HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I just had a second hermit crab (deceased and realized due to smell when I opened the tank) drop its shell and die beside it. I don't understand what's happening. I've had this tank sweety up for one year andno issues ever... not even smell. I'm working on things around the house right now so I can give details later. Help appreciated.

Freshwater and saltwater changed two days ago. New crab introduced 3 months ago... maybe culprit?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Would you be able to fill in the emergency template, please? Then we can help trouble shoot better.

I totally forgot we had one of those! Sorry! I wrote really quick so I could start to get help quickly.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Play sand/coco coir 3:1 ratio moistened with Instant Ocean saltwater mix.

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?
Upper left side, not touching heater or light. Heat is 80F and humidity is 81%.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
No. I keep the house at 75.

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 saltwater. I treat each gallon with 4 drops of prime (or use water that was treated with prime over 24s prior). For the freshwater, I stop there. For the saltwater I then add 1/4 cup of instant ocean to the saltwater labeled gallon.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I have dried veggie, fruit, grains, nuts. I change it every few days (probably should change that). I do allow chia seeds to sprout in the substrate.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
All residents are PP. I've had the deceased for one year.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes, I believe recently because I didn't hear or see anyone in the evenings since maybe January.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
250 gal with hood and lights. Three openings are covered with tin foil to keep in moisture.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
There were 8... now 6. I haven't seen some of the others for a good minute.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
About 15.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
Nothing out of the ordinary. I did spray neem oil on the other side of the house.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every few months I check level and prepare new substrate. I try to pick up droppings and food that I see hasn't been eaten whenever I see it (the tank is beside the dining table 10ft from my front door).

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?
Yes, an adopted PP in late December.

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.)?
No.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

Two weeks ago I had a large PP drop it's shell. I tried to save it according to another hermit crab site... no luck. I discovered today's casualty because I smelled a fishy smell when I peeked inside as I was passing by (vacuuming). For appx 1.5 years everyone has been fine....

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

I forgot to add that the person I adopted the newest hermit crab from told me that she had only had him for 2 or 3 weeks. She said that she had purchased him from a mall.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Maybe there's another that's dead somewhere and it's causing infection or bloom? I've never experienced a bloom.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

My temperature/humidity gadget died too...ugh.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Play sand/coco coir 3:1 ratio moistened with Instant Ocean saltwater mix.
Curly - How deep is your sub?

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?
Upper left side, not touching heater or light. Heat is 80F and humidity is 81%.
Curly - If these are broken, you should get new ones as soon as you can.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
No. I keep the house at 75.
Curly - The tank stays at 80 with no heat source??

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 saltwater. I treat each gallon with 4 drops of prime (or use water that was treated with prime over 24s prior). For the freshwater, I stop there. For the saltwater I then add 1/4 cup of instant ocean to the saltwater labeled gallon.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I have dried veggie, fruit, grains, nuts. I change it every few days (probably should change that). I do allow chia seeds to sprout in the substrate.
Curly - If you feed dried foods, you can leave them in a few days or more. I often leave them til they start to go moldy, LOL. What do you feed for protein? For calcium? They need protein and calcium daily.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
All residents are PP. I've had the deceased for one year.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes, I believe recently because I didn't hear or see anyone in the evenings since maybe January.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
250 gal with hood and lights. Three openings are covered with tin foil to keep in moisture.
Curly - Wow! That's a huge tank!

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
There were 8... now 6. I haven't seen some of the others for a good minute.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
About 15.
Curly - HCA recommends 3-5 extra shells per crab.


11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
Nothing out of the ordinary. I did spray neem oil on the other side of the house.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every few months I check level and prepare new substrate. I try to pick up droppings and food that I see hasn't been eaten whenever I see it (the tank is beside the dining table 10ft from my front door).
Curly - I'm not sure from this, if you change out all the sub or just add more. You don't need to change it all out unless there is an emergency like a flood or bacterial bloom. Picking up droppings and bits of food is enough.

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?
Yes, an adopted PP in late December.

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.)?
No.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

Two weeks ago I had a large PP drop it's shell. I tried to save it according to another hermit crab site... no luck. I discovered today's casualty because I smelled a fishy smell when I peeked inside as I was passing by (vacuuming). For appx 1.5 years everyone has been fine....

Curly - A crab will drop it's shell when it is too weak to carry it. I don't see anything glaringly wrong with your tank set up. They could use more protein and calcium. I doubt there is a bacterial bloom going on under the sub causing the issues - you would see the color of the sub changing, and there would likely be a really bad smell, not just from a dead crab. If the new crab hadn't been in good conditions, it could have passed away from PPS. Sorry I'm not more help, hoping some of the other mods can weigh in too.

I have to find batteries for my temperature gauge. A task for tomorrow. It may not be at 80 right now.

I've tried raw chicken in the past but they didn't seem to really care for it so I gave up on that. They did have some oyster shell pieces until yesterday. I've thought about a cuttle bone. I have psyllium husk powder and apple powder that I plan on putting in tomorrow as well.

I don't change out all substrate. If it settles, I add a bit. When can I turn it over? I'm not sure if anyone is molting.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Check out the safe food list. They can eat any meat, raw or cooked, just no seasonings. Shrimp. Freezedried crickets. They eat such tiny amounts sometimes it's hard to tell they ate at all. They can eat eggs. Raw, hardboiled, scrambled. They love egg shells and it's great calcium. Many of us leave a cuttlebone in there at all times.