Post by Rachel on Jul 25, 2013 16:17:47 GMT
Hermit crabs are natural burrowers and dig down for many reasons. Don't panic! Unless you can smell a strong odour of rotting seafood your little guy/s are probably ok! Here are the normal reasons why...
Destressing
New crabs and crabs that have been through traumatic experiences such as shell fights or major tank upheaval may choose to burrow down for days, weeks or in some cases months. This is an important time for them and may also be moulting so it is important to leave them to it unless there is an absolute emergency. Keep replacing the food and water, avoid disturbing tank decorations and substrate. It is worth noting what date they dig down so you can keep track.
Moults
Hermit crabs grow by shedding their exoskeleton, and to do this they normally dig underground and form a cave. This process can vary from a few days in the case of tiny crabs to weeks or months for largers. During this time a crab is very vulnerable due to how soft their new exo skeleton is at first and the unmoving state they enter during the shed, so leaving them to do their thing is the best way to go. They will shed, consume their old exoskeleton for the calcium, and then just hang out down there until they are ready to surface. During this time they will not eat or drink, so they often binge beforehand to build up their "moult sac" which looks like a growth on one side of their abdomen. Avoid moving or placing heavy objects/decoration and substrate wherever possible during this time.
Environmental Conditions
If the conditions in the tank are not correct your crabs might have burrowed to conserve humidity, warmth, too cool off or save energy. They will also sometimes burrow if they feel insecure or exposed in a tank. Take a look at your setup, do you have at least 80% humidity? Are the temperatures right? Do you have hides, climbing places and plenty of cover for them? Simple additions like a few fake plants for cover or a moss pit to boost humidity might be all that is needed.
Just Because They Can
Hermit crabs often do just like digging, sometimes they sleep underground, other times they will just decide to create a bombsite look for you to enjoy!
Destressing
New crabs and crabs that have been through traumatic experiences such as shell fights or major tank upheaval may choose to burrow down for days, weeks or in some cases months. This is an important time for them and may also be moulting so it is important to leave them to it unless there is an absolute emergency. Keep replacing the food and water, avoid disturbing tank decorations and substrate. It is worth noting what date they dig down so you can keep track.
Moults
Hermit crabs grow by shedding their exoskeleton, and to do this they normally dig underground and form a cave. This process can vary from a few days in the case of tiny crabs to weeks or months for largers. During this time a crab is very vulnerable due to how soft their new exo skeleton is at first and the unmoving state they enter during the shed, so leaving them to do their thing is the best way to go. They will shed, consume their old exoskeleton for the calcium, and then just hang out down there until they are ready to surface. During this time they will not eat or drink, so they often binge beforehand to build up their "moult sac" which looks like a growth on one side of their abdomen. Avoid moving or placing heavy objects/decoration and substrate wherever possible during this time.
Environmental Conditions
If the conditions in the tank are not correct your crabs might have burrowed to conserve humidity, warmth, too cool off or save energy. They will also sometimes burrow if they feel insecure or exposed in a tank. Take a look at your setup, do you have at least 80% humidity? Are the temperatures right? Do you have hides, climbing places and plenty of cover for them? Simple additions like a few fake plants for cover or a moss pit to boost humidity might be all that is needed.
Just Because They Can
Hermit crabs often do just like digging, sometimes they sleep underground, other times they will just decide to create a bombsite look for you to enjoy!
Hellooooo
