HCA: Hermit Crab Association

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?
sand 7inches

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, front center, 70% 75°

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
yes, heating pads

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

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
fresh food and nuts. every other day

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
1year pp

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
not sure

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
75gal glass top

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
5 medium to large

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
20?

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
don’t change sub , clean food and poop every other day

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.)?
no

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Today I found 2 dead crabs. I’m absolutely heart broken and not sure how it happened. They were both next to each other. I’m worried about the other crabs. Is it okay for them to still live in the tank? (I obviously removed the dead crabs and some sand) I’m not sure what happened they’ve been fine.

.

To add a little, I was always told the tank would smell if a crab had passed yet i never noticed a smell. One crab was clearly more decomposed then the other. I feel awful for not noticing sooner, I figured they were digging.

There isn't always a smell, especially if they die underground. How did you "find" them? You say you "figured they were digging," did you dig them up?

Also, are you certain they are dead? In some stages of molting, crabs can seem dead but not be.

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
sand 7inches
Curly - Is it moistened so that it is sand castle consistency (ie- holds it's shape but not so wet that water pools)?

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, front center, 70% 75°
Curly - 70% humidity is okay, but closer to 80% would be better to allow for some variation. They have modified gills, so need the high humidity to breathe.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
yes, heating pads

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
Curly - What brand of dechlorinator and salt are you using?

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
fresh food and nuts. every other day
Curly - Have you checked the nutrition care sheet? Do they get protein and calcium daily?

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
1year pp

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
not sure

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
75gal glass top

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
5 medium to large

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
20?

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
don’t change sub , clean food and poop every other day

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.)?
no

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Today I found 2 dead crabs. I’m absolutely heart broken and not sure how it happened. They were both next to each other. I’m worried about the other crabs. Is it okay for them to still live in the tank? (I obviously removed the dead crabs and some sand) I’m not sure what happened they’ve been fine.
Curly - As DF said, they don't always smell. There are a few things that could possibly need to be improved. Sometimes we never know what causes them to pass away tho.

Yes, the sub is moist and sandcastle consistency. I’ve tried getting humidity above 70% but it just doesnt stick.

We use Api water conditioner and sea salt

I have egg shells around the tank and they get eggs, coconut, and other protein sources.

They were both in the back corner of the tank under a fake plant decor. Both were 100% dead, I had moved the decor for water change.

Unfortunately, sea salt does not provide the minerals crabs need for long term health. They need marine salt. And the Api conditioner may not be removing everything from the tap water that needs to be. Here is the care sheet that explains everything about water:

viewtopic.php?f=127&t=92553

As for humidity, have you tried the suggestions in the humidity care sheet?

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=92544

Improvement in both of these areas could contribute to long term health of your other crabs.

Thank you. We will definitely be switching to marine salt, I didn’t know sea salt didn’t work. I didn’t mention it but the pools aren’t filled with tap water, I filter is prior with a brita water filter and then use the Api. I’ll also check out the humidity page.

I am sorry to hear this about your two poor crabbies! Considering you had them for only a year, and you are not sure if they have molted, I wonder if there was something about their prior experience that had a cumulative or delayed effect. Perhaps they felt ready to molt but due to some nutritional deficiency in their earlier life, they underwent a physiological stress of some kind. Have any of your crabs molted successfully? Were all the crabs obtained from the same source? If so, I wonder if it's possible they all have some nutritional deficiency, and/or it may be crucial to add proper marine salt water as was discussed. (My crab did okay for a few years without salt water but as soon as I added it, she went nuts drinking it for hours.)

The other thing I thought of is that it wasn't mentioned what type of sand you have: calcium sand (not mixed with other substrate) is supposed to be bad for crabs, so hopefully it is regular beach or play sand?

I see how the fact that two crabs died, could make you worry there might be some condition endangering the other crabs. I'm wondering though, is it possible that one died at an earlier time and you only noticed after the second one died? What I'm getting at is that maybe the deaths are not that closely related?

These two were from the same previous home. They hadn’t had enough sub in their previous tank, therefore I’m not sure if they’ve ever molted while in captivity. They didn’t with me. Two crabs I adopted from a different home have successfully molted with me.

The sand in my tank is play sand. I’m aware calcium sand is harmful.


I do believe they didn’t pass at the same time, although I only saw one crab. I was very emotional over the situation, my sister removed the crabs for me.

That's sad to hear that the previous conditions can have such a long-term effect - so there are limits to what you can do, when adopting a crab into a better setup. Glad to hear that the others have molted in your care, always a good sign!

I’m late to this…but just wanted to say I’m so sorry you lost them and had to find them together like that. I’ve learned that they will lose the hormone to molt when they go too long without being able to do it. I believe it is certain death if they can’t molt. I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope that time has brought you some peace.


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