Dead crab while crabsitting??

[myllkti]

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Ecoearth, about 2 inches

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
80 degrees Fahrenheit, 70% humidity

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heating pad

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
Fresh water- bottled water
Salt water- pre-mixed by my uncle for his fish so idk

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Usually switch every other day, but this time forgot and left it in for about 3 days. This time they had some string beans, orange peel, cheese, and rice

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Species unknown, crabsitting for about a month, cousin owned victim for a few weeks before, I had murderer for about a year before the incident

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Unknown

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
10 gallon glass tank with a screen cover, but we put a cover on top of that to keep humidity

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 crabs- murderer: slightly smaller than golf ball
Victim- a bit over half a golf ball

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
One or two

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Food and water cleaned every other day, we use isopods

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No but cousin redesigned to stimulate crabs

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
N/A

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

Recently, we’ve been noticing the victim(Orie) has been scared of the murderer(Marine) But Marine has always been super sweet and Orie easily scared, so we thought nothing of it. Yesterday, Orie was up all day standing still in various places(was in food bowl, on edge of salt water bowl, etc). We got a little worried, but the crabs have been up at strange hours before. Today, we found him limp in the food bowl with two legs and a claw torn off. He didn’t respond when we tried spraying him with water.

But there’s no smell!!

We’ve tried calling our cousin, who the crabs belong to, to see her wishes, but she’s not picking up, possibly at camp. We’re lost

.

[Hermiesguardian]

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Ecoearth, about 2 inches

HG - substrate needs to be a minimum if 6 inches deep or 3 times the height of your largest crab. Whichever is deeper. It needs yo be sandcastle consistancy, having been mixed with dechlorinated fresh or saltwater. A mix of playsand and ee hold shape and moisture best.

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
80 degrees Fahrenheit, 70% humidity

HG - the humidity needs to be a minimum of 80%. They have modified gills and need it to breath.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heating pad

HG- where is the heat pad located? If it's underneath the tank it needs to be moved to the back or side

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
Fresh water- bottled water
Salt water- pre-mixed by my uncle for his fish so idk

HG- even bottled water should be dechlorinated using Prime. And Instant Ocean added for saltwater. It has all the minerals they need

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Usually switch every other day, but this time forgot and left it in for about 3 days. This time they had some string beans, orange peel, cheese, and rice

HG- they need protein and calcium daily. And a variety of food. Check out the safe/unsafe food list on here. 3 days is ok to leave food. They like old food.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Species unknown, crabsitting for about a month, cousin owned victim for a few weeks before, I had murderer for about a year before the incident

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Unknown

HG - they need the deep substrate to molt. They give off a sweet smell that other crabs find very yummy and can cause canabilism. So holding off on molting or a surface molt can be deadly.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
10 gallon glass tank with a screen cover, but we put a cover on top of that to keep humidity

HG - saran wrap taped to the top works real well at keeping in humidity.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 crabs- murderer: slightly smaller than golf ball
Victim- a bit over half a golf ball

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
One or two

HG - the HCA recommends 3-5 extra shells per crab. Otherwise they may fight over shells

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Food and water cleaned every other day, we use isopods

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No but cousin redesigned to stimulate crabs

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
N/A

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

Recently, we’ve been noticing the victim(Orie) has been scared of the murderer(Marine) But Marine has always been super sweet and Orie easily scared, so we thought nothing of it. Yesterday, Orie was up all day standing still in various places(was in food bowl, on edge of salt water bowl, etc). We got a little worried, but the crabs have been up at strange hours before. Today, we found him limp in the food bowl with two legs and a claw torn off. He didn’t respond when we tried spraying him with water.

But there’s no smell!!

We’ve tried calling our cousin, who the crabs belong to, to see her wishes, but she’s not picking up, possibly at camp. We’re lost

HG - I'm so sorry this happened. The smell could take a couple of days. He may not be dead but should be isolated with healing foods such as honey (organic), calcium. If he's still alive and makes it through, with the proper conditions he can grow his limbs back in a molt or two.

.

[myllkti]

Thank you for your help, we’ll get right on it

[Hermiesguardian]

Thank you for your help, we’ll get right on it

You're welcome.