new crab

[hermione]

Two and a half years ago, we found a lost hermit crab walking across our driveway. We could not find its owner nor anyone that it felt secure to give it to, so we had a crash course in crab keeping and subsequently have become very attached to our little friend. She is quite large, as the crabs at the store seem to go. I believe that she is a PP. I felt uncertain regarding acquiring other crabs, due to the fact that we live in the desert mountains, at an altitude of 7,000 feet. I was told that crabs have a difficult time with that sort of altitude adjustment. So we committed ourselves to trying to give this little creature the best life that we could. Last week, it seemed that perhaps we should get her some friends. Three days ago we bought two other little crabs. I think that they are also PPs. I also changed from a 10 to a 26 gallon tank.
At the insistence of the store person, added a section of "Repti-bark" substrate. It is made from the bark of fir trees. It is what they use at the store, Petsmart, and it says for hermit crabs on the package. It did seem that they might need more privacy for molting, if there is more than just the one. Our older crab has gone through molts just fine. We have been using primarily gravel with a little sand dish. I thought that I remembered reading something about not using anything derived from pine. Do you have an opinion regarding this. One of my new crabs has just lost her large claw. She has not been looking too spunky. I cannot imagine that she would not be stressed from her recent change of location, etc. The crabs seem to be friendly with each other. The other new crab has been a bit more active and is presently dug down in. My original crab seems to be okay. She has been a little quieter the last day or so, but she can vary quite a bit in this regard. She is climbing her trees. All other conditions that I am aware of are fairly stable, clean RO water and brackish water, organic foods of all kinds. Looks like the proper heat and humidity. I have an under tank heater stuck to one side for a 10-20 gallon tank and one for a 1-5 gallon tank on the other. Perhaps I should unplug the smaller heater? The thermometer reads 79. Can you give me any other advice regarding our new little ailing crab. Is it common for them to be this stressed, could it be the fir bark substrate? Thank you so very much for your time and care.

[ladybug15057]

One should never use any forms of pine or cedar within their tanks. This is a huge no-no.
One should also not use any forms of bark in their tank for a substrate because it pulls valuable moisture from the hermies and can cause them to become dehydrated.
Sounds as though your hermie is starting to display signs of PPS from all they have been through since their capture:

http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... storyid=22

Did you iso your newbies from your original hermie so not to cause him any stress, and until you were sure the newbies weren't ill?
With the temp of 79* F, what temp is the warm side of your substrate, and the cool end of your substrate? It is very important to monitor the substrate temps too.

http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... storyid=69

[hermione]

I am wondering more specifically about fir rather than pine or cedar. Do you have any specific knowledge about fir? I would gladly change substrates, yet I hesitate to disturb them more than is truly helpful or necessary at this time. Particularly if the new one is utterly stressed. I mist frequently, the humidity seems to be fairly stable. Could you tell me what you would consider to be the optimum substrate? I will change as soon as possible or seems sensible. No, I did not isolate them. That would have been a good idea, but it does not seem to apply at this time. I still have the 10 gallon tank so this is do-able, should we decide to try again. Thanks again for your help.

[hermione]

Well, I have not heard from anyone more yet. I guess that I will slowly try to cycle out the Repti-bark, quietly in sections, and replace it with Eco Earth, if I can get it here. I hesitate to jostle these new crabs too much. I am going to leave the gravel side of the terrarium as is. My old crab, Hermione, has lived on gravel for two years, and seems to have done well. According to the article cited above, I suppose there may be an argument for changing from the Repti-bark in slow stages anyway, even if it is no good, since that is what the newer crabs have been in at the store. I will have to pray that my Hermione can endure the changes at this point. She seems to be strong as an ox so far, so she has that in her favor. This is my first forum of any kind, so I am new to this format of communication. Please excuse me if I am a little bumpy on the uptake. Is this in an appropriate heading?

[Jaci]

Well first of all, welcome to the family! Congratulations on you crabs. It's weird that you found him wandering on your driveway! That's insane!
The best substrate is playsand. You can find it at any hardware store for about $2.99 or more for 50lbs. You can find specific information about what to do in the various forums on the site. But here's a general idea.
Sand should be 'sandcastle' consistency
Temperature should be 70-80
Humidity should be about 80-85
Fresh water pond
Salt water pond
Hermie Hut (or something for them to hide in)
Things to climb
Various extra shells (hole should be same size or bigger than their big claw)
Can be fed fresh fruit, veggies, meats
If anyone else has any other general ideas, please add to this. It's very possible that I've skipped over something. But you can find specific ideas in the other forums. Some members have posted pictures of their tanks, if that'll help with your set up.

Hope that helps!

[ladybug15057]

Prior to deciding to buy the playsand at a hardware store, you may wish to read about playsand:

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-browse_categ ... =off&type=

As well as take a look at what is suppose to be the higher quality Quickrete playsand that is sold at Lowe's and Home DePot.

quickrete

Where as some substrates do need to be used damp so they do not pull valuable moisture from the hermies and causing dehydration, (cocofiber, eco earth, both which need to be 100% cocofiber) sand does not need to be used damp. It is the crabbers choice as to use sand damp or dry. Both have been proven successful.
Humidity range is recommended at 75-78% but one should calibrate/test their humidity gauge to ensure how accurately it is reading:

http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... storyid=54

[hermione]

Marie, Primarily, could you tell me what you use as a substrate? I would be happy to do anything that is smart. I don't care about cost. I would like to do the best thing for the crabs. The town I live in is relatively small, but we do have a Petsmart and a Home Depot. Today I went to Petsmart and purchased a large grain "Calisand". Looks like this should go back to the store? . . . Or do you think a few grains of this in their food bowl is a good idea. Remember, I have a clawless crab now, if she's still with us so she'll need extra calcium. What do you think about that? I also purchased Exo Terra Coco Husk tropical terrarium substrate. Is this a good product? Is this available anywhere in an organic form? Should I go ahead and try to switch it into patches, just to get them out of the fir bark? Do you use Quickrete? Do you use coco bark? I am not finding Eco Earth. Thanks again.

[hermione]

Thank you for your warm welcome, Jaci. This evening my Hermione is up and about. She would thank you all too, I am sure.

[ladybug15057]

I would not recommend calsi sand for a substrate. It is a drying substrate and if the hermies dampen it to burrow in it will not hold moisture or form the tunnel they make. Calsi sand pulls moisture: (a little over 1/2 way down this page)

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... +Highfield

For a high calcium source one can purchase crushed oyster shells sold for birds. This is also a natural calcium source that hermies would come across in the wild. Since offering this several years ago I have also noted the hermies here quit chipping at their costly wearing shells and eating them for the calcium they contain. I crush these into a powder form and offer them, this way even the small hermies can eat it as well. (and no more accidents like happened here a few years ago where a chip got in one of our hermies shells and punctured their abdomen)
But when grinding (in coffee blender or blender make sure not to inhale any of the dust... not good at all for the lungs)
Another good source is cuttlebone, as well as boiled egg shells. You may find other calcium sources here too: http://www.hermitcrabcuisine.com/

The coco husk you mention looks like it is 'chunks' instead of being ground and soft?

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=3092177

For this reason, I would suggest no.
For the quickrete play sand, did you look at the link in my other reply? I personally would not use it or ever recommend it. There are many impurities that cannot be washed or baked out of play sand. The picture in the link is 'after' it had been given a thorough washing because they were going to use it in their fish tank.
I use CaribSea sand, either the sugar grain, or the select grain. Usually more the select grain due to it being sold in the dry form, whereas the sugar grain is sold in the damp form. If there are no holes in the CaribSea select grain bag... after warming a little of it for the warm side I use it straight out of the bag. Where as the damp sugar grain is dried prior to use to kill any possible bacteria that maybe in it due to its dampness.
http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... onite+Sand

http://www.caribsea.com/pages/products/ ... onite.html

[Wai]

I'd recommend against the Coco Husk as well. It looks chunky like bark. On the other hand, Exo Terra's Plantation Soil might be a better alternative and is closer to Exo Earth. It hasn't been tested by Marie, but Sharai had an amazing 100% survival rate with Plantation Soil with her moulters, so I think it should be okay. Half of my tank is Plantation Soil, with pure beach sand on the other, divided diagonally.