Is My Hermit Crab Dead or Molting?

[@corrinaingels787]

Thank you so much for this! My one new hermit crab has been under the substrate for about a week and a half now but I woke up in the middle of the night yesterday and saw him eating.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Great! I'm glad this video helped you. It's a little nerve wracking in the beginning. Thanks for watching!

[@AdventureIndiana]

Thank you for all your videos. I came into owning 2 hermit crabs without knowing anything about them. We won 2 of them as prizes at a county fair. So, I now have them in a 29 gallon tank, about 8” of substrate, fresh water and salt water, appropriate heat and humidity. I made them the 2nd best home they could have (being in wild the best). I think they are doing well, I have done my best to provide for them. At the fair, they were in a wire cage, packed in by the dozen. Pretty sure they were not going to survive

[@CrabCentralStation]

I think those are some pretty lucky crabs to have you caring for them!

[@amandakelly8868]

This is the same reason I came to KZbin my niece and nephew won 2 from the fair as well and we know nothing about them so I've been trying to figure all of this out. Thank you so much

[@erasercatgeometrydash]

Thank you for this information! Today my hermit crab molted and it’s been 3 days since they came here! This information is really important and useful, thank you.

[@succulentcrabcare]

my hermit crab has not surfaced for around 3-4 months. moulting has never taken that long for my crabs before! i’m super worried, thank you for this video though 💕

[@CrabCentralStation]

If you have larger crabs, that is normal. Fi gers crossed you see him/her really soon!

[@DuNkLeRVoGeL]

Did your hermit crab ever resurface?

[@jiinavex1890]

Same here but he’s about average sized and hasn’t come up in over a month :( i got super worried and ended up digging him up for a quick peek and he looks totally lifeless and hanging out of the shell. no twitching or anything. since he doesn’t smell though, i covered him back up but i seriously cannot tell if he’s molting or dead 😩😩😩

[@Toastie-c2o]

@@jiinavex1890if the crab is limp most likely dead but if it stays stiff when touched (like the claw see if it can be moved) it’s alive

[@The_Bible_Girl7]

I’m so happy you made this informative video! I would probably freak out if I didn’t know this! You rock Crab Central Station! And thank you so much for taking the time out of your days to put this content out there!

[@CrabCentralStation]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching and supporting us!

[@Alexander0888]

This channel has become my go to for my crabs!! So informative, thank you!!!!

[@CrabCentralStation]

That's AWESOME! That's why we called our channel Crab Central Station.... our goal was to create one place for all things hermit crab! We appreciate your support and I'm sure you crabbies are pretty happy too!

[@NAJErEa91]

Thank Q so much ! I had waited for 3 weels; no movemnt. And so this morning i made peace with the fact that my Hermie, Cancer the Crab (my zodiac sign) had passed away. I had funeral prepartions underway. Had a velvet lined jewelry box that i was going to place her in. Went to lift her up and place her inside and she resurrected!!! Haaaaaalelujah ! 🙌but now i know after watching ur video that she wasnt dead in the first place she was just molting and now most importantly i know THAT IF THERE IS NO FISHY ODOR CHANCES ARE THE HERMIE IS NOT DEAD! THERE HAS BEEN NO FISBY SMELL THUS I KNOW SHE IS JUST MOLTING AND I WILL LEAVE HER VE AND TRUST THE PROCESS! THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING! 🦀💕

[@AngelaShedd]

I got my hermit crab a few days ago and he started digging and i didnt know if he was molting or just digging for fun but this helped a lot the bad thing is i dont have a squirt bottle so that also my be a reason

[@bobbaker9230]

Thank you so much for the informative videos 🙂. We bought hermit crabs without knowing anything about them, but I watched many videos and had the tank fairly well set up (eco earth, play sand, 6 inches, extra shells, humidity and temp in check, etc...) 1 of them had a painted shell that it came with and within a couple days he ditched it and allowed me to remove it from the tank. After a couple days 3 out of 4 of the crabs (2 small crabs and 1 of the large ones) dug down and have not surfaced since. I have a gopro on them with night vision and I see the 4th (large crab) moving around every night, and many times in the day, but the other 3 crabs are still burrowed for 4 weeks now. I'm hoping they are just destressing and will come up soon, I was hoping to use the smell as an indicator, but as you mentioned with the correct amount of substrate you likely won't.

[@emilygilbert9044]

any update? one of our new crabs buried themselves and we are worried! thanks!

[@ashjem4447]

Wonderful information! Best crab channel out there🙌🏼❤️

[@CrabCentralStation]

Oh my goodness! Thank you so much!

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

My first hermit crab dig down. How do you handle the suspense? It’s only heightened because I lost one lost week & I worry that he (the one who had passed) had been exposed to the calcium sand…this other guy was not (as far as I know)…and he spent a full 24 hours in the food dish, eating all the Basic Crab food & crushed meal worms, so…hoping for success this time!

[@CrabCentralStation]

It was difficult in the beginning... but gets easier over time. Be patient, let them be crabs, trust the process.

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

@@CrabCentralStation lol do you sell a tank cling that says, “Let crabs be crabs; they know what they’re doing” ? 🤣

[@tdejongel]

Hi! I recently got a hermit and so did my brother, they live in the same tank together and have seemed ok. However my brother crab has been in the substrate for a long time now and this morning we noticed it in a new shell. My hermit has been roaming around on the surface

[@CrabCentralStation]

Sounds like they are doing hermit crab things, that's good news!

[@jacksonsparrow8865]

I added hermits to my saltwater aquarium and i noticed the next day one of them appeared lifeless without its shell. No movement, curled up in a ball and it wasnt buried in the sand, it was just laying on the sand substrate. Im not sure if it was molting or died, would you happen to know? (im referring to blue leg hermit crabs, they are underwater not land)

[@PatricksBasics]

How long can hermit crabs go without eating while molting? my crab just started molting and hasn't come up for food and water yet.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Great question! We have had some of our larger crabs molt for over 8 months! They store up food and water in a molt sac to help them sustain their molt. They also carry water in their shells that helps to keep them moist.

[@PatricksBasics]

@@CrabCentralStation ok, thank you so much for the info!

[@OrieButler]

Thank you so much! One of the mistakes I made as a beginner crab owner was digging them up. I've learned to let them do their thing!

[@thetoastyferrets]

Today i went to change my water pools in my hermitcrab tank one of my pools had cracked (water went all over the tank) so it was time for new ones! My new pools are just a little but deeper so i had to dig down in the substrate a bit, to my surprise i found 2 of my crabs under there both molting i had not seen these guys for 8 MONTHS!!! I had to disturb their molt sadly because of the flood to my tank. I am keeping a super close eye on the both of them i moved them into a bin (for less then a hour) so i could fix the flood. I put them about 2 inches from the top of the substrate so if they wanted to come up it would be super easy or if they needed to continue molting they could.

[@aliennathan6089]

Thank you I thought my hermit crabs were dead but now I know they’re not, some days later they came up! Now I know how to See if they’re molting

[@CrabCentralStation]

Awesome! I'm songlad our videos are helping you. Thanks for watching 😊

[@StrawveryPatch]

My hermit crab, Escapee, which I’ve had for almost three years, started surface molting and I noticed a couple of days ago, but they’ve been in the same spot for about 3 days and the old exoskeleton hasn’t moved at all. I didn’t smell anything, except for the smell of Escapees food, but my father said that he smelled something strange(my hermit crab is sometimes cared for by my father). My father also decided it would be a good idea to pick Escapee up because he thought my crab was dead, and he said that if he moved the crab a bit then it would’ve fallen out, but the crab looked almost stiff(?) to me and I didn’t see movement, the old exoskeleton did not fall off, and I’m worried that the hermit crab is dead. Please reply because I’ve never experienced a molt with my hermit crab and I’m not sure if Escapee is dead or not, wether because of the movement caused by my dad or not😥

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hello, I'm sorry you are experiencing this with your hermit crab right now. It doesn't usually take 3 days to shed the exoskeleton. It sounds like he may have gotten stuck while shedding. You can wait another day or two, but I'm afraid if he hasn't completed the shed by then, it probably means that he has passed. If you want to take some pictures and email them to us we might be able to better help you with a visual. [e-mail]

[@ravagedcore131]

So I bought a large group of hermit crabs from the same store. The ones that buried immediately have not come up in 4 months to my knowledge I usually only see the same 2-5 crabs out of 14.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Depending on how poorly they were kept in the store, how slowly you acclimated them to proper conditions, and the current conditions, will all play a role in survival.

[@ryanellis3179]

This is a great and informative video. We just brought 2 hermies home from a souvenir shop from vacation for our 3 year old. We just went and spent $250 on a new tank/accessories for them with half soil and half sand substrate and they burrowed into the soil under their hiding log about a day after. The onlt thing that worries me is that it looks like they burrowed together, is that normal?

[@cedggr7312]

Hi I know that this video is 3 years old, but I followed you guys on my hermit crab journey I don't know if you will be able to answer this or not. One of my hermit crabs went under to malt I believe and I think from what I can see the shell is empty he molted next to the glass. So I can clearly see that the show is empty did he die or is he just in the sand?

[@mariahadams972]

Love your channel!! But question. One of my hermit crabs has been in the exact same spot on top on the substrate for 5 days. Should I be concerned?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you! We are so glad you are a part of our #CrabCrew! Hermit Crabs are nocturnal by nature and are much more active at night. If you are worried that your crab is not moving at all at night you can try and smooth out the sand in the tank right before you go to bed. Then when you wake up in the morning check and see if there are any hermie tracks in the sand.

[@BlazeTice-i3e]

One of mine has been down there for an hour or two. And the other one is very happy and active. But should I worry about the one that dug down? It's been and hour or two and he hasn't came back up yet. And he hasn't even moved.

[@dr.bhoctopus9265]

Thanks Again Crab Central!! Your videos save so many tiny lives!!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you so much! We hope you enjoy today's video!

[@dr.bhoctopus9265]

@@CrabCentralStation oh always!! My first boy Shuriken just finished his second molt with me. His first one was a terrifying week long surface molt. This second one was after graduating from the PPD tank. He was done about 3 weeks but is a beautiful deep red

[@dr.bhoctopus9265]

@@CrabCentralStation yalls new tank is mindblowing and crab life goals hahahhaa

[@CrabCentralStation]

Yay! I'm so glad he survived his scary molt. That can always be really hard to watch. Thanks for loving our tank! We seriously can't stop looking at the crabs in there 😂

[@doja105]

Hi! My hermit crab just came up from molting three days ago and ever since then I haven’t been able to tell if he’s eating or not. He’s also seeming kind of sluggish and he hasn’t moved at all last night and just sits in his shell with his legs out face out. If I come close he moves back into his shell but he just sits in the same spot. I’m not sure if it’s because he just molted or if he’s sick. Last night I fed them some apples, tomatoes and peanut butter hoping he would eat them but I don’t think he did

[@doja105]

I’m sorry to say he passed away

[@danioden4280]

:(( i'm sorry for your loss

[@CrabCentralStation]

I’m sorry to hear that! It happens to even the best of keepers.

[@sara664ann]

What if I have more than one hermit crab how can I be sure the other is coming up of my other one is making marks on the sand? I don’t think he’s coming up at all he seems to be putting himself all the way at the bottom of the tank

[@edgarmartinez7155]

2:35 what is that herm eating and where can i get some?

[@CrabCentralStation]

That is called millet spray. You can find it online or in your local pet shop - even Walmart pet isle - usually kept by bird food/supplies. This is a great foraging food for hermit crabs. Just place it on the sub, in a coco hut, on a branch. It doesn't mold, so leave it until they eat it all!

[@Canigetonelargepizzaplz344]

My hermit crab is service molting I put a cup over him some air holes so he doesn’t get harmed by my other crab. It’s been three days since he’s shattered his exoskeleton when do I let him out? I don’t know what to do.

[@jennab5804]

Hi there! We have 4 hermits that all went down to molt between 9-10 months ago. Cleo was the smallest and I gave up hope for her returning awhile ago but still hoped the other 3 larger guys were taking they’re time. Today I decided to clean out the tank because I’ve given up on any sign of their return and when I was taking out the moss and the first layer of substrate I heard scraping on the glass. I can’t believe it! The longest molt for any prior was 5 1/2 months so this time they doubled!! So I resoaked the moss and put some dry foods in hoping to draw one out tonight😃

[@CrabCentralStation]

What a wonderful discovery! So sorry about your Cleo 😞 molts can sometimes be very challenging for crabbies! Feeding high calcium and protein will help aid them as they molt and can sometimes make for quicker return times!

[@tiffanymcglothlin1003]

Yea the freeze from 5 degree weather and no electricity not being turned back on soon enough got a few of mine even under the sand that i found when i had changed to a bigger tank.

[@CrabCentralStation]

So sad 😞 I'm sorry for your loss.

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

You always give great advice on Hermit Crab care and behavior. Thank you 😊

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you for watching!

[@cockroach1968]

I have a quick question if anyone wants to give their opinions and answers on. So this doesn't really have to do with molting per say rather just hermit crabs in general. Watching your last video about your hermit crab breeding paradise got me thinking is it possible to create a crab "farm" in an inside or outside environment. Lets say you had a heated shed or a covered area of a backyard that is roughly the same size as a master bedroom (200-350 square feet) In which you would fill up with only natural decor and live plants to create the best possible natural enclosure that would accurately recreate the crabs natural habitat or theoretically. Lets also say that your water pools were roughly the size of a small bathtub filled with sand at the bottom of the salt and gravel at the bottom of the fresh (natural rocks to get in and out)(and perhaps 60+ inches) Lets also say you had a humidifier to recreate rain and maybe had isopods or springtails. Do you think it would be possible to 1 make that type of space and 2 to have the hermit crabs thrive in that space(im talking a large colony).

[@CrabCentralStation]

Theoretically, yes. Realistically, probably not. You would need to monitor the space for mold, bacteria, insect infestations, floods, do partial and compete water changes, you would need a ton of shells, feeding that many would get rather costly, being able to extract the zoea from the salt water pool to Rais them would be nearly impossible. But!!!! I love big dreams! ❤

[@cockroach1968]

@@CrabCentralStation Wasnt a dream for me as I would proabbly never be able to do that lol. I was more or so thinking perhaps if large business or a company did this.

[@CrabCentralStation]

@@cockroach1968 I would love to help set up a large exhibit at a zoo!

[@cockroach1968]

@@CrabCentralStation That would be very cool. Curiosity got the best of me and now i'm looking at prices just cause lol. Considering the sizes of those pools I would say you could possibly house beneficial bacteria and zoea food sources, and also have a effective filter again just would be extremely expensive.

[@asasinclair3341]

@@CrabCentralStation i feel like this would be a much better and sustainable way to sell hermits! a large area, maybe with a glass wall for shoppers… these animals, while still being taken and imported, would at least have a much better shot at being taken care, in store and once their sold :)

[@KogXV]

If my crabs are molting, is it fine for me to be lean with the food in the tank as well? Very informative channel! I am glad to be starting my crab journey!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Yes, if all of your crabs are molting and you are 100% sure of that, you can be lean on the food. Keep up the water because that helps with humidity. You can keep foraging items: leaves, bark, moss, worm castings, green sand, oyster shell or cuttlefish bone.

[@TheKandisEE]

2 of our 3 new hermit crabs have been hiding under the substrate for several days. Being a new hermit crab owner after my kids picked them out with grandpa, I created a habitat, but I am learning that I missed a few things. The tank heater will go on the back tomorrow, and I need to add more and better substrate. (I have mostly good sand, but I also mixed in calcium sand before reading about how it can possibly cause harm. They're little guys and I don't want to stress them more but I DO want to finish their crabitat correctly so they can thrive. My question is, can I add subtstrate to the rest of the tank so it is deeper and more habitable w/out causing too much stress? Should I add more substrate on top of them? I need deeper substrate and I bought eco earth this time. I'm thinking they are just chilly, so I'm hoping I can warm up the tank, get humidity up and they will come out if they aren't molting.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Good morning 🌄 if you have calcium sand in your substrate, you definitely want to completely change it out. The calcium sand acts like concrete when it gets wet and can cement them into their shells, harden on their gills, cake up and harden in their leg joints. You want to use 5 parts play sand to 1 part eco earth. Too much eco earth does not hold molt caves as well, holds too much monster causing molt, floods, and bugs are really attracted to eco earth. If your crabs are buried though, you don't want to dig them up. Try adding the heat mat to warm the tank. Feed some good stinky food, cooked shrimp, scrambled eggs, tuna fish. Check on them at night around 10:00 when lights have been off for a couple hours. Welcome to CCS! Let us know if you have more questions!

[@TheKandisEE]

@@CrabCentralStation well hello!! Thank you for replying, your input and channel is very helpful while I navigate this unknown world that fell in my lap via my kids. I mixed in twice as much hermit beach sand the next day bc they came to me in an unsuitable, small container and I snagged whatever I could to make a habitat ASAP. I feel terrible not knowing these things but I will get their crabit corrected right away. I know exactly where the two are hiding and the other is active and happy, so I think I can fix half of the tank substrate today without disturbing them. Thank you for the food suggestions, I will give them some eggs and tuna tonight & add more plants to hopefully entice Frank and Lenny to come out so I can correct the rest of the substrate. 🤞 Thanks again, you've been very helpful and I appreciate you!

[@CrabCentralStation]

@@TheKandisEE We totally understand, we started our journey just like you. We started our channel when my daughter's saw the need for helpful advice and asked to start a KZbin channel. We still work on it together, which I love 🥰. Please feel free to ask any questions, we are happy to help!

[@TheKandisEE]

@@CrabCentralStation I do have another question...if the two buried had any of the calcium sand in their shells, will they get it out on their own? Will bathing in their pools help or hinder that process? Thanks again for taking the time to respond. I now have play sand to mix with EE per your recommendation so we are on our way to a happy home for them thanks to y'all! ❤️

[@CrabCentralStation]

Since they haven't been in the calcium sand very long, I'm thinking they probably don't have a lot caked up in their shell yet. They should hopefully be able to get in the pools and clean out their shells on their own (just provide them with a saltwater and fresh water pool deep enough for them to submerge in. Give them an easy way in and out...they will take care if the rest).

[@amberbordeau5284]

Also a couple days ago he was making noise at bottom. Im worried as a crabbie parent

[@littlevanlittle5918]

Hey i have 4 hermit crabs, the first weeks they were fine and everything, now all of them are underneath substrate...i digged up one because i was afraid, it was a mistake but i put him back..

[@auggiesaquarium9120]

Sooooooooo... It's a long story but to simplify it I accidentally dug up my hermit crab and I don't know what to do. I thought he was dead but when I touched his shell he moved now I don't know what to do. Please help as soon as possible. Update: (about three hours later) My hermit crab came out of molting... without a shell. I watched your naked crab video and THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'm currently waiting the hour that you have to leave him alone and I hope he an out with a shell. When I took out his old shell (witch was burried under the sand where her was molting.) and it had parts if his exoskeleton in it so I think that may be why he came out of his shell. I'm def not a crab expert I've only had them for three months.

[@melissaahoskins]

My crabs have been digging for over a month. I know they come up to eat occasionally but I rarely see them. However, my houseplants had a fungus gnat infestation which spread to the crab substrate. I don’t know what to do! 😭

[@CrabCentralStation]

You can put some olive oil on a paper plate and wave it around in the tank and the gnats will stick to the plate. Stop feeding fresh foods and only feed dry foods for a couple weeks. Change out the water often. Make sure the tank is 100% sealed.

[@SheriStClair-ht6xq]

I accidentally removed my shell from my molting hermit crab I put a bottle over it to protect it and put eggshells and some honey and egg how long do I wait before I take the bottle off

[@rorysjade]

Hi! We are new to owning crabs and we’ve created our crabitat based on your recommendations! We have 2 crabs in a 20gallon tank. One is active the other one not so much. They haven’t eaten in three days. What should we do. (We feed them fruit and veggies...new selections every day) They’re temp is at 80 l, humidity is at 60.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hello! Welcome to the "crabby" life! Did you do the PPS method for acclimating new crabs? All crabs have different activity levels. The humidity is pretty low, it should be 75%. You can try foraging items such as leaves, bark, cholla, worm castings, green sand, and moss. Scrambled eggs are a good thing to try.

[@anneke06]

Is it normal for the crabs to not bury themselves during moult? I'm afraid I may had discarded a crab who was not moving at all for the past two weeks but didn't smell. His eyes were dried up & lil antennas were pulled close to his body.

[@BibbleTheHOLYLord]

You are saving crabs lives by making this vid.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you so much, Sophie Ricci! We appreciate your support!

[@taytakesthedub]

could you make a video on how you made your tank? ( tanks on bigger tanks) im looking to get a bigger tank and dont want to get rid of the one i have now so i was wondering how you made yours

[@gingerhellcat7338]

My roommates and I brought 2 crabs last week and were misinformed on care and habitat set up. The smallest of the 2 buried himself right before we relocated them to a bigger and better tank. Should we be concerned if our crab is molting in calcium based sand? Also, what are some things we can do for our other crab while his tankmate is molting so he is not lonely?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Welcome to CCS! We are so glad you found our channel. It's best to leave the one buried alone to finish molting. Then change the substrate when he/she comes back up. The other crab will be okay by himself for now.

[@Heyreptiles]

I do have one question I’m not I’m getting that thing is a 1 gallon tank and I’m afraid that if he wrote QCCCO he’s here will die because yeah so can you call me back and tell me is it a big deal for the 1 gallon tank because I am very scared I’m a kid and I don’t want iPad be dying in a few months

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hi! I'm a bit confused. Are you asking about if you can have a tank that is one gallon for your hermit crab?

[@Heyreptiles]

No I’m asking if it’s safe if it is because I don’t want my homographs to die

[@Lala-tu9yh]

@@Heyreptiles what are homographs?

[@CrabCentralStation]

I do not recommend keeping a hermit crab in a 1 gallon tank. It is really too small to fit everything they need. Hermit crabs love to climb and explore and they really can't do that in such a small tank! We have a video on tank size that explains this further

[@Heyreptiles]

I know it’s too small but can you tell me how much a 10 gallon tank cost so I can get the 10 gallon tank and everything that they need because if I don’t I will not be at school KZbin or that I always want to be like you so yeah

[@rksanders13]

Hello am new to hermit crabs thanks to my son. How do or what do I use to clean the wood we have in our tank?it's getting some mold on it,am going to take everything out and clean it and change the bedding and sand. Could I use white vinegar and then let the wood dry good before putting it back it. Am having trouble with keeping humidity right .I've got an different heater on the way from beam farm...thanks

[@astrickland897]

I am nervous because I did my substrate mix backwards 🤦🏼‍♀️ too much eco earth. All but 1 are down right now and I'm worried 😫 I have 1 that molted in the coconut hut but I don't know what to do about my substrate if they're all down

[@CrabCentralStation]

The only thing you can do is wait for all of them to surface and then change out the substrate.

[@meredithhass9549]

Thanks for the awesome info! love that birch tower in their habitat!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thanks! Right? Isn't it the coolest?!

[@beyoutiful7575]

My rescue crab is in a temporary tank and dug himself in the substrate on the second day he was with me and hasn’t come up since (only been a few days) but I feel better. He was in bad conditions so I am now thinking it’s just stress. I’m just concerned because I’ve been watching the food and it has not been touched at all since then! Thanks for your videos!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you for rescuing! Hopefully he is distressing and recovering. I hope you see him soon!

[@courtneymurach6854]

Hey there! We got a new crab about 6 or 7 months ago, and he went under the substrate maybe a month after we got him and we havent seen him since. We had another go under shortly after, and we havent seen that one since either. Both of them are a little smaller than a golf ball, shell included. I'm just wondering if this is normal or if theyve likely died and what should we do? We have two other crabs, one which is up most of the time, the other will disappear periodically then come up for a little bit. Right now both of those crabs are up, but we still havent seen the two that have been under for 6ish months

[@ShelbyTaylor-b6t]

Hi. I acquired some hermies and the owner had them in a tank with only dirt. I can see the two in the dirt and they have been in the same exact spot for about two weeks. Can you please help? Are they dead or just molting? Thank you! 🙏

[@adayinthelifeofolivia651]

Our hermit had been acting strange, I was hoping he was molting. We left him alone for awhile, he never moved. I checked in on him again today and when I picked him up he completely fell out of the shell and definitely was pretty stinky 🥺😭. I didn't know the needed that much sand until about two months ago. As soon as I put the sand in the tank, our other hermit crab immediately buried himself.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Oh no! I’m so sorry 😞…. That definitely sounds like he has passed.

[@paulajacobs1759]

I have a question. My hermit crab went under my shallow sand in my P.P.S. tank and I don't know what to do because it's time for him to switch and I got a tank for him and other things but he's under shallow sand 😨 I don't know if its normal or not

[@CrabCentralStation]

If they decide to molt during PPDS - there is nothing you can do. Just let him finish his molt and then move him to the new tank afterwards 😊

[@pattiespetitetanks6181]

At what point do you dig up your hermit crab if it doesn't reappear after a molt? Depending on the size ...say the large crab..would you wait a year and then pad that a few months and then dig up the hermie if he never came up and there was never a smell?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Never dig up the crab. If you are wanting to upgrade your tank and you are waiting for all of your crabs to surface to be able to move them over. I would wait six months to a year depending on the size of the crab.

[@ghostprime8895]

I just got 2 hermit crabs about 2 days ago and one of them I see quite often at night but the other I havnt seen since the day I got him. Should I be concerned?

[@CrabCentralStation]

This is a great video to answer your question :)

[@ClarrDablueberry]

At 1:56 you have a great crab wheel! What did you use to make it?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thanks! The crabs LOVE that wheel! We filmed the whole process and will have a DIY coming out soon 😊!

[@chriscampbell4095]

We lifted our new hermit crab yesterday and we thought it fell out of the shell (and we also thought it was dead), but it must have just finished molting. THe exoskeleton fell out of the shell, but we could see the little guy still in there and he is alive. We did not know they eat the exoskeleton and we removed it to examine and for the kids to look at for science. Is it too late to put it back in? Will it still eat it? Or did we blow it???

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hi! You can put the exoskeleton with the crab. Keep the crab in isolation so it can eat the exo and so other crabs don’t get to him. When molting, they are more vulnerable to cannibalism

[@citruseals]

Ahh Im so worried about one of my crabs, he has been under the substrate for a day or so and that isnt that long, but i hope he’s okay!!

[@CrabCentralStation]

crabs love to dig! He is ok!

[@gagenewcomer5608]

Please answer this question I need help hermit crab went out of his shell and he made a little whole and it's been 5 weeks later and I really miss him is he dead

[@CrabCentralStation]

Is he out of his shell on the sand or under the sand? It is likely he has not survived this long without a shell. Did you have extras in its tank? He might have taken an extra and dug down to molt.

[@gagenewcomer5608]

@@CrabCentralStation he is on the sand but he dug a small hole he is in but I really hope he is not dead though cause my brother got him from a fair and the people there treated them like a object and just throw them around

[@glitchbuggie]

currently both of my crabs are down under, one of them is literally all the way at the bottom of the tank, my guy went through ten inches of sub like it was nothing and i’m constantly hearing him on the glass, but i can’t see my other crab at all and i’m really nervous :(

[@CrabCentralStation]

They do love to dig!!! One thing hermit crabs do is teach us patience!

[@tri-anhnguyen3204]

Im so stresseddddd!!!!!! 2 weeks ago I bought an Aquatopia Calcium block and my three crabs love it! Then they DISAPPEARED!!!!! There is no smell or any thing similar, however now I start getting worried!!! My last jumbo crab just burried (disappeared) this morning. Should I just wait!? URGHHHH so frustrated!!!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Yes, the best thing to do is just let your hermit crabs molt and do not disturb them. Digging them up can cause a lot of harm, even death.

[@hangingwithhobbes2944]

Great content as usual! Keep it up! Yiu are helping all our little crabby friends!

[@CrabCentralStation]

Thank you so much! We appreciate it

[@TheSpiderBoss]

I have a hermit crab that is sort of out of its shell and not moving much. It Is moving its legs but again not very much. Is it dying or maybe a surface molt?

[@CrabCentralStation]

It could be either of those. Without a picture it's hard to tell you exactly what is going on. You can send a picture/DM to our Instagram or DM us on FB. We can try and help you trouble shoot from there.

[@TheSpiderBoss]

@@CrabCentralStation It doesn't really matter anymore, she died a few hours later ),:

[@CrabCentralStation]

😪😪😪 I'm sorry.

[@Lala-tu9yh]

I have a question after they molt does the exoskeleton look like it is the hermit crab but it falls apart easily?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Yes!

[@Lala-tu9yh]

Ok thanks I was just making sure

[@lisettevasquez6507]

Hello ladies, we where PPD our new crab he’s suppose to come of ppd and into our bigger tank! But last week or more! About two weeks! We left him didn’t touch him! Still putting water and food! But Matthew and I are a little worried 😣 Matthew knows not to touch him! THANKS TO Ladies LOL. So do you have any advice, what to do? Just leave him alone?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Has he been eating and drinking? What is your humidity and heat at right now in the PPDS tank?

[@lisettevasquez6507]

@@CrabCentralStation I don’t think he has came up. Maybe to drink the water get low. The humidity is in the blue zone. I think it might be to low? Not high enough. I flatten the sand doesn’t look like spidey is coming up? Maybe once I get the hermit crab food we ordered from link on your website, he might come up?

[@CrabCentralStation]

The analog Guage is not very reliable. I would get a digital Guage so that you can know what your heat and humidity is. If it is not in the safe zone, your crabs will stay buried for survival. You want the heat to be 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit and 70-85% humidity. Good foods will help too, so I'm glad you decided to try some out.

[@lisettevasquez6507]

Will a naked crab move? My son has high functioning autism, we have been watching you , since we bought them! We have two crabs. One bigger then the other! The smaller one looks like he might be molting, he’s kind of out his shell, my son was helping me clean tank and moved over Harry and he look like he was half out! Please help! No smell, and his eyes aren’t white.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Good morning. Can you email us some pictures of the crab and we can try and help you. [e-mail]

[@CrabCentralStation]

Molting crabs do move, but it looks like spasms... which is the removal of the old exoskeleton. They do not get up and walk around when molting. If you think he may be surface molting, use a two litter soda bottle. Clean it out and cut off the bottom of the bottle. Place the top of the bottle over the hermit crab and leave the soda bottle top off so that air can get in. This will protect the molting crab from others in the tank.

[@lisettevasquez6507]

@@CrabCentralStation I sent you the pictures and also did what you said with the 2 liter bottle. 🙏🏼

[@aaliyahd9237]

Thanks so much you helped a lot through me getting new hermit crabs!! My very first tank to the tank I have now it so DIFFERENT!! Thanks for saving so many critter lives :)

[@CrabCentralStation]

Yay! We are so glad we could help you out! ❤

[@ETSUskittles]

I have made the world's biggest mistake and picked up a shell with a hermit crab. I thought there was nothing in it, I checked and rechecked and even had it in a dish. But now I hear they are social animals. Should I get another. Im hustling trying to get everything he needs because I feel awful but I live too far away to return him!?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hi! This hermit crab is most likely not a land hermit crab if you found him at the beach. Are you able to send a picture of him to our Facebook or Instagram Dms?

[@Lala-tu9yh]

OMG my hermit crab just molted this week and I just noticed today because I could see him in his little cave he made in the sand. What a coincidence!!!

[@CrabCentralStation]

That's awesome!

[@Sakana_Feesh]

I can see my hermit crab at the bottom of my tank!

[@BibbleTheHOLYLord]

Better not to look...

[@CrabCentralStation]

I think she means from under the tank looking up through the glass. If they leave little windows along the glass it's okay to look. I wouldn't shine lights on them and such, just so they don't get spooked. Take a quick peek and then let them work on growing 😉

[@Inutasha]

i need help my hermit crab coconut been molting for a year and i really need to clean the tank. what should i do? hes a strawberry hermit crab.

[@maddy444..]

Are you sure it’s alive?

[@PrincessAbbysadventureVl]

I know you're probably like this lady is bugging us but I don't have any social media besides reddit, my crab dug himself inside of a cork bark tree branch, half his shell is sticking out from the inside of the tree with his other half and body inside the tree branch, this particular crab does not like the substrate being in it digging in it and is constantly in the trees, I'm worried is he just stuck or is he molting in the somewhat hollow branch, the smaller crabs could possibly get to him from the other side of the branch and maybe he didn't realize that and I am freaking out, everything I do and have done is for this crab, the others I got were just so he would have a colony, I'm so worried and I just don't know what to do, should I close off access to the branch should I get him out if he's just stuck or should I wait, I'm so stressed 😫

[@CrabCentralStation]

It's no problem, we are here to help. So, unless you see that your crab is molting, just let him be. If you see that he has shed his exoskeleton inside the wood structure, then isolate him (just move the whole wood piece with him in it, don't try and take him out or move him at all).

[@PrincessAbbysadventureVl]

@@CrabCentralStation appreciate you ladies so much, it's been 2 straight days and nights and he's still half way in the branch and I'm starting to think his shell is wedged, I'm just going to take out the tree and see if there is exo or not, thanks ladies ❤️

[@PrincessAbbysadventureVl]

@@CrabCentralStation well I take out the tree, wish you guys could see how big this cork bark is with one skinny branch he was is, I shine my flashlight to look in the branch and oh he's just chilling there, like I just want to be alone forever mom😂 so he backs out of it mad as heck and I put the tree back put everyone back in it and him in the branch and he jumps back out, maybe he didn't realize he could go back through the way he came in😂 got love these crazy guys

[@jamiepatternac2448]

I have a question how do you know if the condition isn't right?

[@Jessmaybee]

how often do i change the saltwater and fresh water for the crabs and which do they drink and swim in

[@CrabCentralStation]

Without bubblers or filters, free standing pools, need to be changed every 48 hours. They need to be able to full submerge in both types of pools. They keep a mix of brackish water in their shells at all times to keep their abdomen moist.

[@Jessmaybee]

@@CrabCentralStation Thank you so much

[@aunguyenvan9640]

Do Hermit Crabs Move Around Alot When They Moult ? My Hermit Crab Has Been Under The Substrate For About A Week And I Can See A Tiny Bit Of Where He Is And I Dont Think He's Moving At All :/ Crossing My Fingers 🤞

[@mauroescud]

My hermit crab is surface molting I didn’t know this so I picked him up quickly I saw two limbs I’m really scared if he’s ok what do I do

[@theartshack9176]

I have been really worried about my crabs they are a little more than half the size of my fist (I’m 13 though) and one went down for a molt right before Christmas and I saw her digging with another one too. Then the little thing they digged was like kind of filled and one hermit crab was gone (it was the main one that was digging it) then a little after Christmas the other one who helped dig a little was gone. I haven’t smelt anything and I do have the right amount of substrate. But its April and they aren’t out yet..I’m really worried for them!! ❤

[@snakelizard2343]

In addition to hermit crabs I also own a coconut crab (Birgus latro) and he has recently stopped coming to the surface, he’s definitely in premolt and I was wondering how similar their molting was to other hermit crabs if you guys knew or had any advice on how to help him?

[@reginamilano9097]

Is there a number I can call to reach you? I just rescued two hermit crabs from a really bad situation and I don’t know what I’m doing. I set something but I’m not sure it’s right. Also, one of my crabs is living in a small plastic shell. I’m so afraid he’s stuck in there because he’s huge. I read they can get stuck in painted shells. But can they also get stuck in plastic shells? He was living in one of those tiny tiny round cages not able to move for I’m not sure how long. The people who let me take him only speak Mandarin. But there’s no way that crab could do anything natural in that thing he was in. I want them to have the best and I really need help. Thanks!

[@nathansoto4495]

Why is my hermit crab out of its shell just sitting down and not moving... she has not moved for days but does not smell? I really need help.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Can you take a picture and DM us on our Facebook group or insta account?

[@jessicawagner5596]

We just got 3 crabs on a vacation in myrtle beach the vacation was pretty long and we were uneducated and while we were gone the smallest one came out of the shell and won't go back into one, we still have it in the little cage they gave us when we bought them with added sand and water because we weren't sure if we should move it in with the other crabs without a shell? Also thought it might be molting. It didn't move all day yesterday but today has moved. Any advice? It's on the surface with no shell

[@valeriadelacruz1912]

I have a tiny hermit crab and he’s been under for more than 2-3 months im kinda getting worried

[@asasinclair3341]

hey yall! i recently got some new hermits, and they’re all doing really well! they’re all eating, drinking, playing, etc, with the correct heat and humidity.. one of my largest crabs, tho, has been changing shells repeatedly (literally on day one!) and then again after about two weeks of having him. he was always my most social, and now he’s very much more reclusive. yesterday, we woke up to him in one of the largest shells, and then this morning all the shells were empty and he was nowhere to be found. is this him molting? i sifted the sand around and checked under all the hides, but didn’t dig to avoid stress.

[@asasinclair3341]

he has also been digging, a lot, and ate TWO ENTIRE crickets last night, the most they’ve ever eaten. i feel like this is molting, but with him not in the shell and buried somewhere, it does make me a little nervous.

[@CrabCentralStation]

They shouldn't molt without a shell. Maybe you just missed him? Could he be way back in a big shell? 🤔

[@asasinclair3341]

@@CrabCentralStation girl, i have LOOKED all over !!! he’s been digging this huge hole for the whole time i’ve had him, but still coming out at night to eat. and then this morning, every shell was empty except for the other two hermits, and he was literally missing and his hole closed up 😭 i’ve googled and it said it wasn’t impossible, but i’m just worried!! he’s my favorite one 🥲

[@asasinclair3341]

@@CrabCentralStation i’m just genuinely terrified 😭 i love them all so much, and plan on getting more within this week (i already have a ten gallon quarantine tank ready) because i wanted them to be able to stay social, even if some are molting. i genuinely love these animals so much, and they’ve grown to trust me. i just really want to know if my big boy is okay :(

[@CrabCentralStation]

It is so hard to trust that they know what they are doing. I'm sorry you are worried and I wish I could tell you that he will be okay. Molting without a shell is not impossible, but it's not normal. All we can do is offer them the best environment, diet, and care. Then, the rest is up to them.

[@theeslasherprincess]

One of my hermit crabs just dug itself under the substrate tonight. What worries me is that I have to move out of my apartment by the end of the month and I'm afraid he might start the molting process. I really don't want to dig up the crab and is there any safe way I can transport the crab without harming them if their potentially molting?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Unfortunately moving the tank with a crab under the substrate is as equally dangerous as digging up the crab. I would wait until the last possible moment to dig up the molting crab before you have to move.

[@Zonniezonnie_A]

We put a cordless wifi cam inside :D We can tell where he went in underground and if they're eating drinking bathing etc.

[@nctizengonemad7274]

I’m confused because mine has not moved at all and is out of his shell, I’m just waiting to see what will happen. It’s been like a week since

[@CrabCentralStation]

Is there a fishy smell in the tank? if so, there is a chance your hermit crab has passed.

[@carolyngracehartman5459]

I have so many questions! Is there a way we can email? My boyfriend have been watching you religiously but I still have many questions.

[@CrabCentralStation]

This is a great place to ask questions. That way, others can learn from your question and my answer 😊

[@i_nvade8098]

My two little hermit crabs are scared of the third crab their leader who is 6x the size. 😂 i just got two new crabs and they are scurred of him. He is a beast

[@talialara7872]

Will the hermit crab leave their shell during molting? I looked for my crab, found his shell, and saw that the shell was empty. I am guessing he dug himself without the shell? I am not sure. There is no smell when I open the tank, so I am guessing the crab is not dead. I am a teacher and only got the crabs in January. One of the crabs died already, I hope my second one doesn't.

[@awesome4646]

Yeah they leave the shell when molting

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hermit crabs do not leave their shell when molting. They only molt/shed their outer hard exoskeleton. The part of the crab in the shell is very soft and unprotected. They must have a shell to protect that part of their body from injury. The soft abdomen is where their modified gills are located. They have to carry water in their shell to keep those gills moist. A shell-less crab is likely to dehydrate and die. Perhaps your crab changed shells before digging down to molt. They can do that.

[@3dfinley900]

Does my substrate need to be 6 inches even if I only have one crab because I’m thinking if he cannot smell the crab why do I need 6 inches I have a 20 gallon tank with 6 inches but I’m just curious

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hi! Yes! Substrate depth isn’t just to block the smell, it’s also so they can molt properly. However, I do recommend getting a friend for your hermit crab because they are social animals!

[@3dfinley900]

Thx I have 2 crabs in a 20 gallon tank I am making progress to it I got water dish that my crabs and fully submerg in and you are helping on the way if you want to look at my tank my channel is hermit Helpers. Still making changes

[@amberbordeau5284]

Hi have question. My crab has been under sand for a month. I did look and there is an air pocket and all his legs are out and antennae moving. I know I should t disturb him but can he get stuck or Mayne isn't done molting yet. Need your advice please

[@mariawilliamson2640]

I need advice please . I want to rebuild my crab tank . It is 40 gallon , with 4 crabs . I have them from November 2020 . They are looks happy and healthy . What is the best way to do it ? Where I should put this little guys and not to stress them out too much while I am working on it ? Will take me maybe 3-4 hours . I have some small plastic tanks , Can I put them together in to the 5 gallon tank , or separated ? What should put more with them...food , hiding place , what should be on the bottom ?

[@CrabCentralStation]

Good questions! You can put them together in the 5 gallon together while you work. Definitely put some hides and food in with them.

[@xxshadowslightxx]

Sorry I know I keep bugging you guys but I'm trying to be a good crabby mom 😭 Sooooo I've had 3 crabs buried in the substrate and none have been coming up at all for at least 3-4 days and I've just let them be but now there's a smell.... how can I safely get the dead one out without disturbing any others that are alive? The smell is strong and I can't just leave it 😩 I don't think it's my big girl cuz she is molting FOR SURE and I've seen her a few days ago but the 2 smaller ones I haven't seen in over a week and I'm up until 4am every night so I think I have a good idea that they're not sneaking around and I've been smoothing out the sand and there's no small tracks to be found. Ughh I'm so concerned 😟 like even now it's 4:20am and you wouldn't know I had 4 crabs. It's a ghost town. 😭

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hi Amy! It is unusual for a crab to create a smell that is that bad if it is under the sand. I wonder if there could be rotting food just under the sub... have you done a scan of this for your tank?

[@xxshadowslightxx]

@@CrabCentralStation yes! I actually removed all the food just to be sure and checked for mold of any kind and I didn't see anything. My substrate is only deep on one side because I got tired of cleaning up after them tunneling under the food and water 😅 one of my crabs is quite large and destructive lol but I had someone lift the tank and all 3 are in the shallower substrate for some reason but I can't see any movement. Just little leg tips.

[@mariawilliamson2640]

Thank you ! And what should be on the bottom ?

[@CrabCentralStation]

On the bottom of the tank? Just the substrate, which is a 5:1 ratio of play sand to eco earth. You definitely want at least 6 inches.

[@mariawilliamson2640]

@@CrabCentralStationThanks for answering me . I am asking in the tank for this 3-4 hours

[@CrabCentralStation]

Oh! LOL 😆 sorry about that! Just put about inch of play sand.

[@User-tr3pf]

I just moved my hermits into a new tank and after 2 days one went under and buried himself, idk if he’s stressed from being moved to a larger tank or what.

[@CrabCentralStation]

That very well could be the case. Don't go digging, just let them be crabs.

[@jenniferhopkins6421]

Had 2 hermit crabs almost a week now. Smaller one has been active and out and about daily. It is also a pale color and not that deep red like the other one. Today it has completely buried. I don’t have more shells yet. Ordered some and should be here tomorrow. What do I do if it is molting and the bigger one is in there? Is it going to eat it? I only have the small cage they came in to move one. In a bigger tank now

[@CrabCentralStation]

How deep is your substrate? If the molting crab has deep substrate you don't need to worry about the molting crab. If the crab is on the surface or near the surface, you may need to isolate the other crab.

[@Theluminousyou]

Hi! I just found this Chanel. I need help, I have 4 hermit crabs and all of them have been through a few successful molting cycles. However, my one crab has been down for almost 9/10 weeks and I can see him on the bottom of the tank when I look under it. He hasn’t moved or changed positions at all in over a week since I started looking. The tank has no odor but you say with 6” substrate I may not be able to tell. How and when do I give up and see if he’s alive? My tank needs to be cleaned bad. I have crabs not melting on different cycles and it’s hard to find a time to keep the tank clean. Any suggestion on that as well? Thanks for your help.

[@CrabCentralStation]

Hello 👋 Welcome to CCS! It's best to just leave the molting crab alone. Unless you have mold, bacteria, or bugs in your substrate, you don't need to change it out. Just spot clean the top of the substrate.

[@Theluminousyou]

@@CrabCentralStation ok thank you! I do notice very tiny tiny tiny black bugs in the food. I’ve been changing daily. Now I think all 4 of my crabs are molting. 😩 I feel like this tank will never get clean.

[@borednomore913]

Please some info on land crabs

[@CrabCentralStation]

Our whole channel is care for land hermit crabs.

[@MsAmaya15]

We have had our hermit crab for a year and he was fine just last night. Today I checked on him and he was out of his shell. There is no movement and I am devastated. How do I know if it’s a surface molt or if it’s dead? This is terrible. Thanks you. Your videos are amazing.

[@CrabCentralStation]

I am so sorry you are experiencing this 😢. If it is a surface molt the crab will still be making some small jerking type movements. They are small and hard to see. They do look dead when they molt. If your crab is not alone in the tank you will need to isolate him though. Is there a bad smell? If no bad smell, treat like a surface molt. Let me know if you have questions or need more help.

[@MsAmaya15]

@@CrabCentralStation thank you soooo much for responding. This is my sons crab but of course I have been taking care of him or her and grown to love him. He’s my friend. He is the only crab. There is no smell but I don’t see any signs of molting yet? I have a towel over his home and there are a couple other shells in there along with his old one. I just don’t know what to do? Your so amazing. My son asked me, do you think she will respond? Lol I said I really hope so.

[@MsAmaya15]

Also is there anything I should be doing or just leave him alone in a dark place?

[@CrabCentralStation]

It sounds like you are doing the right thing. I am happy to help! Feel free to take a video and FB message me, DM through IG, or email it.... All socials are crab central station (@gmail.com for email address)

[@MsAmaya15]

@@CrabCentralStation I really can’t thank you enough. I will send you a video. My son said ty sooooooo much. Lol

[@FonsoDalchemist]

Thank you!! We get alot of these type of questions on the FB groups ❤️🙏🏽

[@CrabCentralStation]

YAY! We are so glad this video will be helpful to so many! Please feel free to share it!

[@evelynsmith1511]

I think anted to ask if you guys have ever bought shells from seashell supply befor and if they are safe for my hermit crabs

[@CrabCentralStation]

Do you have a link to their store? I don’t think we’ve ever purchased from them but I can have a look and see if they are safe for you!

[@evelynsmith1511]

@@CrabCentralStation ok give me a second I’ll try to get a link

[@evelynsmith1511]

Green Silver Mouth Turbo w/Pearlized Stripe (2 pcs.) - (2-2.5") - Turbo Argyrostoma this is the name of the ones I was going to get

[@CrabCentralStation]

Sorry, the link doesn’t work. If they are natural shells I’m sure they’re ok!

[@evelynsmith1511]

@@CrabCentralStation ok I’m sorry for the trouble, but do you guys have any suggestions on where I could order som shells