slumping over,still alive (strawberry)

[joe84]

The top picture is 2 nights ago. My strawberry was walking around being a very healthy,happy guy. This morning I woke up to picture 2 . He is slumped over in the salt water dish. All aspects of the crabitat are ideal. The only thing that is different in the day to day operation of the tank, is last night I gave them chicken for first time. They all ate it and seemed fine. It is unseasoned white meat. Now he is just slumped in the water blowing bubbles. He doesn't retreat into shell, but if i lift him, i can feel he's still hanging on and not just spilling out. What can be done if anything? the other members of the tank are fine.

[joe84]

It's getting worse. Now i can here the bubbles hes blowing. Ive had LHC's off and on for 25yrs and have never lost one like this

[MsWorld]

Have you ever had straws before? They are very sensitive and not as tough as the PP's. Straws also need full pools with filters and bubblers to swim in and about 8 inches of substrate with a large tank. Like 65g and up. Straws also are family oriented and like the same breed. Did you have all these things for your straw and he's still doing this??


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[joe84]

yea. thats the water dish. He has a pool that he submerges in. He is the only strawberry i have, the others are PP. He's been fine and active for the last 6 months. I really think I must of dropped the ball with the chicken, but the others aren't showing any illness.

[joe84]

I've also read that they have a shorter lifespan and he was pretty large when I recieved him. Maybe it wasn't the chicken?

[MsWorld]

I am sorry to see and hear this. This is a sad sad sad day for you. Can you change the title to put help with straw? There are not a lot of straw owners here but if someone does see it maybe they can tell you what to do.


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[joe84]

Update: I blew wind onto him and now he is walking around! should I still be concerned?

[joe84]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
eco earth and playsand mix to sandcastle consist. 7-8 inches.

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. multiple. Hot side temp is 80-88 humid 90 coldside is 77-85 80-90 humid

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
3 different size UTH that are applied to the back and to simulate sun light, I run a UV lamp 7a-7p on the hot side.

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)?
1 fresh water bow and 1 salt. I also have a salt pool that is deep enough for my strawberry to submerge. Instant ocean for salt and aqua for dechlor

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
replaced daily. The list is vast. I the list provided here saved to my phone. They usually get fruits and veggies and things I prepare. Only comercial i use is wordleys dried shrimp

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
5PP 1 Straw

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
all have molted except straw. He is larger so I'm expecting it to take longer to need

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
Glass 40 gal long with glass lid. I open it daily to let fresh air circulate

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
5 small PP 1 larg straw

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
too many too count. multiple shell shops

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

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

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
not needed. humid is fine

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
tried white meat unseasoned chicken for first time

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.)?
habitat is healthy and other crabs are in good spirits. I have been a crabber off and on since the early 90's, when I purchased my first one at a fair sold as a "tree crab"
Would also like to note that I have zero hands on with them. I don't like to disturb them unless I have too. I have had friends disagree, but I don't think human interaction is required to enjoy them.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Strawberry crab is slumped in water dish. Since posting, He has moved when i blew air onto him, but is still sluggish.

Thanks all for the help!

[KayedeeLove<3]

All i can really see is straws need more sub. How deep is your submerging pool?

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[KayedeeLove<3]

They like to actually swim too.

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[joe84]

All i can really see is straws need more sub. How deep is your submerging pool?

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same depth as substrate.

[KayedeeLove<3]

Hmmm... I hope he makes it!!!!

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[KayedeeLove<3]

Did he make it through?

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[aussieJJDude]

Could it be that there is a CO2 buildup in your tank?
How long do you leave the top open for? When the lid is closed, are their any air vents? If so, how big?

(It's been observed that straws - at least near australia - are found very close to the beach or on small islands, so they would have constant airflow in their tanks. I thinking that your straw doesn't have enough O2, as CO2 is heavier then O2... And for memory PP's are found further inland, so there would be very low flow of air....)
^^^ Just a quick hypothesis

[joe84]

He did not make it I have been trying to investigate further into what went wrong. I assumed everything was well. There was no signs leading up to the day I found him slumped over that indicated their was a problem. Temp and humid were fine. The only changes I can think that I should have done was maybe get another of his breed, but he seemed to get along fine with his PP brethren. This whole ordeal has changed my outlook on strawberries though. As amazing as he was and I thought I was doing well caring for him, I have decided not to get anymore. I also decided not to do chicken for food anymore, even though I'm not 100% sure that had anything to do with his passing. I will continue with the breeds I am familiar with for all these years (PPs and E's) because he was the only one who passed, I must have done something wrong.

Thanks for all the replies

(and on a side note, My PP with the extra leg piece is doing very well! I posted pics on the health forums last week about him.)