QuestionQUESTION: I have 5 hermit crabs, 2 very large ones and 3 smaller ones. They are all living together in a 55 gallon setup at about 90% humidity.
For the past while now all five of my hermit crabs have taken underground. (this has been going on for the past 2 months) They have all dug under and refuse to come up to eat or soak. What could be the problem here? I know that one of them is regrowing a leg, and the others have all recently molted a couple of months ago?
What are any possible problems that I could have with this habitat? (mold, fungus, insects?)
ANSWER: Bring the humidity down to the 80% range if you can, they are probably becoming less active because they are in a too humid environment. Although some crabbers have had luck with high humidity.
It could also be a mass molt. What size crabs are they?
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QUESTION: 2 of my crabs are very large, their leg span could partially envelope a baseball and keep it suspended in the air. 3 three smaller ones have a leg span just bigger than a silver half dollar.
how often should they be molting? the three little ones have all done so within the last 2-3 months.
what are some problems with high tank humidity?
AnswerLittler ones can molt quite frequently. Jumbos may molt as infrequently as once a year or more.
High humidity's biggest problem is mold. Salt water soaks for climbing and bedding only work to a point. Also, crabs breath through modified gills that work best for a range of humidity and 90 is a little on the high end. You could always crack your lid a little to let off the extra humidity.