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 as best you can. 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. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Sea-sand #3 and it height is about 3 cm and I also have a container full of coconut soil ,its depth is about 8cm. The container is only for molting
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?
The gauge is in the center of the tank. The temperature is 72F/22C and humidity is 80%
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes because the temperature is low outside the tank
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 prepared both fresh and salt water but carbs seem like uninterested to fresh and salt water recently. They are not active recently. The ratio of salt water is almost like sea water.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Dried shrimp and vegetables. About 2 days
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
One year. One of them is Wrinkled Land Hermit Crab which is the one has problems with its legs.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
2.5months ago
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
glass tank 60*40*40 cm. The lid is plastic
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 crabs they are both 3-4 cm
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
no shells
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every 3-4 months I replace the substrate
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
I changed coconut soil into sea sand
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.)?
After I changed the substrate, my crabs became inactive. They didn’t move or eat. The wrinkled land hermit crab buried itself into the sand for about 3 days. And because of the thin substrate，I could still see its shell. Then it moved into the coconut soil container and has not buried itself any longer until now.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I found 2 legs left of it became soft and fragile. They looks like seedlings of some kind of plant. It seems like the crab lost its scarfskin. The crab looks like crippled.
.
my crab’s legs look like soft and fragile
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curlysister
- Administrator
- Posts: 4602
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: my crab’s legs look like soft and fragile
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Sea-sand #3 and it height is about 3 cm and I also have a container full of coconut soil ,its depth is about 8cm. The container is only for molting
Curly - Substrate should be at least three times as deep as your largest crab. It needs to be moistened so it holds it's shape, but not so wet that water pools in the bottom. You should not move a crab to molt. The substrate in the whole tank should be appropriate for molting.
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?
The gauge is in the center of the tank. The temperature is 72F/22C and humidity is 80%
Curly - Your humidity is good, but your temp is a bit low. It should be closer to 80F.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes because the temperature is low outside the tank
Curly - What are you using for a heat source?
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 prepared both fresh and salt water but carbs seem like uninterested to fresh and salt water recently. They are not active recently. The ratio of salt water is almost like sea water.
Curly - Are you using a dechlorinator? What brand of salt are you using to make the salt water? Pools should be deep enough that a crab can submerge, but also have a way to climb out.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Dried shrimp and vegetables. About 2 days
Curly - Crabs need a varied diet. Be sure to provide protein and calcium daily.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
One year. One of them is Wrinkled Land Hermit Crab which is the one has problems with its legs.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
2.5months ago
Curly - Did he bury himself to molt?
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
glass tank 60*40*40 cm. The lid is plastic
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 crabs they are both 3-4 cm
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
no shells
Curly - HCA recommends at least 3 to 5 extra shells per crab.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every 3-4 months I replace the substrate
Curly - With proper substrate, you only need to spot clean, not change it all out.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
I changed coconut soil into sea sand
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.)?
After I changed the substrate, my crabs became inactive. They didn’t move or eat. The wrinkled land hermit crab buried itself into the sand for about 3 days. And because of the thin substrate，I could still see its shell. Then it moved into the coconut soil container and has not buried itself any longer until now.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I found 2 legs left of it became soft and fragile. They looks like seedlings of some kind of plant. It seems like the crab lost its scarfskin. The crab looks like crippled.
Curly - If your crab is losing legs, it could be because it is weak and trying to conserve energy. You have a few things in your tank that could be improived. Be sure to keep your vulnerable crab separated from the other crab.
Be sure to read through the care sheets for lots of info. Start with the 'basics' one, then go from there:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... .php?f=120
Sea-sand #3 and it height is about 3 cm and I also have a container full of coconut soil ,its depth is about 8cm. The container is only for molting
Curly - Substrate should be at least three times as deep as your largest crab. It needs to be moistened so it holds it's shape, but not so wet that water pools in the bottom. You should not move a crab to molt. The substrate in the whole tank should be appropriate for molting.
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?
The gauge is in the center of the tank. The temperature is 72F/22C and humidity is 80%
Curly - Your humidity is good, but your temp is a bit low. It should be closer to 80F.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes because the temperature is low outside the tank
Curly - What are you using for a heat source?
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 prepared both fresh and salt water but carbs seem like uninterested to fresh and salt water recently. They are not active recently. The ratio of salt water is almost like sea water.
Curly - Are you using a dechlorinator? What brand of salt are you using to make the salt water? Pools should be deep enough that a crab can submerge, but also have a way to climb out.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Dried shrimp and vegetables. About 2 days
Curly - Crabs need a varied diet. Be sure to provide protein and calcium daily.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
One year. One of them is Wrinkled Land Hermit Crab which is the one has problems with its legs.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
2.5months ago
Curly - Did he bury himself to molt?
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
glass tank 60*40*40 cm. The lid is plastic
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 crabs they are both 3-4 cm
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
no shells
Curly - HCA recommends at least 3 to 5 extra shells per crab.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every 3-4 months I replace the substrate
Curly - With proper substrate, you only need to spot clean, not change it all out.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
I changed coconut soil into sea sand
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.)?
After I changed the substrate, my crabs became inactive. They didn’t move or eat. The wrinkled land hermit crab buried itself into the sand for about 3 days. And because of the thin substrate，I could still see its shell. Then it moved into the coconut soil container and has not buried itself any longer until now.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I found 2 legs left of it became soft and fragile. They looks like seedlings of some kind of plant. It seems like the crab lost its scarfskin. The crab looks like crippled.
Curly - If your crab is losing legs, it could be because it is weak and trying to conserve energy. You have a few things in your tank that could be improived. Be sure to keep your vulnerable crab separated from the other crab.
Be sure to read through the care sheets for lots of info. Start with the 'basics' one, then go from there:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... .php?f=120
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers
Re: my crab’s legs look like soft and fragile
Thank you for all your suggestions and today I found it became better and seemed normal. And I will improve the environment. Thanks again