Hermit Crab question...?

Question

i have a hermit crab question. Why is my hermit crab digging? He just molted about a week ago, hes done molting, why is he digging? P.S. The temp. is about 75F, and the humidity is about 78%. why is he digging? what should i do? Please help! Thanks!

Answer 1

You say you have a hermit crab and that he has moulted but hermit crabs only have a hard carapace (shell) over their claws and head-the rest of them is soft and they protect their soft bits by inserting their bodies into an empty shell to prevent being eaten. When they get too big for the shell they live in they find a bigger one and investigate it. If it is vacant they clean out any debris with their claws, position themselves alongside and quickly transfer to the new shell which is usually a spiral like a whelk or a peri-winkle. From what you write it sounds like yours is not living in the water or an aquarium so I think it is not a hermit-crab although when taken out of the sea they can survive for quite some time if their gills are kept moist. A picture would help but depending on where you live I think you have a land crab and they DO moult and when the shell is soft they hide away until it hardens.

Answer 2

i don't know maybe because he is just bored i mean nothing is wrong and STOP freaking out

Answer 3

When hermit crabs moult, they generally try and find a larger shell to live in. This is beacuse their body has expanded and it is now uncomfortable for the crab to occupy it's old shell. The crab may be digging to use the hole as a temporary refuge until it can find a larger shell.