Longest amt of time you have had a naked crab live (pics added)

[kuplakrabs]

I have been curious, for those of you who have had a naked crab that doesn't return to a shell, how long did s/he live after leaving it's shell?

[Hermie Luver]

A long time ago Tiny (the first crab I had that I unknowingly tortured to death ) came out of his shell for about a month. Now I realize (1) the shell was too small, and (2) there was mold in his shell. Poor Tiny. There was no humidity in there so his abdomen actually shriveled up. In a desperate attempt, he crawled back into his shell and died a few minutes later. So a month for me.

[kuplakrabs]

Wow..a month seems so long. I have a crab that has been acting pre-molt for a while-almost 2 months, except he hasn't shown any signs of digging. His eyes are even starting to turn white. One day he sat for 2-3 hours in the same position-way way out of his shell. I thought he was going to change shells but never did. So he has been in ISO for about a month and has done nothing. Just last week he left his small shell and changed into a larger african turbo, but when I discovered his shell change he was on his back with his legs in the air...certainly not a good sign. I turned him over and offered the usual organic honey and a few other things hoping he would get a bit of energy. He stayed in that shell for a day and then went naked. He has been that way for over a week. He is moving around a bit, but not winning any races. I've kept the tank dark and nice and humid. I'm just wondering how long he might stay that way before he would pass. He might surprise me and topside, but I don't think that is in the cards for him.

[Guest]

My hermit crab has done something similar to that hanging out thing. He still does it, but won't come all the way out the shell. I would just keep him iso'd and give him everything you were doing (organic honey, fresh and saltwater...). If what you are doing doesn't help, then there is nothing more you can do.

[Guest]

Cinnie lasted out of her shell for almost 2 weeks... Also, my crab Angelica stayed in the position like that crab in the picture for about 2 days.

[GSnicklegrove]

I also had a crab live naked for over a month, a ruggie, who eventually died. I believe he may have had an infection or growth in his abdomen, but that is only a guess.I hope your crab pulls through. I have had other crabs streak before, up to a week before moulting, then moult and take a shell when recovered. The main crabs I have had streaking problems with are the rugs, and they seem to like to streak before moulting.I will be keeping your crab in my thoughts sweetie!Gertie

[kuplakrabs]

Gertie,WOW...I wasn't expecting to hear of crabs living for a month or more. I figured 2-3 weeks tops. When Soca left his shell, I immediately examined it and found that he (or some other crab) had worn away the whorls inside. However, there was a sharp piece still sticking out inside. There was also algae inside the shell where his ab rested. I can't believe he stayed in it so long with so many other options. He is currently sitting in the moist substrate (EE) under the cork hut. He has dipped into the salt water maybe 2 times that I have noticed. I removed the sharp pieces of the old shell and put it back in the event he may want to put it back on.I guess all I can do is wait it out. Thank you everyone for your kind words. I hope everyone continues to post their experiences with this type of situation. I guess I am in an information gathering mood BTW, Gert, nice to see you back on the forum-even if it is for a quick visit. Hope all is going well with LHC updates.

[GSnicklegrove]

Has it been that long since I posted? lol Well, there are always snafu's, but it is being worked on.Yes, about crabs living a long time naked, I know of one who lived even longer, a quarter of year that way. I believe if the conditions are correct and apporpriate they can live fine naked, when there are no predators present. Anyway, the reasons crabs leave shells are vast and varied. Most streakers do not die, from my experience. However, those that do, had an actual medical problem...a sickness, localized abdominal infection, or in the worse scenarios, stress and dehydration like found in petstores or after shipping.All you can do is wait it out. If your crab is dunking in salt water, that is good. I would even add just a couple drops of Melafix into the water dish, or one drop of tea tree oil to the water. It sounds an awful lot to me like you know the exact problem your crab has. An abrasion, and a hopefully localized infection on the abdomen from the sharp shell edge. If it hasn't turned into a systematic infection, and the crab has left the shell to heal, the salt water and tea tree oil may help. Conversly, you do not want to stress your crab too much, but if you dilute one drop of tea tree oil or melafix into a liter of water, mixing well, you can then fill up a little spray bottle and try spraying the crab a few times here and there. You just have to be careful not to overstress the crab. Tea tree oil is potent stuff...be sure to use just a drop or two when mixing it with water. Do not use or apply undiluted. The crab is too vulnerable right now to try an herbal bath. Of course, keep offering honey.

[kuplakrabs]

Update on Soca...he unfortunately passed sometime today in the saltwater dish. His abdomen definitely swelled up in the past day. The very end of it was almost transparent. It is hard to see the "transparent" area, but it is just above the white looking oval near the dark brown spot. I wish I'd thought to take a picture before it was swollen...for comparison.

[GSnicklegrove]

Kuplacrabs, I am so sorry for your loss. I wish I had thought to check back here sooner when I came to LHC today. I am very sorry.Daethian, you may definitely have the herbal recipe. I have the whole recipe written up in my email, I will fish for it tomorrow. I would be interested in your herbal recipe too. There are actually alot of safe recipes that can be made out of herbs. I have used herbs to cure shell disease and other local infections, and others have used the bath regularly and cured their crabs with it. However, since we do not know all the causes of illness in crabs, whether or not it works for every situation, well, you know how it is.A good misting herb is powdered myrhh, well actually it is a resin. Make a decoction, fill up a little spray bottle and voila.Gertie

[KittyCaller]

The longest I had one streaked was for a few weeks, two or three maybe. I'm not sure what happened. It may have been premolt and I stressed him out, but I'm really not sure. He basically went into a kind of coma before he died. I didn't even know he'd died until mold started growing on the EE around him, and a bit on his ab. It didn't start to smell even a little in the ISO until that point, either. His eyes never faced down and his abdomen stayed curled, so I just wasn't sure.