hermit crabs not really moving

[noob2saltH20]

So I added 3 blue legged hermits to my tank two days ago. They have been in the same spot for the last two days. They are alive I know that but they are not moving around my tank.My sg is at .26 and my water is great. My temp was sitting at 75 ( it was one of those pre set heaters u can't adjust) so I went out and bought a marineland adjustable heater and slowly raied the temp tp 79. Am I doing something wrong to cause them not to be active?

 

[trackfast]

How did you acclimate them to your tank?

 

[noob2saltH20]

The guy at my lfs store said mine and their sg was the same and he said to add a little of my tank water to the bag every 5 min for 15 min which is what I did

 

[trackfast]

How much is a little tank water? Did you float the bag in your tank also? Differences in salinity and temperature can send inverts into shock. 15 minutes is NOT enough acclimation time; IMO.

 

[noob2saltH20]

I used a turkey baster so maybe a 1/4 a cup at a time and yes they were floating. Can they recover from this shock?

 

[trackfast]

I'm guessing that you're going to have to just wait and see. I can't say that they are in shock but that may explain the lack of movement. Maybe they just need another day or two. With acclimation, I've used the process you used. But I tend to drag it out longer; probably about an hour or so. Lights off too.

 

[noob2saltH20]

Yeah they are still alive but lagging. Ill make sure to take care when adding new stock to my tank from now on tyvm

 

[trackfast]

You're welcome. How long has your tank been up?

 

[noob2saltH20]

For about 3 weeks now. I have cured live rock put in it from a 6 year old well established tank.

 

[trackfast]

Three weeks may not have been long enough for the tank to cycle. I know you used cured LR but how much do you have? Were the levels right before you added the crabs?

 

[noob2saltH20]

I have about 20 to 25 pds of it. I have a 16 bow. Everything was at zero except for my trates which where at or below 10

 

[trackfast]

I think it may have been the acclimation process then. Good luck for next time.

 

[noob2saltH20]

Thank you I really appreciate your feedback