Out of Shell!!

[DancingCorgi]

I woke up this morning and discovered one of my crabs just sitting there out of her shell. She seems very lethargic. I'm not sure what could be wrong as in all recent days she has been active, climbing on stuff, eating at the food bowl, etc. There is food, salt and fresh water, good humidity and heat, deep substrate that she herself has molted in several times. I'm not sure how to get her to go back in her shell or what could be wrong

[GotButterflies]

Hello. She needs to be reshelled asap. Rinse her abdomen and her shell in the freshwater of the crabitat. You can either very gently unroll her abdomen and back her into her shell, or put her and her shell in a coffee cup and see if she resells herself.

Most times when they are out of their shell it is because they are too weak to carry them, or the crabitat is too warm. Provide her with raw organic honey.

Please fill out the following emergency template for us: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=46102

[DancingCorgi]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Sand mixed with coco fiber, 6 inches deep

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 in the middle a few inches above the substrate, they usually read between 72-75 degrees and 85% humidity

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? Two smaller UTHs one on each end of the tank (on the sides not the bottom). Sometimes a heat lamp for extra heat if needed when my room gets chillier

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, the brand is zoo med. Two drops of dechlorinator for 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon salt mixture per cup water

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? A mix of veggies, fruit, proteins (lettuce, carrot shavings, tomatoes, black olives, green peppers, apple, peach, banana, kiwi, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, crickets, mealworms) I mix it up on what's in there. I change it kind of depending on how much they're eating but generally every other day

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? Over a year, PP

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? She has molted at least once (twice?) I don't remember the dates of the last one. She's been up for a couple months at least though.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? A 20L gallon fish tank with a lid that has a hinge/handle on it.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 3, there are two slightly larger ones (mediums?) and Rose is a small

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? Lots, I keep different styles and sizes in there, ranging in size from matching those currently worn to much larger

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I leave the substrate, usually I just clean the dishes and mix up/smooth out the substrate when they have been digging everywhere

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. As I said earlier I found Rose this morning simply sitting there without her shell on. She is lethargic. One thing I realized after my original post is that one of my UTHs fell of the side of the tank so the temperature has dipped some. I have re-secured it. Perhaps it was the temp drop? She is currently in a small bowl with her shell and some honey.

[GotButterflies]

Hello - I replied GB for GotButterflies

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Sand mixed with coco fiber, 6 inches deep

GB: Substrate should be 6 inches or 3 times the height of your largest crab (whichever is deeper). It should also be mixed with dechlorinated marine saltwater or dechlorinated freshwater to make the substrate sandcastle consistency.

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 in the middle a few inches above the substrate, they usually read between 72-75 degrees and 85% humidity

GB: Oh goodness - your heat is WAY too low. You need to get the heat up ASAP!!! Minimum heat should be 80 degrees. I keep my heat at 79 (low at night) and it goes up to 85 (high during the day). Humidity is good. Anything above 80 is great - hermits have modified gills and need the humidity to breathe. Do you have a digital gauge or analog gauge? This is my favorite one here: https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-Thermome ... ds=acurite

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? Two smaller UTHs one on each end of the tank (on the sides not the bottom). Sometimes a heat lamp for extra heat if needed when my room gets chillier

GB: You need to get your heat up to at least 80. You can try to insulate around your heat pads with aluminum foil (shiny part facing the crabitat), then cardboard. Don't insulate over your heating pad if it is a zoomed. If doing the insulation doesn't raise your temperature, you might want to consider getting a better heater. Most of us use ultratherms. They are great heaters. www.reptilebasics.com or www.beanfarm.com sells them. I personally don't like heat lamps, they tend to make humidity evaporate. You could get a warm blanket heat it in the dryer without a dryer sheet and drape that over your tank. There is also a great insulation product called Reflectix. It looks like a car shade. You can buy a roll of it for $16 at lowes or home depot. You hang it with reflectix tape, packaging tape of duct tape. Once again - do not insulate over zoomed or any type of heater that is already insulated.

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, the brand is zoo med. Two drops of dechlorinator for 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon salt mixture per cup water

GB: If you have a salt dechlorinator combo I'm going to take a guess and think that it is for hermit crabs. Unfortunately most products marketed for hermit crabs are not safe. You need a dechlorinator that removes chlorine, and chloramine as well as neutralizes ammonia and heavy metals. A lot of us use a product called Prime. As far as salt, you need marine salt, to mimic the ocean. A lot of us use a product called Instant Ocean which is what aquarium hobbyists use to make saltwater aquariums. It has the essential trace elements that hermit crabs need. You have to use the dechlorinator for both freshwater and marine saltwater. Both pools should be deep enough for them to fully submerge in and safe enough for them to get out of.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? A mix of veggies, fruit, proteins (lettuce, carrot shavings, tomatoes, black olives, green peppers, apple, peach, banana, kiwi, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, crickets, mealworms) I mix it up on what's in there. I change it kind of depending on how much they're eating but generally every other day

GB: A few things. You need calcium source, more proteins, and are things organic when possible? Hermits are sensitive to pesticides and fertilizers. Here are some great pages to check out:
Safe food list: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92557
Unsafe food list: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92556
Food pyramid: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92554

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? Over a year, PP

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? She has molted at least once (twice?) I don't remember the dates of the last one. She's been up for a couple months at least though.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? A 20L gallon fish tank with a lid that has a hinge/handle on it.

GB: I would cover the lid with plastic wrap or press n seal

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 3, there are two slightly larger ones (mediums?) and Rose is a small

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? Lots, I keep different styles and sizes in there, ranging in size from matching those currently worn to much larger

GB: The HCA recommends 3-5 shells per hermit crab. I personally recommend more. It never hurts to have more There are incorrect shells to buy. Here is the shell guide: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=92552

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I leave the substrate, usually I just clean the dishes and mix up/smooth out the substrate when they have been digging everywhere

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. As I said earlier I found Rose this morning simply sitting there without her shell on. She is lethargic. One thing I realized after my original post is that one of my UTHs fell of the side of the tank so the temperature has dipped some. I have re-secured it. Perhaps it was the temp drop? She is currently in a small bowl with her shell and some honey.