The world doesnt want me to have any more then 2 crabs. My tank was 1 year ago a 10 gallon with 4 crabs (i know this is wrong and fixed it by driving 2hrs to a pet store, i fixed it now). I have also moved 3 times in the last 4 years. During the last move a Teeny got pinned under a hide away log and a half sank food bowl lip, im guessing he dug under and the sand with the log shifted and he got stuck. This leaves me with 3 in the past year all small, 1 of them decided to dig through the sand to the small basement that i had and got stuck in the mesh i was using as a divider, now egg crates. I took this as a sign to get a 20gallon and thus a 20 gallon with a 20 gallon topper was gathered. the bottom has about 12 inches of dirt and a 1 inch basement. Ive had this set up for 6 months and decided to go back to 3 crabs, and went to the same pet store for a hermit that looked nice in color. However as its a pet store all of them were painted and worse the shells were not round, i would say they were more rectangle and squished shaped. .
Kept the new Micro in the old 10gallon i had and he lived their for about 2 months, he never went under. So i introduced him to the original 2 and they were fine for about 2 weeks and the Micro went under to molt. I will say for the Micro i had already had some Micro and Teeny shells in the tanks, 3-4 each and different colors/ weight.
He was under for 5 MONTHS!!! My big guys stay for like 1-3 months
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-SO I DID THE TABOO THING-
I GENTLY WITH A PLASTIC STRAW AND PLASTIC SPOON SLOWLY OVER 3 HOURS FOUND THE GUY ABOUT 8-10in DEEP IN THE DIRT.
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What im thinking is mites (light tan with white butts about half the size of pen tip) were swarming the little dude and when i got more of the dirt away he kinda. fell to pieces. The pieces were hollow and still closed up with a horrible sea smell. So im taking that as he didnt molt and instead decomposed.
Advice? Please!
Food is a mix of raw honey, mealworms dried, mealworms slightly wet, Crickets, strawberry pieces, pineapple pieces, and a cherry natural with no additives. This week tried broccoli , cauliflower, and carrots. lol They ran and 1 hid the hermy hut with one and the other went to the hiding log with another. Changed daily and given to a colony of pill bugs and spring tails.
i have 2 hanging inside the toppers 3 litter tanks of water, 1 lightly salted and the other missing all the impurities. These both have their own filters and get cleaned bi weekly.
I have 2 giant iguana hanging nets in the topper so they can climb up and under along with a hanging bird coconut so they have another spot to be in, and their is also a iguana bendable vine that goes from the dirt to the topper for them to climb on.
The substrate is a mix of the Flukers mix with so added coconut that takes it from the tan to a more mocha color, but still keeping the texture close beach sand. Its still got texture since when i picked up the hiding log it came with a lot of dirt around the edges.
What am i missing? Why cant i have a 3rd? Am i doing everything decent? Am i just unlucky?
im a my wits end with trying to add a 3rd crab
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Scarletfire
- Posts: 317
- Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2019 10:44 am
- Location: ON
Re: im a my wits end with trying to add a 3rd crab
I'm sorry for your loss.
If you take the questions from the emergency section and fill out the points, it'll help us identify possible areas for improvement.
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If you take the questions from the emergency section and fill out the points, it'll help us identify possible areas for improvement.
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aussieJJDude
- Administrator
- Posts: 5010
- Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:12 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Re: im a my wits end with trying to add a 3rd crab
Sorry you haven't had good success, it is possible that the shipping process and being in subpar conditions for a long duration does take a toll on the little ones coming in from the store. This is all bundled up to be PPS (post purchase syndrome) which I chalk down to being unable to repair the damamge from shipping and simply failing to survive in captivity.
To me, sounds like your setup is amazing. The only thing I ask about, what type of salt do you use? And temperature/humdiity?
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To me, sounds like your setup is amazing. The only thing I ask about, what type of salt do you use? And temperature/humdiity?
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Infrequently on due to studies, on a little more on in FB group
I strive to make HCA a welcoming space for all
Infrequently on due to studies, on a little more on in FB group
Re: im a my wits end with trying to add a 3rd crab
The salt mix is from hand mixing "Zoo Med Hermit Crab Salt Water Conditioner" in to a 2 litter jug with the correct amount. it sits in a sealed bottle in a dark cabinet and is used to top of the water pool when half full. Jug sits maybe a month total before the little left is thrown out and a new jug is made. Ive seen them swim in the water and use the ladder in side to climb in and out and sometimes sit half in the water.
Temps are regulated with 2 medium heat pads attached via silver tape to the backs of the tank and are kept at 81 degrees with the lowest the sensor allows being 78.5.
Humidity is high and have considered adding vent holes due to the humility being about 89-99 based on 2 sensors, one on the lid and one near the bottom of the topper.
Temps are regulated with 2 medium heat pads attached via silver tape to the backs of the tank and are kept at 81 degrees with the lowest the sensor allows being 78.5.
Humidity is high and have considered adding vent holes due to the humility being about 89-99 based on 2 sensors, one on the lid and one near the bottom of the topper.