MHC accidentally taken home from Gulf of Mexico

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:19 pm

I hate to flush the little guys but I have no choice at this point. My back will not allow me to dig a hole, and I have no other hermits. Just those but I guess one day I will get some hermies! They are indeed fun to watch

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:19 pm

and you have been most helpful! Just stinks that I couldn't get to the pet store in time

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:55 pm

ok, i guess this is good news. I took my husbands word last night that all three crabs died. I was drugged and didn't think anything about it. Then today I went to clean the tank and two are still alive!! I ran through petsmart getting everything i could think of. I got the oceanic salt, the cheap pump, and some sand. I can't remember the name of it off hand, and also got some new kind of water de-chlorination stuff. I put it all together and am hoping beyond hope that I can save the two remaining crabs! Pray with me while we try this. When my husband gets home I am going to have him dig a hole for the crab that did pass as I can not get him out of his shell. For some reason he liked the new shell so much he's still clinging to it after death. Poor little guy. But please please pray for the two that are still alive and showing their love of life!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:01 pm

DON'T JUST BURY THAT CRAB! If it's still holding on, it may still be alive. They can look very much dead while still alive. Put him in the tank and wait. You can't really tell until it's obvious that they have past. (Decomposition/ dead fish smell.) My very first time owning crabs I killed one thinking it was dead and only found out later (when we studied Crustacea in University) that it was molting.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:06 pm

oh, one is very much dead. It is not moving and has not moved in 2 days. The other two crabs tho are still alive just not out of the woods. I'm praying they make it!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:08 pm

I'd hate to ask, but does it smell? Movement does not mean anything. That is the point I was trying to make. They can go perfectly still for a long duration of time while still being fully alive.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:13 pm

Stinks to high heck n back

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:14 pm

Aww... Ok... I'm sorry for your loss, then. I was hoping it was still alive. Best of luck with the other two.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:11 pm

I came home a few minutes ago to find the littlest crab running around the bottom of the tank like it hasn't ran in years. He's perky and making his lil antanae and legs all over the place. The biggest crab is hidin and don't know if he's made it. He was moving before I made my mad dash to petsmart earlier. Hopefully he survived and is just waiting for the right time to come out! Will keep you all updated!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:20 pm

A small update. The baby crab has found a new home in a bright shiny shell and is moving around like crazy! I think the salt perked him right up! However, the larger crab is still in hiding and has yet to come out. I don't know if he's hiding or if he's passed. I guess I will find out later.

Special thanks to the gentleman who's been helping me so much! Thanks for letting me know which salt and all. I appreciate it so much!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:17 am

The baby crab is full of surprises! He's changed shells again! I got to see it this time! Second time in less than a week I've gotten to see a crab change shells! Too bad this time I didn't get it on video

I knew it was going to happen but I didn't have time to make it to the other room to get the camera. DARN THE LUCK! It was still awesome! The big daddy crab just doesn't want to come out and play. Which leads me to a question. Bet ya'll are thinking "dear lord she's full of them" but I'm new to crabs and learning! When the other crab died it was hanging OUT of it's shell and all limp n yucky looking. Do they all come out of the shell when they die or do some stay in the shell when they die. I can't see him but am pretty sure he's still in there. Just hoping he'll come around like the baby one. Answers are greatly appreciated!

annopia · Post by **annopia** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:23 am

awww, congrats that the tiny one is doing so well! what have you named him?

hermies do many things when they die-some come out of their shell completely, some lay part in limp, and other just stay curled up. the only way to tell for sure that a crab is dead is to wait for the death smell-a bad fishy odor.

Caroline

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:40 am

I had named all of them, the baby is Woon, the middle one that died was Cricket and the big guy is Viggo. Thanks for your help!

OIF_VET · Post by **OIF_VET** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:00 am

CookieMonster! Thank you for the compliments

I am so Glad that at least 1 of your Hermies have made it!
I do my best to try and help.
I hope you will be able to get the stuff that I listed earlier in this thread about what ya need. You certainly do NEED to have a Hydrometer. Measures Specific Gravity of Water.
Please, do not hesitate to ask any questions.
OIF_VET

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:25 am

I got one of those but I can't figure out how to work the dadgum thing. As far as lil guy goes, he just won't stop! He has changed into yet another shell... 3 that I KNOW of in the last 12-ish hours. He's alive and kicking for sure and to have been so close to gone not that long ago. He absolutely will not stop! It's crazy! I even turned the light on to say hey lil guy it's day time, and he's still running like crazy!

OIF you really have been the biggest help! Thank you so very much! It's time for me to go to the office n sit on my rear all day. Have a great day and ty ty ty again!