Strange behavior after molt and possible fight.PLEASE HELP!

[Crablover321]

Last month I left for vacation for about 9 days. The night before I left I saw my large hermit crab(Spike) nestled in the dirt and limp. I was devastated because I thought he had died but I left him inside the cage just Incase he was molting. When we got back I found him sitting completely naked inside a water dish with various crab legs and joints all over the tank. I realized he had molted. However, most of the crab parts were bright red, like my other hermit crab Sebastian and Spike is a purple pincher. I immediately put Spike in ISO and he has been there since (about a week) he now had a shell on and his environment is perfect, food, water, substrate etc. Alarmingly, he will not stop chirping( a sign of distress) and I cannot figure out why. He will also never go back in his shell, he doesn’t move around he will just sit in one place and I haven’t had a crab that won’t go into its shell at the first sign of danger. He will also not eat or drink unless directly places in his dish. I have not introduced Sebastian and Spike yet because I suspect there was a fight somehow. Should I introduce them, get them a new friend, a bigger tank( I have 2 medium sized crabs in a 10 gallon tank because that’s what was recommended to me by my local pet store) etc. Sorry for the very long explanation but does anyone have and experience with this problem or have any suggestions?

[Oliviet#1]

Hi, you should post this on the emergency forum. That should get you some info from others. Hope this helps!

[purplepincher]

yes, get him a new freind and tank. then be prepared for loss, because he could be suffering from pps.

mine did that too. then he died. rest in peace.


i am sure your guy will pull through. just make sure the humidity stays up and the temp is right. make sure he has calcium as well.


good luck!

[Hermiesguardian]

I have never experienced a naked crab but it needs to be re-shelled immediately. And put in iso. A naked crab is a sign of something wrong.

[purplepincher]

please post an emergency template or PM me so i can help.

[curlysister]

There is a post in the Emergency section, I asked them to fill in the template.

[GotButterflies]

please post an emergency template or PM me so i can help.

Please do not offer for members to PM you when you are new to crabbing. I know that you are trying to help, but it is better for them to post to the forum to allow everyone, and potentially more experienced crabbers to help. Thank you.