that is a tough position (especially since you have other crabs molting.) Normally I would suggest you take all but an inch of sand out of your current tank, take out all the hides, and focus on getting good nutrition in your new crabs so they can survive their first molt. Your current molting crabs do pose an issue though. If I understand your situation correctly, it seems you have crabs molting in both your extra 10 gallon tank and your current larger tank? What I would do in this situation is create a temporary ppds tank out of a tote or bucket (the challenge is that you would need to purchase a heat mat for it) This way you can focus on your new carbs nutrition and you won't disturb your currently molting crabs environment.

[@ANonymous-rx6lu]

@@CrabCentralStation Thanks! nope- the molters are by themselves in the small 10 gal tank. the large tank had no crabs. we ended up getting two jumbo females and I covered the substrate with plexiglass, there's no way the big crabs can dig down, but this way they can still reach the water tanks easily, which are about 8 inches deep and walled off with plexiglass, which is one reason I didn't want to remove all the substrate. I have an exoterra topper that has glass doors on the front, and I can crack them open to a certain degree that is smaller than the crab shells (their shells are 2.5" so in a 3/8" crack there's no way they are escaping) and that is keeping their tank about 66-73%. we got a TEENY guy (6mm claw!) and some others who are in about 1-1.5" shells. I was able to find another 10 gallon tank on craigslist and I used a heat mat that was too small for the other tank. I used that reflextix silver bubble wrap stuff on the short end and the two LONG sides. we can watch them thru the short end. and on top of the screen top, which was damaged. I cut the damaged portion out of the half near the window end, and taped everything over carefully. There is seriously less than an inch of substrate in there but these guys are so small they can still pile it up and hide underneath, so I may remove even more. I used craft mesh on the open end of the top and can cover that with plexiglass if it goes too low. I used gaffer tape to make sure they cant escape, but i can peel it up to get in for their food and water. the temp is good around 73-77. the humidity is VERY high though, in the 80% still, so I'm just going to avoid misting it and leave the top open. I don't want to lose heat with the underpowered heat mat. thanks for your response. I rewatched the video again a few times and I think this is going to be pretty close enough for them and that separating them by size is going to prevent the escapes of small guys getting arond the barrier and digging down in the big tank. I figure we can use one of the 10 gallons as the other as an iso tank or as a PPDS tank in the future. thanks so much again for the help. I appreciate having someone to ask questions of with good experience and advice!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Wow! This all sounds really great! The temporary plexiglass bottom is really smart! Do you have a thin layer of sand over top of it? Craft mesh for slowly increased humidity is genius as well... I love these solutions! Your crabby friends seem to be in really great hands :)

[@ANonymous-rx6lu]

@@CrabCentralStation it's all your fault!!😉😉 I've been watching your videos. Yes I put about a half inch substrate evenly over the top of the plastic because the lower substrate was already properly... Humidified? From dryish. I did put a nice chunk of moss in there above the sand but the jumbos in there have 2 1/2" shells so they aren't hiding anyplace even with the moss! I took a few more things out of the bank for the little guys and they are all hunching together now toward the back. We took a photo of their food to make sure we can tell if they are eating at night. Thanks again for all your great videos. They are well thought out and concise with great info. We are in Juneau so we sometimes have to rig things that aren't available.

[@CrabCentralStation]

So glad we have been able to help! Happy crabbing :)

[@cjb44555]

Hi! When you are doing PPS, does the same rule apply of 1 crab + 1 gallon of space? I want to get two more but I would really rather use my 10 gallon tank. Thank you!

[@CrabCentralStation]

You can have more crabs in a PPS situation, however you still don't want to OVER do it as the purpose of this process is to heal sick crabs. They still need a good amount of space and resources so that they don't feel threatened.

[@lecompte2277]

The four people who disliked this must treat there crabs bad and can’t expect that this is the proper care for them Edit: wow this is more likes than I ever get on a comment also my channel for crabs is Viabean11 and my lps one is via bean tv they both have a lps toy for a icon btw lol

[@hezler4430]

My owner treats me very nice.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you so much for all of your support and for loving hermit crabs enough to comment here!

[@chixgotskillz]

Trays soooo sad 🥺..ty!

[@CrabCentralStation]

It really, really is.

[@paultheseaturtle6276]

I was wondering, I just got my hermit crabs a few months ago and I didn't realize this was a thing until now. I did a lot of research (10 gallons per crab, 6 inches of soil/sand so they can molt, what they can eat, humidity, etc.) and it did take a while for the humidity to go up, and the heater took a while to arrive at my house. Will my hermies survive the first year? or should I do this right now? I've also read through some of your responses and Im dealing with another issue that someone else described but dont know what to do about it. One of my hermies have been very active, digging and walking around at night to get food and to bathe, etc. But my other one has been not as active, I don't usually see him, and he's gone under for periods of a few weeks, but then I dont see him eat. I hope hes ok and nothing is happening, but I dont know if hermit crabs molt very often?

[@laurajennings7707]

Hi, I was hoping you could help me. Just got my first two crabs about a week and a half ago and I set up the tank just like you said to in this video (except I skipped the gradual temperature change because the pet store I got them from already had the tank at 85). However, one of the crabs (Cheeto) is acting oddly and I’m not sure what it means. A few days ago he stopped moving around the tank any. He just kind of picked a spot and has been chilling there ever since. He hasn’t moved to eat or drink in days. I know that he’s still alive because I have seen him move a little bit, sometimes he’s hiding in his shell, sometimes his face is poked out, and he’s turned to face the opposite direction a couple of times. But no movement beyond that. Is he about to molt? Should I put the soda bottle around him? I don’t want to cut him off from the rest of the tank if that’s not the case, but I also don’t want my other crab to harm him if he IS molting. What should I do?

[@CrabCentralStation]

This is exactly why it is so good to have a PPDS tank. It makes it so much easier to monitor them. The best thing to do is continue the process. Offer different foods every night. Change the water every other day to keep it fresh. Keep an eye on him. You will definitely know if he is surface molting, he will be shedding his exoskeleton. If that happens, then add the soda bottle. Let us know if you need anything else.

[@nurseathomeasmr]

Also, it’s been hard for me to regulate the humidity. It started out at 65 so I closed the lid and it got up to 85. If I keep the lid open, it drops so I tried just propping the lid open today while I was at work. We will see how that worked. I’m so nervous!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Be careful with propping the lid... crabs can climb the silicone corner of thebtank and escape. It's better to add dry moss, take bubblers out of pools, move pools away from the heater ect.

[@RawrRawr388]

Can you use soil and sand for the substrate? Also can you use hermit crab saltwater conditioner and drinking water conditioner

[@mamajoe9524]

I was wondering why you would increase the temperature by small increments over the pps period. Please explain when you get a chance

[@CrabCentralStation]

Here is a quote from this article on PPDS (formerly called PPS) on the CRABSTREETJOURNAL Website: crabstreetjournal.org/blog/2013/02/21/pps-post-purchase-stress-minimizing-the-impact/ “The most important principal is GRADUATION of environmental conditions. Based on an average, calculated by scientists while they studied components of a hermit crab’s anatomical processes, they noted that it can take up to 96 hours for a crab collected and sampled directly from his native habitat to adjust to a change in environment. This is once the crab reaches his physiological threshold whereby hormonal triggers begin to occur. The hormonal regulation is fueled mostly by the crab’s food resources, but it also can include other regulatory systems. This means that a crab requires time to reduce physical stress by being able to adjust to his immediate circumstance.” This basically means that hermit crabs need a gradual change to their environment during this time so they can acclimate to it. Think about if you stayed in a nice air conditioned home around 72 degrees and then were forced to live outside in the 85 degree heat. We are made to withstand both temperatures, and while 72 is low for a hermit crab; they can survive that temperature (not thrive) and so if we just up the heat by 13 degrees it can shock the regulation system in their body. This is why we gradually increase the temperature over time. We want them to get used to the heat. It would be much easier for us to acclimate to a warm environment if we gradually increased 2 degrees at a time. From 72 to 74 isn’t a huge jump, so we do the same for our hermit crabs! I hope that makes sense and helps you out.

[@misscristina255]

Sorry I’m commenting so much 🥺 but I’ve had one of my crabs for almost 3 weeks & the other one for 1 week. Both of my crabs are in their shells all day & come out just a little bit when it’s dark. Should I separate then do the pps? Or since they’ve been together now do I do it in the same tank? They are currently in a 10 Gallon (that’s what was recommended) I have a new 20 gallon coming in today. Should I keep them in the 10 & do the pps? In the tank do it??

[@CrabCentralStation]

Yes, if they have not dug down, go ahead and do the PPS method. You can put both of them in the 10g tank and work on getting their 20g tank ready.

[@samanthalewallen-smith8873]

I just saved 3 from the beach shops for my kiddos and had no idea all this was needed :) luckily I already had a 20g tank from my bearded dragons baby days... I got those tablets from your list and realized I need to grind them down what’s the best way?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Congrats on your new Hermit Crabs! I cannot remember which tablets you’re referring to, which ones are you talking about?

[@cowjjf]

Wow…had no clue!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thanks for watching!

[@HoldinCoffeeReturns]

So should they be given extra shells while in the PPS tank or wait on that? I feel like they want them. Also, misting... if there is are pools in the tank, there is no point misting with a spray bottle because the pools are taking care of the humidity. Last one... after purchase, am I supposed to bathe them? Or once again, thats what the pools are for?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Great questions! Yes, put in some shells if you have them. No need to mist or bathe them, the pools will take care of the humidity and the hermit crabs need for shell water/drinking.

[@angelaglasscock8721]

Hi! I recently adopted 4 hermit crabs. I've got them in a warm, humid environment and I saw them eating 2 days ago, but haven't seen them eat since. How often do they eat?

[@CrabCentralStation]

They are probably sneaking food when you aren’t looking! Just keep offering enticing dishes and they will divulge eventually!

[@xelexas]

I know you said that you can use their forever home as their pps tank if they're your first crabs; but if I don't quite have that tank set up yet, should I follow these guidelines initially, then add the rest of the substrate and decor after the 30 day period?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Yes, exactly 😊 Great job!

[@Bethypoopoo08]

Hi! I was wondering if I still need to use this method if I’m getting my crabs from someone who didn’t want them anymore and didn’t come straight from a pet store and are already used to captivity. I know it’s still change and may cause stress but I don’t know if it would be necessary.

[@amiesdesserts]

Hi, we just got our crabs yesterday. They came with a 2 gallon tank so we went out and got a 20 gallon. I’m trying to get all the other supplies but we live in a small area so most has to be ordered on Amazon. What size heating mat for a 20 gallon do you suggest? They haven’t moved since they got here (they are hiding in opposite corners of the mini tank) so we are really worried, but I’m trying to get everything perfect for them, thank you!

[@CrabCentralStation]

As they go through PPS they will be quite stagnant. They just need to focus on getting nutrients during this time! I would guess an 11 x 17 inch mat would work!

[@kelbrurger]

im going to adopt 3 purple pinchers when summer comes, because i will be moving soon after school ends. i heard that these animals can stress easily, and stressing is never good and leads to bad things. im watching this video to make sure that the purple pinchers will become comfortable in their new tanks normally. *i have a few questions though, if anyone could answer!* 1.can i do this method using a 30-gallon tank and have the outcome be similar and steps be similar? if not, what would change and should change? 2.how will i add more substrate after this period is finished without stressing them? where should i keep them in the meantime? 3. can i do this method with multiple crabs at once (in my case, itll be three)? if not, what should i do differently? 4. how do i properly clean the things that ill be adding into the tank? (i dont know exactly what ill add as of right now, but if i add fake plants or other climbing things, how should i clean them?) 5. is it okay to have an air plant in the tank during this process? ive heard that they can get the water they need from the humidity in the air, but im not sure if the little levels of substrate and lower humidity levels at the start would be the right environment for the plant. if anybody who can accurately answer these questions could share their thoughts in the replies to my comment, it would help me and other people greatly. *ALSO,* if you're not 100% sure that what you're claiming is correct, tell me in your comment so i can look into it more. thank you!

[@roarindragonfruit]

Hi. We just got two small hermits and both buried under the sphagnum in the PPDS tank almost immediately in relatively the same spot. Anything to be concerned about?

[@CrabCentralStation]

This was a while back, I'm sure they are out of PPDS now. I am so sorry I missed your comment. How are things going now?

[@Saltylounge]

I have a cadge with a fake plant and two types of sand, I also have shells scattered around the cadge and a mini house along with two water pools and a little bridge the humidity in our house is the right amount they need, my mom is not a big shopper and she dose not want to spend to much money I’ve had one crab for over a year now and just got another one do you think that’s just enough for a while until I get an upgrade?

[@DannaGoat]

I didn't know about PPS when setting up my crabs. I stuck huts into their tanks. I am offering foods and bought everything needed, I didn't add any external heating factors because it's summertime where I live and I have them in my garage, so the temperature has already naturally been hot. I imagine it was the same temperature where they came from ocean city New Jersey. Now I am at a cross roads should I remove the hermy huts????? 2 of them have been staying under there a lot

[@CrabCentralStation]

How are things going now?

[@theanswerisa3758]

A quick question! After you get through the PPS method, how do you add in the remaining substrate and other parts of the tank without stressing the crabs out too much? Doing research to maybe get some and I love this method but I’m also a little concerned that taking the crabs out to put more substrate in the tank may cause excess stress to them, but adding a lot and shoving a big hand in there might be just as stressful.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Good question. You can place the crabs in a small container for a few hours while you get their tank ready. It will be a little stressful, but after 30 days of healing in PPDS… they can recover much faster. Just make sure you have everything you need for the tank ready to go so that the crabs don’t have to be out of their tank for long.

[@theanswerisa3758]

@@CrabCentralStation Thank you!! I’m hoping to give them a nice big tank, so hopefully as that will help them adjust as well. :D

[@ashlynnicole9588]

Do you have to let the crab go through it’s first molt in the ppds tank or can they just be transferred into my permanent tank?

[@VoxAkumasHorns]

does direct sunlight work too instead of a heating lamp. The room we will be keeping them in will be warm as well.

[@CrabCentralStation]

You don't want tonuse heat lamps at all. They create hot spots in the tank as well as zap humidity. Natural sunlight as you 12 hour light cycle is just fine. However, if your tank is in front of a window, cover the sub on the back of your tank with some paper, the humidity in thebtank with the sunlight will cause mildew to grow on the substrate that faces the sun.

[@valshull3297]

Hi! I just found your page and am a slight bit overwhelmed. I’ve watched several videos. We have two hermit crabs, Summer and Old McDonald. I’m sad to admit I didn’t have much of a clue about how to care for them until today. We got them over a month ago. Summer doesn’t really move around much and we rarely see her eat. Old McDonald is a bit bigger and more social and active. Should I do the PPS method? We were told they liked the colorful rocks so that’s what we have in their tank now. Terrible I know 😕 any help/advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Welcome to CCS! We are so glad you have joined us on your journey! My best advice is to keep watching our videos, become a member at LHCOS (Land Hermit Crab Owners Society) Facebook group, and then make changes as you can.

[@valshull3297]

@@CrabCentralStation thank you for your reply! I’m going to do that now!

[@cloudysoup4555]

Ok, do we have to do this because I just set up a very nice tank that looks like ur tanks and I will if it’s necessary. Also do you know the percentage of deaths due to being overly stressed?

[@CrabCentralStation]

If your crab comes from the hermit crab industry, it is best to do this method. The crabs are extremely stressed, and putting them into a perfect environment right away can be stressful. The high jump in temp and humidity will also be a shock, coming from environments where the crabs often have little to no heat and humidity regulation. Additionally, putting them in a tank with deep substrate will encourage them to dig down and de stress, often before hydrating or eating enough to be able to survive the dig. I couldn’t say an exact percentage of post purchase stress deaths, but it’s extremely high :(

[@duck3387]

Hi a few days ago we got hermit crabs as an impulse buy (2 of them). After doing a lot of research and watching your videos we set up a pps tank (10 gallons). We want to have 3 total and get one more. They're currently quite small with one being a bit bigger than the other. The ones we would get are smaller than the 2 I have. Is that ok? And would 3-4 be too many for a 10 gallon even thought they're small? And when the time comes to move them into a permanent tank what would be the best size for the amount of hermitcrabs?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Great job doing your research! I’m glad you’re doing the PPS method! A 10 gallon for the PPS is good, that’s what we use. For a forever tank you want 10 gallons per crab so 3 crabs = 30 gallon or 4 crabs = 40 gallon. Thanks for watching and joining us on your journey!

[@Secret65548]

Okay so I have never ever owned or cared for anything that needs a tank. I am terrified of suffocating the new crabs I adopted with a glass lid. I have a 10 gallon aquarium that I set them up in (2 crabs, planning on a bigger tank once I move), and I currently have a screen lid but I'm having issues with humidity so I've been keeping a towel on it. You guys recommend a glass lid but is there anyway to get air flow through it? I don't want to risk not giving them enough air for the small amount of time I open the lid for maintenance.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hi! Hermit crabs don’t breathe the same way that a mammal or reptile may. They don’t have lungs like other land animals. It’s similar to that of an amphibian that can be on land and water. These modified gills breathe through the humidity in the air. Don’t worry they will be able to breathe 😊

[@mearkat123]

Question, I noticed one if my hermit crabs took off its shell in the salt water pool and is just laying around on the bottom. He looks a little whiteish in color but I can see his little legs moving a little bit in there. Should I be worried? Its been less than 24hrs.

[@positivelyaves]

hi! i got 5 crabs about two months ago and had no idea about this method. sadly only 2 are living now.. i have 4 inches of substrate (sand and eco) and two pools with fresh food. what should i do to reduce their stress? luckily they are boldly colored and regularly eat and go to the pools, and i see them out often. also, what should i do when i get more crabs? do i do a smaller separate tank before putting them in? or do i reduce conditions in the tank for them?

[@CrabCentralStation]

If you get more crabs (wild caught) you will need to set up a seperate PPDS tank for them. A 10 gallon works great! For the crabs you have now... just continue to work towards good care for them, that will be best for them.

[@ataskes]

Hi! I just adopted two crabs 2 days ago from a buy & sell group as an impulse buy and am now learning a LOT about them quickly. They have been housed in a tank with pet store sand and only one pool of water since their original owner bought them about 10 weeks ago. I knew enough to make two shallow pools of water when we got them in our care, but my instant ocean isn’t due to arrive for another week so all I have is sea salt to mix with water or that crab step 2 water mix. Which option is best for a temporary measure? Also, I just got play sand today but I’m afraid to disturb the crabs, as one seems to be up on some fake grass in a top corner of the tank and isn’t moving a lot, or eating that I can tell. What do I do? Disturb the little guy to set up the tank properly? Or wait a week for him to relax a bit and THEN add in proper water baths and sand?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hi! So sorry we missed your comment. Add in the new substrate (5:1 ratio of play sand to eco earth) when you can, as long as your hermit crabs aren't molting. I assume you have the proper salt by now. Let me know if there is anything I can help with!

[@briannawarren4174]

I've got my eye on a couple of hermit crabs that I think need to be rescued, and I'm pretty sure they have mites of some kind. What can I do about the mites during this transition period before I move them to their main tank?

[@CrabCentralStation]

What kind of mites do they have? Some are harmful and some are not. I would definitely quarantine the new crabs in a PPS tank... like the one in this video. Bathing the crabs daily can help get the mites off, if they are the bad mites. If you can send me a picture of the crabs with the mites, I can help you out. [e-mail]

[@xx_Neutral_xx]

after watching these videos, i feel so overwhelmed about buying my son a hermit crab from the beach. i am stressing out so bad about all the stuff i need to buy now. they should not be selling these in those stores! This poor little hermie. i feel so bad. i have nothing right now other than the box i brought him home in and the kit that came with it.

[@tammykeister7878]

The link for the tank light on Amazon doesn't load properly. Can you please let me know the which one you recommend for a 20 gallon tank? Thanks so much!

[@CrabCentralStation]

I updated the link! Let me know if that works!

[@mollyjordan1656]

Is it necessary to clean the newly purchased sand from home depot? I’ve seen some say that it should be baked to kill any bacteria and i’ve seen some say that it is safe to use straight from the store. thank you!

[@CrabCentralStation]

You can bake it if you want, however play sand has already been sanitized so it isn’t necessary. We have never baked our sand. We do let it dry out before adding it into our tank

[@mollyjordan1656]

Crab Central Station Awesome. thanks so much!

[@randomthingsaboutmylife1254]

With this method every week would I take the decor,water bowls, and crabs out of the tank then add more substrate?

[@CrabCentralStation]

No, during PPS you want very shallow substrate to discourage burying and molting. After a month of getting good food, water, and heat/humidity... then they have the nutrients and are ready to molt. Hides can be added after PPS as well. You really want them to focus of nutrition.

[@sarahwilley2024]

Where did you get that heat lamp please and thank you?

[@kytasellers2890]

I hope you can get back to me I saw this video after I built my enclosure and I put to much subsoil in and there digging holes is it safe to take them out and remove the soil to the correct depth to follow these steps

[@CrabCentralStation]

Good morning! Welcome to CCS! We are so glad you found our channel 😃 Unfortunately, if your crabs have already dug under the substrate, you’ll have to leave them to do their thing. However, if they dug down but come up on their own (sometimes they just dig holes for fun) and you can remove some substrate - that would be great! A good motto in the crab world, #nodigez

[@stacijones6706]

This maybe a silly question but my humidity has been all over the place between 74% to 85 at varies times, I'm venting the tank which puts it around 78-80% but I'm trying to do the pps method. Do I need to restart because it has not been constant. The crabs are moving around, eating and I even saw 1 drinking or getting in pool this morning 🤗

[@CrabCentralStation]

You don't need to start over. It is difficult sometimes to keep a PPS tank consistent due to its size and low substrate. It soundsike you are doing the right thing. Vent when you can. Dry moss will also soak up some extra humidity.

[@AllisonIvanov15]

Do I still need to use this method If the pet store I’m buying the crabs from does an amazing job of caring for them.

[@Mombot101]

Thank you for this video. Please help? I recently repurchased hermit crabs. We had purchased some a few years back and I'm not really sure what happened to them. My daughter and I are back and forth to what actually happened to them. Now that we have two more and I know what I know anxiety is to the roof on how they've been treated. It's so sad. My issue right now is the four stage PPS method. The first 7 days they spent in the cage next to me in the bed I fed them soaked the sponge with water and there was activity at night. Also, I took them out at night before bedtime to stretch their legs. Creating a cave where they both ended up. Not knowing of the PPS method, when I put them in their new tank, one crawled to the back and just sat there while the other explored the tank for a day or two and then buried itself. A day later the first one buried itself. What do I do? 4 stage of PPS method out the door.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Oh no! Foe the PPS method, the sand should be no more than one or two inches! This way the crab cannot bury themselves, and instead is forced to eat and drink to catch up on nutrients. Unfortunately, the best thing to do now is to wait until they come up from their dig. Once they do, move them into a tank with proper heat and humidity and supply lots of high protein and high calcium foods.

[@californiapoppy78]

Hmm well I found this video about 3 weeks after I got my crab. I set it up based on the OTHER tank setup video. So at this point, do I start over or stick with 80 degrees and high humidity deep substrate?

[@daydreambloom]

Same thing here, what did you end up doing?