Two possible surface molters? Crabber Newbie needs help!

[SBLGO2014]

I posted a couple days ago about Olaf, my larges PP we adopted 2 weeks ago. He was in bad conditions at the pet store but and has been slow moving since home but has seemed generally healthy. I've witnessed him eating, drinking and bathing himself but he sits in one spot for hours on end even at night. It was suggested that he just needs to molt. I'm concerned because he's not trying to bury and he hasn't moved from his mossy jar hide for over a day.

Then over the last couple of days, Spike, our second largest is acting more and more lethargic. Yesterday I found him sideways between a hide and the glass of the tank with his legs half out and not moving. He responds to stimuli and closes his big claw but that's about it. His legs are arranged in odd order and one leg seems limp. He too seemed healthy just a few days ago. We've had him for about three weeks. My concern is why aren't they trying to bury? I've read that surface molting is not normal and most likely die. Is this PPS? I fear we may have handled them too much or something if they are surface molting. Is there anything I can do?

[SBLGO2014]

Here are the details:

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
EE a little over 5"

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 have a Zoomed combo hygrometer thermometer. When they first got home, the temp was usually around 73 and humidity over 80. I've since gotten an additional UTH and now the tank is usually in the 80's.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
UTH
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)?
Have fresh and saltwater pools available. Switched dechlorinator from Hermit Crab specific to API Stress Coat. Salt water is dechlorinated with stress coat and use Instant Ocean for the salt.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Carrots, apples, plain cooked chicken, honey, kale, walnut, pumpkin seed, Omega One freeze dried shrimp and krill, coconut oil, grapes and bananas. Replace the food daily and always sprinkle it with cuddle bone dust for calcium.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
PP had Olaf for two and a half weeks and Spike for three weeks
7. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
29 gallon tank w/ glass lid

8. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
1 med/lg, 1 medium, 1 small med, 1 small

9. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
5 to 10
10. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No

11. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Not yet

12. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges
13. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
I have added a climbing vine, corner shower caddy and sheet moss

14. 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.)?

15. Please describe the emergency situation in detail
Crabs lethargic and won't bury to molt.

[YYWW]

Some PPs just like to sleep. My Diesel sleeps all the time and hardly buries. But he's actually the most active one, exploring every corner of the tank, eating the most, soaks in the pool. As long as they can get around and eat, they are doing good. If they aren't interested in eating and can't get around, then it might be hospital tank time.


Crabbers unite!!!

[YYWW]

Are the crabs in need of a molt? Do they have broken leg tips or anything? What were they like at the shop? Are they both eating?


Crabbers unite!!!

[SBLGO2014]

Olaf has broken tips. He was in gravel as substrate with no moisture. Spike's conditions were better but still not great. He doesn't have any broken tips. I saw both of them eat and drink a couple of days ago but their activity seems to have plummeted since then. They used to at least walk around at night but now they stay in one place.

[SBLGO2014]

Olaf also has that odd wite out look on his legs.

[YYWW]

Olaf sounds molty, and rightfully so. His moss jar sounds great. I'd molt in there. It's like having a ball pool all to yourself. You could isolate that jar if youre afraid another crab might intrude. But let him do his thing in peace and darkness. Hopefully he'll molt and be back in action within a month.
Spike i'm not sure. There's another crabber with 2 crabs doing the jumbly leg thing. I guess we can only wait and see.
Your tank seems a little overcrowded, and your sub not deep enough. Other than that the conditions dont seem bad. The other jumbly leg crabber also had normalish conditions. Could these crabs just have bad posture?? Sorry but i just cant think of anything. Hope Spike perks up and gets normal soon!


Crabbers unite!!!

[singlemomwithcrab]

It could be PPS. I read some opinions somewhere that we do a poor job of allowing our crabs to acclimate to new conditions by gradually taking them from conditions similar to the pet store / place we get them and step up to what is considered IDEAL. For example, if we take them from a 70 degree at 50 percent humidity and plop them into a tank at 85 degrees with 80% humidity, that it is a major shock to their system.

[SBLGO2014]

Sadly, Spike died. :'( Olaf, on the other hand has come out of his mossy hide out. I think this guy is just super laid back. I'm adding another couple inches of substrate.

[kadynadair16]

Aw I'm sorry about spike. I'm crossing my fingers and I will keep Olaf in my peayers