Hermit is ill or surface molting?
Posted: Sat Oct 26, 2019 11:06 pm
[/img]i]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! [/i]
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Reptilite sand and Eco Earth on top. It’s about 2 inches of sand and 1 inch of the Eco Earth. I’m sure it needs to be a bit deeper though.
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? It’s an analog and they read in the “normal” range, around 78-ish for both. It’s on the opposite end of the heater. We live in Florida so this usually isn’t a problem.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? Yes, an adhesive heat pad that is on the outside of 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 use Zoo Med brand salt & fresh water conditioner, used as directed. I have a ramp bowl for the fresh water and 2 sponges kept soaked with salt water.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? Gardner’s hermit crab food, and assorted other foods like oats, chia seeds, crackers (no salt), dried fruits, egg shells, etc. Changed every couple days or so.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? Only had them for a couple weeks now. Purple pincher or tree crab I think they’re called?
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? I don’t know yet.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? It is a large plastic terrarium, 3 gallons I believe. It has a plastic top that I’ve covered mostly with plastic wrap. This is a starter tank for my son, we plan on getting a much bigger glass tank if we can keep these little crabbies alive!
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? There are 2 tiny crabs, about the size of a quarter (with shell).
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? I have 3 extras currently.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I haven’t had to yet.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? They are not in the water dish, but 2 at opposite ends of the tank. I take them out, rinse them (with the conditioned water), soak them with salt water and put them back every few days or so. My son mists them with salt water daily.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? It’s all pretty much new to them.
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.)? We are new to having these crabs, but we tried very hard to have everything they need and did some research beforehand.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. One of our crabs has stopped moving/crawling around. This one is very friendly, not scared of much, he’s really neat! A couple days ago we noticed he hadn’t moved from the same place in awhile. We took him out (maybe we shouldn’t have but I don’t know) to have a look at him. He’s sort of hanging out of his shell, even if we touch his legs, he doesn’t retract but just barely moves if at all. We’ve placed him back and he still hasn’t moved. He doesn’t smell. Our other crab has been buried, assuming he’s molting or just hiding from being in a new place. I’ve heard a scratching like noise at night coming from the tank. Nothing smells bad at all. We are worried about our new little friend! If he is dying, is there anything we can do? What did we do wrong?
.
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Reptilite sand and Eco Earth on top. It’s about 2 inches of sand and 1 inch of the Eco Earth. I’m sure it needs to be a bit deeper though.
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? It’s an analog and they read in the “normal” range, around 78-ish for both. It’s on the opposite end of the heater. We live in Florida so this usually isn’t a problem.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? Yes, an adhesive heat pad that is on the outside of 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 use Zoo Med brand salt & fresh water conditioner, used as directed. I have a ramp bowl for the fresh water and 2 sponges kept soaked with salt water.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? Gardner’s hermit crab food, and assorted other foods like oats, chia seeds, crackers (no salt), dried fruits, egg shells, etc. Changed every couple days or so.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? Only had them for a couple weeks now. Purple pincher or tree crab I think they’re called?
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? I don’t know yet.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? It is a large plastic terrarium, 3 gallons I believe. It has a plastic top that I’ve covered mostly with plastic wrap. This is a starter tank for my son, we plan on getting a much bigger glass tank if we can keep these little crabbies alive!
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? There are 2 tiny crabs, about the size of a quarter (with shell).
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? I have 3 extras currently.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I haven’t had to yet.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? They are not in the water dish, but 2 at opposite ends of the tank. I take them out, rinse them (with the conditioned water), soak them with salt water and put them back every few days or so. My son mists them with salt water daily.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? It’s all pretty much new to them.
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.)? We are new to having these crabs, but we tried very hard to have everything they need and did some research beforehand.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. One of our crabs has stopped moving/crawling around. This one is very friendly, not scared of much, he’s really neat! A couple days ago we noticed he hadn’t moved from the same place in awhile. We took him out (maybe we shouldn’t have but I don’t know) to have a look at him. He’s sort of hanging out of his shell, even if we touch his legs, he doesn’t retract but just barely moves if at all. We’ve placed him back and he still hasn’t moved. He doesn’t smell. Our other crab has been buried, assuming he’s molting or just hiding from being in a new place. I’ve heard a scratching like noise at night coming from the tank. Nothing smells bad at all. We are worried about our new little friend! If he is dying, is there anything we can do? What did we do wrong?
.
