Interrupted a molt and possible digestive issues?

[Abnd]

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?
5:1 sand/eco earth

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?
80/80 on average

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heater on side of 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)?
Fresh and salt water...prime and hermit crab salt water conditioner

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Many types of dry food mixes containing fish bones shrimp chicken eggs flowers leaf litter cuttlebone seaweed etc, some fresh fruit/veg, organic honey, coconut oil with spirulina.

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

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes, believe I disturbed molt a yesterday

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

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2, one Med and one small

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

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Surface clean twice a week

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?
No

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.
This will be long please read though, thanks so much!
I was given a second PP that hadn’t been kept in good conditions (open air cage and dry sand, and pellets...no pools. I got it while mine was molting. Put it in a separate tank to wait for my crab to surface cause I didn’t want the new one to find my molter and eat him. Was doing fine for a few days, then buried and didn’t come back up. I tried to purposefully put too little substrate to prevent it from molting cause it was such a small iso tank. It dug down and piled sand on top of itself to make it deep enough to cover him (clever thing). I left it alone. About a two weeks later the tank started smelling bad...but not fishy...what I assumed was the molting smell. Left it alone but was worried about the substrate since it was so shallow it was very difficult to keep it moist enough while also being afraid I might be filling his hole with water (I hadn’t had practice with how much to spray in the little tank). I Tried to make a bubbler to increase humidity but failed to work. Another week went by and smell dissipated. After a total of a month I’m starting to wonder if the little guy is ok. I waited a few more days until yesterday to do any checking. I peeked under the tank and could see part of its shell right by what I thought were it’s claws. There was no movement when I shined a light in(claws didnt recoil), So I started wondering if it had passed from molting too soon after I got it since I’ve read that it’s more difficult for them to molt when stressed from a move transition. Anyway, I tapped the bottom and the claws flopped round. My heart sank and I thought I had a limp dead crab under the sand. I carefully brushed the sand away and revealed some exo claws and the crab alive and curled up in its shell! I felt soooooo bad. I didn’t think the exo would still be in there...he should have eaten it all right? The sand around him was very dry and he looked like he was ok so I decide to give him a bath and add him to the big tank (my crab was up by then) it immediately ate a bunch and climbed a tree. I felt a little better assuming maybe he was about to come out from molting on his own since he’s being so active. Today it ate a bunch more, but after it did I found it not moving a lot and in a puddle of greenish brown wet mushy stuff. Do crabs have diarrhea?! Idk where it came from. I hope he’s not now sick. Could he have overeaten, or the spirulina in coconut oil I have him disagreed with him. I’m so afraid my uncovering him has stressed him and he’s gonna die. I was trying so hard to do right by him. When I saw the gross puddle I made the decision to dig a hole up and put him in it. He immediately burrowed down a little bit more, but I can still see his shell. Anyone have any idea what the goo was? Do crabs get sick like that? Also, he’s very pale beige/peach to peach in color with just a few purplish splotches. Plese help!

.

[JoeHermits]

I’m not sure what you were seeing. Pictures would be helpful.

How’s the crab doing now?


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[Abnd]

I did take a pic of whatever it was, just need to figure out how to upload it. I just looked and the little guy came out of the hole I put him in and looks like he’s been normally active. He’s up on top of a barnacle right now.

[Abnd]

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[Abnd]

First pic sort of looks like it has a worm in it now that I’m looking closer! Second pic was what dropped through and was wiped off the underside of the grate.


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[Oliviet#1]

What did it eat?