Why are they dieing.

Question
QUESTION: I got my first hermit crab about maybe a year ago... and i got it from PetSmart. about 2 months later it died. I realize why he died was because he was just in a starter cage. Just a few months later after the death me and my grandma went and go another one at a Mall. Just this Christmas I starting loving hermit crab as addicted as other people so i got a 10 gallon tank and possibly every thing you could ever need for a hermie.So my mom and I decided to go to the pet store and get more. So as the hermit crab i got from the mall was still in her tank till i got the other hermies. The hermiie i got from the mall is about the size of a quarter. The other ones i got is 2 the size of a quarter, and 2 of the size of a dime. I have in my tank a little swimming pool filled with salt water, a salt water drinking bowl with sponge, a regular water drinking bowl with sponge, a mesh climbing thing, 2 pecies of long choya wood that they do not much climb, a hammock, calcium sand, and wood chips, plus tones of shells that can fit them, and a little tunnel thing. Now once i got my hermies and got the tank situated i put them all in. Just a few days later the one i got from the mall died. I don't understand... well then after about a month until now which was just a few days ago my dime sized hermie, josh died. Well that what we thought. When i smelled it i thought it was dead but i looked up more about molting and realized that they smell like chemicals when they molt. So i smelled it again and it did smell like chemicals. Well since we thought it was dead we already put it in a bag but if it is molting then we already disturbed it and stuff. Will it be successful. Right now its in a separate cage with a bowl of food and water with moisture calcium sand. I buried it. Please Help. I want it to still be with me =(

ANSWER: Okay, there's a lot of information here.

First I would advise you to get rid of the wood chips. Hermit crabs need to be on either sand, crushed coral, or coconut fiber bedding. Or a mixture of these things.

The big culprit for your crabs health issues is probably humidity and temperature. What kind of light do they have? What is the humidity?

As for your little potential molter, you are doing the right thing. Keep an eye on him. Even though you disturbed him he could still do very well if he is just molting. I've accidentally disturbed molters here and there over time. It's always a shock but they are more resilient than we give them credit for.

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QUESTION: thanks alot. but why should i get rid of the wood chips lots of websites say thats okay. But if you say. how much would coral price range up to is it exspensive? I have a 15 watigige baub an the tempeter is about 75 and when i stick my hand down there is really cold. sHould I get the next size up. Now I just had another crab get like a dead little thing so i smelled just like chemicals so i buried it and just now my other little crab smelled like chemicals too. I buried him too. My two big crabs dont move alot I havent seen alot of them eat since the day I got them. They stay in there same spots when I go to check on them. Why are they so boring...... I thought they were fun. Im losing my interest

ANSWER: If the wood chips are pine or any other connifer wood they are toxic to hermit crabs. There is a lot of bad info on the web sadly enough. Many places say that what you can do for reptiles is also safe for crabs and that isn't true, crabs are invertebrates and have different needs. Wood chips also mold easily.

Coral is expensive. I would go with Fiber bedding, you can buy it in the reptile section, it's made of coconut husks shredded and compacted, it gives your tank floor a nice forest look. Reconstitute it with ocean style salt water to prevent mold.

What do you mean by "I buried them". Generally you should never bury a crab in the tank because when they dig down they create a cave for themselves with air pockets for them to breath. When you bury them they don't have those pockets.

Do you have a temperature and humidity gauge to tell you what the temp and humidity is? If it feels cold it's not 75 in there. The humidity is very important and needs to be between 74 and 82

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QUESTION: oh opps well about that buring. Since I thought it was molting I buried it so no one would hurt it or desturbe him. And yes i have a temperatue gauge that always says 75 74 around that. SInce i just got the 10 gallen tank Ive allready spent $200 on these little creratures. So do you think I should get a 25 wat baub.... So should I un buried them and but them and a seperate tank. ok right now i have a bag in my hand of the stuff i use a wood chips its called Carb Island by T-REX CYPRESS BED premium substrate twice-milled cypress Mulch enriches the captive environment IDEAL FOR HERMIT CRABS AND SMALL REPTILES.  ideal for use in combination with T-rex crab island Calci-Sand Recommended for High Humidity Habitats Manufactured from a Renewable Source Twice-Milled for Softness and Cleanliness Breeder Tested and Recommended Resists Mold and Decay and Emulates Natural Decor. I have Half of that on one side and caluim sand on the other side.

Answer
Your temp looks good, can you find out what your humidity is? I know that it seems like you've spent a lot of money, start up money for a pet is always pricey. The humidity/temp guage however, is arguably the most important thing in your crabitat. You can buy one at walmart in the home improvement section for about 7 dollars.