QuestionHello! My name is Mark, and I've been a proud Hermit Crab owner for...Hmmm, three years now? Anyway, I recently obtained a 30x12x12 terrium for my five crabs: Cecil, Sam (My one and currently only Eccie), Patch, Mac, and Hercules. Soon I'm planning to get a few more, but that's off the subject.
Anyway, I added a platform to the tank, setting it atop a hollow fake log, which the crabs can reach from a grapvine. My question is, would it be perfectly okay to put my shells in that area, instead of the shell basket at the bottom of the tank? It would provide more room at the bottom, but not all my crabs are that fond of climbing. Would putting the shells there be as good as making them unreachable for those crabs? Should I just keep the shells in the basket (With a few scattered about, they can't all fit)?
Also, one side question-Sam buried down for a molt in the coconut fiber half of the tank, and a while ago another crab, Patch, who had been digging holes the whole way, dug of Sam. I took Patch out, and made sure Sam was okay. As I went to set Sam back down, I found Patch in the hole Sam was in. Is this normal behaviour? I have plenty of molting area, and Patch has dug about five holes today, alwaus climbing out. I gotta say I've never experienced this before.
Thanks for your time, and sorry for the double-question.=D
AnswerYou can put your shells up there but I would rotate a few down on to the tank floor to accomodate your reluctant climbers.
That should work just fine.
Digging holes is always pretty normal behavior. If you feel like Patch is potentially aggressive make sure he has plenty of fresh protein sources, silversides, shrimp, chicken ect. That's the most common reason for aggression in crabs.
