New Crab Owner; Inactive Crab

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LilyEdna
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Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:46 pm
Location: Chicago

New Crab Owner; Inactive Crab

Post by LilyEdna » Mon Jan 18, 2021 3:49 pm

So to start off, I recently bought 2 purple pinchers from pet smart and one of them has not/barley moved since I got him. The bigger and active one is about the size of a quarter and the smaller inactive one is just a little bigger than a bottle cap. I am worried about the smaller inactive one, For the first 2 days I had him he did not move at all but was tightly in his shell. I read that he was probably stressed so I put him into the coconut hide to make him feel more secure and I have left him there and alone for about 3 days, it seems he has turned around but that is the only movement I have seen from him. Today I heard him chirping (at least I think it was that one) and I am worried he may die from not drinking/eating/being stressed. Is this normal for new hermit crabs? My other one seems to be thriving although it looks like he may be missing a few limbs, I’ve seen him playing with the foliage, playing in the salt water, eating, and climbing while the other hasn’t moved at all.

I am using eco earth substrate that is about 4 inches deep (im thinking of adding more but I don’t want to stress out the inactive crab even more by moving him) in a 25 gallon tank. They have access to both fresh and saltwater (both dechlorinated). I am feeding them a diet of fruits and some vegetables like strawberries, blueberries, apples, and some carrots. I have a bowl for dry food as well that has dried mealworms and egg shells (that have been boiled). Ive put of half fried egg for them yesterday but it doesn’t seem to have been touched. There is cholla logs and catappa leaves around the tank as well as a cuttlebone. There is about 11 shells in the tank ranging from xsmall-medium. I also have a moss pit in the back corner of the tank that the active one seems to enjoy. I have an electric therm/hydrometer and I have kept the heat at around 75-80° and the humidity from 78-90%.

Is there anything I could do to fix in the tank or anything that would help the inactive crab?

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curlysister
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Re: New Crab Owner; Inactive Crab

Post by curlysister » Mon Jan 18, 2021 8:00 pm

From your description, your tank set up does not seem to be missing anything.
They do go through a lot before we get them, so his inactivity may be from previous stressors, not from anything you are or are not doing.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers

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