To Change or Not to Change

[LadyMcCraberson]

I've used this association site for over a year with my crabbies (thank you!) and I've always found my answers without posting, but I think I have an issue that's not in the guides.

Status: 29 G Tank, between 5"-7" substrate (it slopes) mix of coconut stuff and sand, temp (between 70-80 depending on housing temp conditions), have a flat heater on the back and two lights (day & night) that are on a switching timer), humidity sits lowest at 70 gets up to 80 after a spray, they are fed spinach, egg (egg and shell), fruit, quinoa, oatmeal, coconut, rando veg.

We may have 6 crabbies in this tank 2 2", 3 1", and 1 teeeny. I say may because we haven't seen the teeny one in over 6 months. We have proof of life on 2 within the last few weeks.

In September, we fought off mite infestation with Hypoaspis Miles and everything was fine. We have fruit flies every now and then, but often we'll stop giving fruit and they go away. Normally I'd be ok just assuming I have pet sand. BUT I've noticed these weird little egg looking things in the substrate (see pic in link below).

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6j3dqqzc8krlz ... 4.jpg?dl=0

So, we're at a loss if we should give the tank a thorough clean and replace the substrate or not. At the moment, I can see Bruce (one of the biggies) who has always been kinda dumb...he has a fake burrow (underneath a larger log) and he's outside his shell but I can't tell if he's dead (which we've experienced with others--pours one out for Jaws) or molting. My gut says dead because I've peeked at him for a multiple days (without moving anything) and there doesn't appear to be consumption of the molt occurring.

Any advice or thoughts would help. We love our OG Sandy, Bruce, Hank, Pietro, Pete, and Goose, but I'm concerned that a plague has washed over the tank.

[CrabbyLover77]

I've used this association site for over a year with my crabbies (thank you!) and I've always found my answers without posting, but I think I have an issue that's not in the guides.

Status: 29 G Tank, between 5"-7" substrate (it slopes) mix of coconut stuff and sand, temp (between 70-80 depending on housing temp conditions), have a flat heater on the back and two lights (day & night) that are on a switching timer), humidity sits lowest at 70 gets up to 80 after a spray, they are fed spinach, egg (egg and shell), fruit, quinoa, oatmeal, coconut, rando veg.

We may have 6 crabbies in this tank 2 2", 3 1", and 1 teeeny. I say may because we haven't seen the teeny one in over 6 months. We have proof of life on 2 within the last few weeks.

In September, we fought off mite infestation with Hypoaspis Miles and everything was fine. We have fruit flies every now and then, but often we'll stop giving fruit and they go away. Normally I'd be ok just assuming I have pet sand. BUT I've noticed these weird little egg looking things in the substrate (see pic in link below).

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6j3dqqzc8krlz ... 4.jpg?dl=0

So, we're at a loss if we should give the tank a thorough clean and replace the substrate or not. At the moment, I can see Bruce (one of the biggies) who has always been kinda dumb...he has a fake burrow (underneath a larger log) and he's outside his shell but I can't tell if he's dead (which we've experienced with others--pours one out for Jaws) or molting. My gut says dead because I've peeked at him for a multiple days (without moving anything) and there doesn't appear to be consumption of the molt occurring.

Any advice or thoughts would help. We love our OG Sandy, Bruce, Hank, Pietro, Pete, and Goose, but I'm concerned that a plague has washed over the tank.

Hi, a crab that leaves it's shell is too weak to carry it. It's not normal for them to leave their shell to molt, or for any other reason. They also should not molt on the surface. It sounds like your crab has likely passed, I'm sorry. In the future, you must try to re-shell them immediately.
Here is the re-shelling guide:
https://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB ... 7&t=122302
As for the eggs, I'm wondering if they could be crab eggs that were dropped. I'm not 100% sure on that though.


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[LadyMcCraberson]

It's possible he was too weak, but to be clear, he's not on the surface. I can see him barely under some moss and a log. I'm pretty certain he's gone.

The bigger concern I have is whether to clean the whole tank or not

[CrabbyLover77]

When they molt, you shouldn't be able to see the crab or it's exo at all. They should dig all the way under the substrate to do that. I only mention it because you said you've experienced something similar with your other crabs.
Hopefully someone who's better at identifying insect or crab eggs will help out with that.

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