Very Stressed Hermit Crab!!!! HELP!!!
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 12:27 pm
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?
Mixture of play sand and coconut fiber. ~6 inches at the deep end and 4" at the shallow end.
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. Between 75-85 for both.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, under tank heater mounted on the side.
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)?
Both fresh and salt. Fresh is Zoo Med "Reptisafe"-2 drops per 1 cup of tap water. Salt water is Zoo Med "Hermit Crab Salt Water Conditioner"-1 tsp per cup of water. When it's finished, I plan to switch to aquarium salts.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I have been feeding them a combo of fresh food (carrots, spinach, bananas, apples mainly), and some store bought food (Flukers dried river shrimp, Flukers buffet blend, JurassiDiet hermit crab formula, Zilla reptile munchies omnivore mix, and Zoo Med hermit crab food). I've been mixing it up to keep a good variety every meal.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Almost 2 weeks...not sure the species.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
One has begun molting (has been buried for about a week and a half, no bad smell. The one in question has not molted yet.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
I have a 10 gallon aquarium with a glass lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2, about golf ball size?
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I currently have 6 extra shells in there.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Haven't cleaned the tank yet since it's pretty new.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges.
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.
My coconut hidey started to grow some mold, so I wanted to take it out to boil it in salt water (that's what I read was the best solution-open to more suggestions though). My hermit crab was VERY stressed that I took him out, and I'm afraid he's going to die now. Maybe I'm over stressing, but I'm super nervous and don't want to be known as a hermit crab killer.
.
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Mixture of play sand and coconut fiber. ~6 inches at the deep end and 4" at the shallow end.
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. Between 75-85 for both.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, under tank heater mounted on the side.
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)?
Both fresh and salt. Fresh is Zoo Med "Reptisafe"-2 drops per 1 cup of tap water. Salt water is Zoo Med "Hermit Crab Salt Water Conditioner"-1 tsp per cup of water. When it's finished, I plan to switch to aquarium salts.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I have been feeding them a combo of fresh food (carrots, spinach, bananas, apples mainly), and some store bought food (Flukers dried river shrimp, Flukers buffet blend, JurassiDiet hermit crab formula, Zilla reptile munchies omnivore mix, and Zoo Med hermit crab food). I've been mixing it up to keep a good variety every meal.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Almost 2 weeks...not sure the species.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
One has begun molting (has been buried for about a week and a half, no bad smell. The one in question has not molted yet.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
I have a 10 gallon aquarium with a glass lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2, about golf ball size?
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I currently have 6 extra shells in there.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Haven't cleaned the tank yet since it's pretty new.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges.
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.
My coconut hidey started to grow some mold, so I wanted to take it out to boil it in salt water (that's what I read was the best solution-open to more suggestions though). My hermit crab was VERY stressed that I took him out, and I'm afraid he's going to die now. Maybe I'm over stressing, but I'm super nervous and don't want to be known as a hermit crab killer.
.
