Help! A naked crab!

[Emollie]

My sister's bedroom where she keeps her crab tank is usually warm, but I just bought her a heating pad and temperature gauge to make sure she can keep conditions stable when I am away from home at college. We installed the heating pad yesterday and cleaned the tank, hoping it would help her shy little crab who was missing his small pincher and hadn't yet molted in the six months we had him. Today, I went to check up on him and he was in his water dish, just chilling out naked! I fear he may have overheated. So I lowered the tank's temperature and guided him back into his old shell. He soon removed himself from there. I guided him into a different shell and he is hiding in there right now. What could his problem be?


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

Coconut fiber; a few inches at least (plenty of burrowing room for a very small crab)

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?

Yes, right now the humidity is around 90 and the temperature is 77 F.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

A UTH on the back of the tank, insulated.

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?

Both fresh and salt water are available. I buy the water already distilled and use Fluker's Salt mixed with the water according to the directions on the bottle.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

I replace food daily and a variety of fruits and vegetables are usually offered.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

A purple pinscher, about six months.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

No.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

A 10 gallon glass aquarium; a plastic lid with perforations for airflow.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

Just one very small crab. We have not bought another because we are unsure of the health of the first.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

Two.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

Around once a month by replacing the substrate completely and wiping the glass down.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

No sponges as the dishes are fairly shallow.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

No.

[Hermiearth]

Ok- your doing the right thing by reshelling him! I will respond to the template.


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[Hermiearth]

My sister's bedroom where she keeps her crab tank is usually warm, but I just bought her a heating pad and temperature gauge to make sure she can keep conditions stable when I am away from home at college. We installed the heating pad yesterday and cleaned the tank, hoping it would help her shy little crab who was missing his small pincher and hadn't yet molted in the six months we had him. Today, I went to check up on him and he was in his water dish, just chilling out naked! I fear he may have overheated. So I lowered the tank's temperature and guided him back into his old shell. He soon removed himself from there. I guided him into a different shell and he is hiding in there right now. What could his problem be?


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

Coconut fiber; a few inches at least (plenty of burrowing room for a very small crab)

H: Sub needs to be a minimum of 6 inches regardless of crab size. The little guys burrow far under.

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?

Yes, right now the humidity is around 90 and the temperature is 77 F.

H: I don't think heat was a problem, as the recommended minimum temp is 80.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

A UTH on the back of the tank, insulated.

H: If it's a zoomed this can't be insulated. Just making sure but I'm guessing it's one of the better brands.

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?

Both fresh and salt water are available. I buy the water already distilled and use Fluker's Salt mixed with the water according to the directions on the bottle.

H: Remember that pools need to be deep enough for your biggest crab to submerge! For distilled water I'm not sure if it has to be dechlorinated- hopefully another crabber will chime in, and I'm 99% sure Flukers salt isn't strong enough, instant ocean is a great brand.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

I replace food daily and a variety of fruits and vegetables are usually offered.

H: Hermit crabs have pretty complicated nutrition. Make sure you provide protein! Someone please post links- I'm on phone.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

A purple pinscher, about six months.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

No.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

A 10 gallon glass aquarium; a plastic lid with perforations for airflow.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

Just one very small crab. We have not bought another because we are unsure of the health of the first.

H: Crabs are very social. I would recommend getting him a buddy but just one with the 10g.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

Two.

H: The HCA recommends a minimum of 3 shells per crab, and certain "hermit crab" shells are actually awful for hermit crabs. Check out the HCA shell guide.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

Around once a month by replacing the substrate completely and wiping the glass down.

H: Deep cleans are unnecessary and actually rid of helpful bacteria. Just pick up poop and food scraps as you see them. And if your using a product to wipe down the glass make sure it's hermit safe!

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

No sponges as the dishes are fairly shallow.

H: Make sure dishes are deep enough for submerging as hermit crabs need to fill there shells with water to stay moist. You should add deeper pools but make sure you have a way for your hermit to get out!

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

No.

I responded to the template using H


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[Emollie]

Thank you for responding to the template! I'm very worried because he continues to leave his shell and seems very lethargic. Not sure what to do to help him.

[Hermiearth]

Try and fix the things mentioned. He could also be getting ready for a molt.


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