Hermit crabs coming out off their shell and dying.

[sjfrank]

I had a Hermit crab change shells and then dug a tunnel stay in it a few days came out and seem fine but then I went to Check she came back out of shell and died. Today I went to check on my hermie and another one still in shell when I picked the crab up it fell out of the shell. it was dead. What can I do? I followed your instruction on your care sheet. What am I doing wrong.
Thank you,
sjfrank

[TheCrabLord]

Fill out an emergency template so we can help!

[sjfrank]

Fill out an emergency template so we can help!

What template are you talking about?

[sjfrank]

What template are you talking about? is the template on this site.

[AleyedtoBuggie]

This one.

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions by coping and pasting this list into a New Topic. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. Thanks!

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

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?

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

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)?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

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[AleyedtoBuggie]

It's a pinned post in the emergency forum too if you ever need it again! Good luck

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[sjfrank]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? I am using play sand mixed with Eco Earth. It is 3" deep at one end and 6inches deep at the other end..

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? I keep them in the tank on the right side back of tank away from heater pad that is on the back left side of tank. I try to keep them between 70 and 80.
3. Is a heat source used in tank? yes see above.

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)? I give my hermies both dechlorinated and salt water. the dechlorinator I use is Stress Coat and the salt water is made using instant ocean sea salt. I used 1/2 cup to a gallon of dechlorinated water.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? I replace it every day, I feed them Tetra hermit crab meal, I give then egg shells, brown rice, and I have given them water mellon and apples.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? I have had them about 3 weeks, not sure of species but the first one that died was in an long shell with oval opening the other two are in round shells with circle openings.

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? In a 40 gallon tank with wire top.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? I had 6 crabs but now I am down to 5. all them were small but now they are in medium size shells except the one that came out of it's shell and was laying in the chlorinated drinking water.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 5 extra shells.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I have not cleaned just switched to the 40 gallon tank before I found my crabbie in the dechlorinated drinking water in the tank.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? I bought new sponges and I put one in the dechlorinated water dish. I did not clean them before putting one in the cage, I did rinse it off real good.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? Crab house and bark that I baked. I did not clean the crab house.

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)? I take them out and let them crawl on my hands.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. I went to check on my crabs to see how the humidity and temp is on my hermie and the crab in the long shell had switched shells and dug into the substrate about three days later came out of substrate and seem fine. a couple days ago I found that my smallest hermie laying out of shell in the dechlorinated drinking water and thought it was dead ( I am wondering if the hermie was oulting if so I feel terrible). Please help!.
Thank you

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AleyedtoBuggie

Posts: 253
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Re: Hermit crabs coming out off their shell and dying.
Unread postAuthor: AleyedtoBuggie » Sat Jul 29, 2017 4:48 pm

It's a pinned post in the emergency forum too if you ever need it again! Good luck

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AleyedtoBuggie

Posts: 253
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2016 9:00 am

[AleyedtoBuggie]

So I'm gonna make a few comments inside your quoted one using AB:then my comment.

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[AleyedtoBuggie]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? I am using play sand mixed with Eco Earth. It is 3" deep.

AB: 6" is minimum. So you wanna add more sub stat. Good rule to start w/is about 6" per small crab. As they grow they need more. Ideally 3x largest crab. A play sand/eco earth mixture is good. You didn't say what ratio, but there are lots...whatever works for molting, humidity, hermie stuff etc lol. Mine, just for example is about 5:1, play sand/eco earth. You could use just sand, sand/ee mix, even just ee. Whatever works for good conditions.

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? I keep them in the tank on the right side back of tank away from heater pad that is on the back left side of tank. I try to keep them between 70 and 80.

AB: Try and keep it about 80/80. 70/75 is really more a min. The care sheets for each species go in to more detail there. Good sub and a sealed lid help a lot in the humidity and heat dept.

3. Is a heat source used in tank? yes see above.

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)? I give my hermies both dechlorinated and salt water. the dechlorinator I use is Stress Coat and the salt water is made using instant ocean sea salt. I used 1/2 cup to a gallon of dechlorinated water.

AB: As long as you have a product that removes chlorine and chloramine and any heavy metals in your water, you're good here. Lot of crabbers use API for example. Insant Ocean is good for the ocean replication. There are others, but I use this one too.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? I replace it every day, I feed them Tetra hermit crab meal, I give then egg shells, brown rice, and I have given them water mellon and apples.

AB: Hermits can each a variety of foods and they get bored easy, so switch it up! Just a note: any commercial food you buy shouldn't have copper sulfate, it's toxic to them. The safe food list does go in more detail there.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? I have had them about 3 weeks, not sure of species but the first one that died was in an long shell with oval opening the other two are in round shells with circle openings.

AB: I think you had/have PPs/Purple Pinchers/Carribean Hermit crab. It is the most common, but if you look at the big pincher, it's purple red color w/ a reddish body. EEs or Es are Ecudorian hermit crabs and blue green or brownish. They like to dig and burrow and are usually very active. There are also exotics, but most likely you had one of the 2 up there.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? no

AB: If your hermits need to molt, and they will eventually, the sub will need to be good so they can complete the molt process to be healthy.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? In a 10 gallon tank with wire top.

AB: So the mesh lid? You can seal those w/ press and seal or saran wrap to keep your heat and humidity in. Hermits need humidity to breathe properly. As your hermits grow you will a bigger tank tho.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? I had 3 crabs but now I am down to one. all them were small.

AB: I'm sorry for your losses. The learning curve is steep w/ hermits. We've all been in your shoes before w/ these little complex creatures.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 6 extra shells.

AB: About 3-5 per hermit in a few different types and sizes they might fit is recommended. So some a little bigger and some a little smaller than their current shell.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I have not cleaned it since I set it up.

AB: You don't really need to usually. Unless mold takes over or some foriegn bad bug(there are good ones!) or you flood the tank or some exceltion like that. Other than picking up stray food before turns moldy or rearranging things, that's what you do mostly. Mold doesn't hurt the crabs tho, just us.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? I bought new sponges and I put one in the dechlorinated water dish. I did not clean them before putting one in the cage, I did rinse it off real good.

AB: I don't use sponges...so maybe someone else will chime in here.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? Crab house and bark that I baked. I did not clean the crab house.

AB: When I baked my wooden decorations, I soaked them in some of the same salt water mixture I make w/ Instant Ocean and then baked on a low temp for about an 1 till they were dry again. This process inhibits mold growth. I offer this as an example, my experience w/ wood.

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)? I take them out and let them crawl on my hands.

AB: Handling can stress them out. I don't handle but rarely. Some crabbers don't at all. Really just use your discretion, but try to leave them alone.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. I went to check on my crabs to see how the humidity and temp is on my hermie and the crab in the long shell had switched shells and dug into the substrate about three days later came out of substrate and seem fine. 2 days ago I found that hermie laying out of shell on top of the substrate and thought it was dead ( I am wondering if the hermie was moulting if so I feel terrible) yesterday I checked on my hermies and I found one still in its shell but when I went to pick it up it fell out of the shell in my hand. it smelled so I was sure it was dead. Please help I want to get more hermies but not until I get this fixed.
Thank you

AB: When hermits come to us, it's usually after a lot of stress from the harvest process to the pet store to us. Pet store's don't usually have the best conditions. Hermits usually need to molt to grow back legs, claws, etc. Even just dig to destress.

Before the first molt they are very susceptible to what's called PPS or Post Purchase Syndrome. A lot of hermits die this way, it's just too much. Some just don't make it, that's why a lot of crabbers try not to buy at all, just adopt.

It will help to get your conditions in tank right. If you can add more sub to at least 6", as they grow they need more per crab tho. Sealing your tank should help w/ humidity and to retain heat. I'll find the care sheets and attach them.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

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AleyedtoBuggie

It's a pinned post in the emergency forum too if you ever need it again! Good luck

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[AleyedtoBuggie]

Here's the care sheets too.
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=ht ... re_type=sf

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[PinchersAndShells]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? I am using play sand mixed with Eco Earth. It is 3" deep.

P&S: The minimum required substrate for crabs is around 6 inches but 3 times the size of your largest crab is better. They need enough room to dig, destress, and molt.

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? I keep them in the tank on the right side back of tank away from heater pad that is on the back left side of tank. I try to keep them between 70 and 80.

P&S: The best temperature to keep the crabs at is the mid 80s, cool temperatures can slow down their organs. Humidity should also be in the 80s.

3. Is a heat source used in tank? yes see above.

P&S: Many crabbers use a product called Ultratherm to get their heat to optimal temps. It can be bought online at the bean farm and reptilebasics. You would want to find one that covers the majority of the back wall of the tank, and should be placed above the substrate line.

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)? I give my hermies both dechlorinated and salt water. the dechlorinator I use is Stress Coat and the salt water is made using instant ocean sea salt. I used 1/2 cup to a gallon of dechlorinated water.


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? I replace it every day, I feed them Tetra hermit crab meal, I give then egg shells, brown rice, and I have given them water mellon and apples.

P&S: Hermit crabs eat a wide variety of foods, many of which can be taken from your own meal. Hermit crab related products in
stores more often than not contain harmful chemicals and preservatives. Check out the food and water section for a list of safe foods.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? I have had them about 3 weeks, not sure of species but the first one that died was in an long shell with oval opening the other two are in round shells with circle openings.

P&S: If you live in the U.S. it is probably a purple pincher.

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? In a 10 gallon tank with wire top.

P&S: In order to trap humidity in you could use plastic wrap to cover the wire top.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? I had 3 crabs but now I am down to one. all them were small.

P&S: Hermit crabs need friends, so once your crabitat is fixed I would recommend getting your crab another buddy. I would stick to keeping two in a 10 gallon to prevent overcrowding, however, as your crabs grow you may need to upgrade your tank.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 6 extra shells.

P&S: Usually crabbers keep three or four preferred shells per crab. These should range in size.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I have not cleaned it since I set it up.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? I bought new sponges and I put one in the dechlorinated water dish. I did not clean them before putting one in the cage, I did rinse it off real good.

P&S: Sponges aren't necessary as long as the crabs have a way in and out of the water dishes. The water should be deep enough for them to submerge. You can dry the sponge and set it on the substrate for the crabs to munch on however.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? Crab house and bark that I baked. I did not clean the crab house.

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)? I take them out and let them crawl on my hands.

P&S: Crabs are hands off pets. I cannot stop you from playing with them, but I would at least recommend that you wait until they complete one molt.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. I went to check on my crabs to see how the humidity and temp is on my hermie and the crab in the long shell had switched shells and dug into the substrate about three days later came out of substrate and seem fine. 2 days ago I found that hermie laying out of shell on top of the substrate and thought it was dead ( I am wondering if the hermie was moulting if so I feel terrible) yesterday I checked on my hermies and I found one still in its shell but when I went to pick it up it fell out of the shell in my hand. it smelled so I was sure it was dead. Please help I want to get more hermies but not until I get this fixed.
Thank you

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AleyedtoBuggie

Posts: 253
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2016 9:00 am
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Re: Hermit crabs coming out off their shell and dying.
Unread postAuthor: AleyedtoBuggie » Sat Jul 29, 2017 4:48 pm

It's a pinned post in the emergency forum too if you ever need it again! Good luck

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AleyedtoBuggie

Posts: 253
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2016 9:00 am