Why is my hermit crab so inactive?
Hermit crabs are
nocturnal creatures.
That
means that in the wild they sleep during the day and are active
at night.
One
of the reason why they are inactive during the day when in the
wild is that the heat of the day in the tropics where they live
would dry them out. Thus, they hide away in the leafy foilage
or cool areas and are active once the sun has set and the moon
is out, roaming about in groups of 100 or more in search of food.
Other
than the heat of the day, hermit crabs avoid predators who will
think they are a tasty morsel. If a shadow passes over your hermit
crab you will see the instinctual reaction of your hermit crab
retreat within their shell for protection. Imagine the shadow
of a bird passing overhead, wanting you for dinner , wouldn't
you would retreat into your shell to pretend to be just a shell?
I would!
Another
reason for inactivity is If the temperature falls below 70oF(21oC),
or the humidity within the crabarium is low. In either of these
cases you may find that your crabs are less active. As stated
previously in the temperature and humidity caresheets, it is important
to keep a comfortable environment for your hermit crabs.
Sometimes
a change in environment can improve the activity of your hermit
crabs. If you have a clean area for them to play, such as a plastic
container, wire cage or even a plastic washing basket, you will
notice that your crabs will spend a long time investigating every
inch of it. Another way to increase activity is to create an obstacle
course within the tank, using choya logs or driftwood, coral and/or
rocks. Vary the course every week or so and make sure to handle
your crabs regularly.
If
your hermit crab is inactive for a long period of time which follows
the habit of spending a lot of time in the water dish, your crab
may be moulting. Please read the information in the moulting
caresheet.
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