Found hermit in hotel laundry room

[crabbymomofthree]

I found an abandoned hermit, pretty big, in the hotel laundry room, in small cage dried up sponge, so I I took it, I placed in tupperware with spag moss, healing foods, egg, with shell and cuttlebone, added some primed water, later on a few hours later I drove with family 4 hours home, now I am home, do I place this new crab in a 29 gallon, or let him or her destress in tupperware with foods and moss?

I have not set up my 29 gallon yet as my 3 new tiny ones from NJ beach last month, went under in a 10 gallon 2-5 days after I got them ( I was a newbie) and I was waiting till they all came back up.

New new rescue crab, well sadly, he also lost 1 limb today.

I do have a 3 gallon tank on hand, I can set that up as a isolation tank if need be tomorrow, with Eco and play sand, small heater I bought prior, hygrometer and small dishes of water: healing foods, and primed salt/and primed tap water. Please advise.

[PinchersAndShells]

Wow! I can’t believe someone would just leave him like that.
If I were in your situation I would isolate him until you can get the 29 gallon set up, keep on top of the healing foods and bring his temperature and humidity up to standard. Then when the 29 is setup you can put him in there, and add in your small ones as they come up from molting. Make sure he also has a spot to hide in the isolation! It’s important for him to de-stress.

[crabbymomofthree]

Wow! I can’t believe someone would just leave him like that.
If I were in your situation I would isolate him until you can get the 29 gallon set up, keep on top of the healing foods and bring his temperature and humidity up to standard. Then when the 29 is setup you can put him in there, and add in your small ones as they come up from molting. Make sure he also has a spot to hide in the isolation! It’s important for him to de-stress.

OK, so then it's a "yes" to setting up this eve the 3 gallon isolation tank. TY

Sorry if I sound stressed and frantic, I am very empathetic and worry about all critters, and now I worry about my new rescue "Chunky" he's huge compared to my wee little 3 babes from NJ last month...

OK, then I can do that right now, and get the heat and humidity up. and order a thermostat from Amazon now ....and then get that 29 gallon up tomorrow....

I worry he will dig under substrate tho, who knows when the lst time he molted was, but will set up 3 gallon now, i need him to get warm stat and more humidity...ok if I move him if he burrows in the 3 gallon? or should I leave him if he does dig, to destress of molt?

[PinchersAndShells]

I’d say if he does dig then wait, he’s the only crab in the 3 gallon so he should be fine.

[curlysister]

In a hotel laundry room?? What the heck??!! I am so glad you found it and took it home!

[crabbymomofthree]

I’d say if he does dig then wait, he’s the only crab in the 3 gallon so he should be fine.

OK, success! Chunky's now in the lidded aquarium 3 gallon warm/humid iso tank. His mini hospital.

I think he may of ate some boiled egg in shell or was sniffing it, and powdered cuttlebone I put in, and he dug right under. I kept him covered as much as i could with towel.

The heat is at 80 degrees, humidity is at 85%...

He did lose a small leg and I placed it into ISO tank with him.

I did not have the PS I thought I had last night. neighbor kids dumped it outside when we were away.

So, I used only primed tap water to wet the EE I have, and hand wrung it and make it 6-7 inches deep in the 3 gallon to the side heat pad line its as high as I could get it on small tank

I also have a small tupperware dish with zip ties and plastic ramp, to help keep humidity up till I get smaller tubs tomorrow for both fresh and salt water pools.

Couple questions?
Can I boil frozen shrimp and give with him it, with the shell on it?

Should I get new PS in morning, I need it anyways 2/50 lb bags for 29 gallon, and make new batch of substrate to add lightly to tank tomorrow to deepen? Or leave it all EE as it is now?

He's way deep under as of 2:24 AM, and I don't want to disturb him any more then I have too.

TIA

[crabbymomofthree]

In a hotel laundry room?? What the heck??!! I am so glad you found it and took it home!

Thank you. I had same "what the heck" moment too .........and scooped him right up to my hotel room, we left a day early to make sure he got proper care.

Now, hes fed, watered, warm and safe in his ISO tank with high humidity, I just hope he makes it now...

My poor Chunky, I fell in love with him the moment he looked at me with those big black eyes, like he was telling me, help me help me...

Now I need huge shells for a pants change, when he's ready...but can't measure him with my caliper, it would be too stressful to do that to my poor love bug now, he's still in his painted blue shell... one step at a time, one step...

[KristenL0522]

That’s terrible that they left him like that!! I really really don’t understand people. But you were meant to be there at that exact moment and saved him!! Thank you I have no advice as it looks like you’re covered for now. Just wanted to say thank you for saving Chunky... he needed you!! Hope he does well and thrives now!!

[Scarletfire]

If your conditions aren't already up, you could put the iso inside your bigger tank if you have space. Saves on getting an extra everything in the meantime until sales are out!

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[crabbymomofthree]

Hi All, update:

I just checked on Chunky's temps in tank and, looks like he came back up, and possibly went in primed tap pool between 2:30 AM and now, its 9:30 AM EST, and his healing food, well, it's all over the place, I hope he ate some, and the substrate is all fluffed and messy, good sign!

I cant see him one bit, hes back under and there's allot of EE in the water tub, SO, I hope he took a dip and drink, just wish it was IO water in there, will get that now ASAP.

OK, off to get 2 new water tubbies for him at dollar tree, so in case he needs a salt bath, then he can soak...no sign of more lost limbs...getting oyster shells from tractor store too.and PS, and will make up the 29 gallon in case he comes up from de stressing....and not molting, I worry it's a small 3 gallon, emergency hermie tank.

[crabbymomofthree]

If your conditions aren't already up, you could put the iso inside your bigger tank if you have space. Saves on getting an extra everything in the meantime until sales are out!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Good idea, i'm going to set the 29 gallon up as soon as I am able, need more supplies, like crushed oyster shells, worm castings.. can do it tomorrow when kids are back at school, right now, hes 80 degrees, covered (will insulate more) and 89% humidity, thanks for the tip!!

[GotButterflies]

Great job on the rescue!

[crabbymomofthree]

Great job on the rescue!

Thanks! And thanks to this group here and info, you all are a lifesaver for sure <3

[CrabbyLover77]

Kudos to you for rescuing a critter in need! Glad to hear he's safe with you now.

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[keeliaa]

Thank you. I had same "what the heck" moment too .........and scooped him right up to my hotel room, we left a day early to make sure he got proper care.

Now, hes fed, watered, warm and safe in his ISO tank with high humidity, I just hope he makes it now...

My poor Chunky, I fell in love with him the moment he looked at me with those big black eyes, like he was telling me, help me help me...

Now I need huge shells for a pants change, when he's ready...but can't measure him with my caliper, it would be too stressful to do that to my poor love bug now, he's still in his painted blue shell... one step at a time, one step...

Hey it’s been about two years now how is he? did he make it?