(Solved) Molting crabs - Ant colony moved in overnight! Help!

[ToothedGoose]

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?
EcoEarth with some sand, about 4 inches deep.

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?
Located on the right side of the tank, and they generally read 75F and 70-80% humidity.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, a heating pad under 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)?
A bin of freshwater and a bin of saltwater, treated with Jungle Start Right dechlorinator, and salt is Instant Ocean (1/2 cup salt per gallon water).

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed foods bought from Hermit Grub, I replace it every few days, sometimes I offer fruit or vegetables or grains.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Two purple pinchers, I've had them for a year and a few months.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes, they are currently molting.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20 gallon tank, it has a screen lid but it has a plastic cover to keep humidity in.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Two crabs, one large and one medium.

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

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
Not that I know of.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I'm a college student, I clean the tank whenever I get back from college, I remove all the food and replace the water. I have isopods and springtails in the tank, so it's mostly bioactive.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Leaf litter (magnolias and silver maple).

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.)?
N/A

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Yesterday afternoon I offered my crabs some mango, as I was unsure if they were molting. This seemed to have attracted a few ants and so I removed the ants and then removed the mango. I also redecorated the enclosure and tried to cover the hole that the ants had entered.

This morning, the ant colony had moved in. I lifted the salt water bowl and found that they had their larvae in there, and many many ants. They also had pupae in the 'shell shop' inside the shells, which I quickly rinsed out. I've suspected that my crabs have been molting for the past two weeks as I haven't seen any movement or feeding. I'm worried that the ant colony is going to harm the crabs while they're molting! However, I was planning on upgrading them to a 55 gallon enclosure. The 55 tank is currently set up with 5:1 ratio of sand to Eco Earth and I just need to add the heater and decorations. I was waiting for my crabs to finish molting before moving them, but now I'm worried the ants will eat them!

Should I dig out the molting crabs and move them to the new tank? How should I do it? I'm still removing ants from the tank as we speak, but it seems they're everywhere!

.

[JoeHermits]

If you are finding larvae in the tank then there’s a queen in there so you have an entire colony living and reproducing in your tank.

They are a threat to your molters so you’ll want to dig. Be prepared to isolate any and all crabs you find underground (Tupperware with moss will do in a pinch). Also note that the ants will attack to protect themselves so watch out for stings or bites.


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[CrabbyLover77]

Once you've cleaned everything out, put a nice ring of Vaseline midway around the outside of the glass. Ants can't jump (except one or two species), so they won't be able to pass the Vaseline and get into the tank.

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[ToothedGoose]

Thank you! I carefully moved them both to the 55 (only one of them was molting), and I isolated the molter. I put the shed exoskeleton under her, but she looked like she was 95% done with her molt.

I also threw out anything organic in the old tank, and cleaned off the inorganic decorations to move to the new tank. I've been monitoring conditions in the new tank but it seems everything is okay so far.

After I moved around so much of the substrate (when I was looking for the crabs), it seems some of the ants started evacuating with pupae in their mandibles. I'm leaving the 20 gallon uncovered so that it dries out and hopefully drives the ants away once it all dries up.

I'll be sure to put some vaseline!

Thank you both!

[Crab-Bee]

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, a heating pad under the tank.

I noticed this and figured I ask if it was mid worded and if not suggest you put the heat mat on the back of the tank instead of underneath for proper heat distribution as the heat mat can't properly heat through the substrate

[CrabbyLover77]

Thank you! I carefully moved them both to the 55 (only one of them was molting), and I isolated the molter. I put the shed exoskeleton under her, but she looked like she was 95% done with her molt.

I also threw out anything organic in the old tank, and cleaned off the inorganic decorations to move to the new tank. I've been monitoring conditions in the new tank but it seems everything is okay so far.

After I moved around so much of the substrate (when I was looking for the crabs), it seems some of the ants started evacuating with pupae in their mandibles. I'm leaving the 20 gallon uncovered so that it dries out and hopefully drives the ants away once it all dries up.

I'll be sure to put some vaseline!

Thank you both!

Good luck with everything! Keep us updated.

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