HCA: Hermit Crab Association

With the recent death of my ruggie, Fug, my other ruggie having a not so successful molt, and now amolkentine ruggie death. I'm starting to believe the rumors about ruggies having molting issues is true. I would love to hear from people who have and had kept ruggies for a while if they experience similar things. what is causing them and can be done to prevent further issues. or is this just bad luck? As I have now found myself the proud and unexpected owners of 5 ruggies, one who is currently molting, this information could be very helpful for me. I always provide HCP mineral supply and a cuttlebone for my crabs.

I've already shared my experiences about rugosus here:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 23&t=84121

Member SojMad shared her experiences recently (her post is 5th or 6th down):
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 13#p772113

I personally never had a problem with e's molting as some members have experienced. I don't say they are rumors though...

I say enjoy your newbies and try not to worry too much.

I've already read both of those CrabAddict, I even started one of those threads.
I'm more so looking for answers or brainstorming what can be done differently. I don't particularly like just accepting they are going to die, people with straws surely do not do that.

Sorry you found the links unsatisfactory.
Having owned strawberries since 2004 my experiences have shown me they don't live past 3 years. Again, this is my personal experience. I am prepared knowing this that one day they will sadly die as will all my crabs sooner or later regardless of species.
I wish there is something that can be done differently while in our care but sharing experiences and techniques is all we could do as a community.

CrabAddict99 wrote: I wish there is something that can be done differently while in our care but sharing experiences and techniques is all we could do as a community.

And that is what I would like to do right now! Surely someone has ruggies surviving? You don't hear about ruggies dying off constantly the way you hear about strawberries dying constantly. Is that because they simply arent as pretty and popular?

It could also be simple PPS. There are so many PP owners out there that a few PP deaths go unnoticed. There aren't that many ruggie owners, so in comparison each death hits harder.

wodesorel wrote:It could also be simple PPS. There are so many PP owners out there that a few PP deaths go unnoticed. There aren't that many ruggie owners, so in comparison each death hits harder.

If that was so there most likely would be ruggie owners out there who have had ruggies live past the PPS time period. I would love to hear what they are doing to have theirs survive if anything different. I refuse to believe Ruggies are poisonous as mentioned on another thread.

Yeah, I'm thinking that's not likely either.

Zoeythelost wrote:
If that was so there most likely would be ruggie owners out there who have had ruggies live past the PPS time period. I would love to hear what they are doing to have theirs survive if anything different. I refuse to believe Ruggies are poisonous as mentioned on another thread.

Not all my ruggies were problem molters. I had a few live past 3 years. Did nothing different for them.
This guy made it to 4 years:

This particular ruggie had beautiful coloration so I was lucky to find him. But a few years ago Petco would sell mostly ruggies, brevis, violas (rare) and cavipes (rarer). They'd even have a separate tank full of Strawberries and charge $10.99 regardless of size. It was actually harder to find pp's and e's (for me at least)!

I got three ruggies in the winter of 09, and two did not make it past the 6 month mark, I think they both died while molting, and the third just passed away on me this month, once again, I think during a molt. : C I did originally use 100% eco earth, which may have had an impact on the early deaths. It's funny, because I don't have my ruggies anymore, but I still have my strawbaby which I got at the same time. Not what I was expecting to happen at all.

I also found that my ruggies spent a lot of their time buried and I hardly saw them, which seems different from what other people have said about them.

ginapo wrote:I got three ruggies in the winter of 09, and two did not make it past the 6 month mark, I think they both died while molting, and the third just passed away on me this month, once again, I think during a molt. : C I did originally use 100% eco earth, which may have had an impact on the early deaths. It's funny, because I don't have my ruggies anymore, but I still have my strawbaby which I got at the same time. Not what I was expecting to happen at all.

I also found that my ruggies spent a lot of their time buried and I hardly saw them, which seems different from what other people have said about them.

That really is very sad. I love ruggies, they are probably my fave. I wish there was more concrete evidence of what an owner could do to help them thrive.

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Well good news. My ruggie Bug came up from his molt today with all his legs!! I think, havent taken him out to get a close look. This is his second molt with me and making me a little more hopeful.
Bug is always buried or hiding. Fug, the one that died, was always in the open normally eating but slept in strange places right in the open.

Just checked and sure enough Bug is still missing that leg. Which I coulda sworn I saw 3 legs on that side so maybe he dropped it since than? Whats the chance, two molts and still has not to grow back that leg?

Zoeythelost wrote:Just checked and sure enough Bug is still missing that leg. Which I coulda sworn I saw 3 legs on that side so maybe he dropped it since than? Whats the chance, two molts and still has not to grow back that leg?

Are you serious??
I knew they were "special" crabs...but I can't believe it! I'm so sorry!!

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