Molting tunnel colasped!

Please post here if you are having a crab care emergency! Use a real subject and not just "HELP!"
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FJrocks003
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Molting tunnel colasped!

Post by FJrocks003 » Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:23 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?
Currently have two tanks (moving all crabs into larger tank as they come up from molting). Old tank: 7" ee+calcium sand(I know that's bad) 1:2 ratio New tank: 7" ee+play sand 1:5 ratio

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?
Old tank: 80% humid 95 temp New tank: 85% humid 80 temp

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heat lamps; one for day, one for night.

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)?
Old tank: Fresh only (because I'm moving them as soon as they come up) New tank: Fresh and salt deep enough to submerge, mde with zoomeds brand products

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I'm not going to list everything I've ever fed (that would take days lol) Meals nomaly consist of one fruit, two veggies, crickets, mealworms, shrimp, bloodworms, and whatever we had for dinner. Everything is sprinkled with crushed cuttlebone (powder). There are also plants growing in th tank as well as moss and isopods.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
He is a pp and I've had he for about a year.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Molting right now, last molt was in january and before that september.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
Old tank: 10 gallon aquarium mesh lid covered by a plastic sheet New tank: Mesh lid covered with boxing tape

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 golf ball sized one about half of that (the small one is the rab I am talking about)

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Around ten but I switch them out reguarly.

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Old tank: Spot clean (not much, isopods eat most of it), changed substrate about 2 months ago due to flood New tank: all new substrate, mixed today

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges, I use a mesh hammock.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Old tank: Completely empty other than water and food bowls. New tank: Everything is brand new.

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.
I was taking the moss pit out of the old tank by digging just slightly around the base of it but it turns out one of the crabs (only one left in old tank) was molting right next to it. I only noticed when I pulled th moss pit out, the sand around loosened enough for it to all fall into the hole made by the moss pit being removed. When it fell it left half of the molting cave exposed. I could see the back of the crab's shell but not enough to tell if he was in the middle of a molt or just recovering after, he has been down for about 2 weeks (if he was down much longer it would be his longest molt yet) I'm not sure if I should dig him up, let him be, or try to uncover more by digging around him.

.
Indigo, Fleck, Flame, Dilly, and our newest addition: Thunder
RIP: Bubbles (passed on Wednesday March 31, 2020)

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GotButterflies
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Re: Molting tunnel colasped!

Post by GotButterflies » Wed Jun 03, 2020 6:31 pm

First of all, go ahead and remove him but you will need to isolate him. He will suffocate if you do not. Then I will write about your tank :)
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

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Re: Molting tunnel colasped!

Post by GotButterflies » Wed Jun 03, 2020 6:38 pm

I answered your questions with GB for GotButterflies :)
FJrocks003 wrote:
Wed Jun 03, 2020 4:23 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?
Currently have two tanks (moving all crabs into larger tank as they come up from molting). Old tank: 7" ee+calcium sand(I know that's bad) 1:2 ratio New tank: 7" ee+play sand 1:5 ratio

GB: Substrate should be mixed with dechlorinated marine saltwater or dechlorinated freshwater to make the substrate sandcastle consistency. I personally mix mine with dechlorinated marine saltwater.

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?
Old tank: 80% humid 95 temp New tank: 85% humid 80 temp

GB: IMO, 95 is way to hot for your tank. I don't let mine get any hotter than 86.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heat lamps; one for day, one for night.

GB: Heat lamps will hurt your humidity. That is personal preference though. I do not use or like heat lamps. Most of us use ultratherms. They are great heaters. www.reptilebasics.com or www.beanfarm.com sells them. I keep my humidity at 80-99% with no issues.

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)?
Old tank: Fresh only (because I'm moving them as soon as they come up) New tank: Fresh and salt deep enough to submerge, mde with zoomeds brand products

GB: Unfortunately most products marketed for hermit crabs are not safe. 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 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. 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?
I'm not going to list everything I've ever fed (that would take days lol) Meals nomaly consist of one fruit, two veggies, crickets, mealworms, shrimp, bloodworms, and whatever we had for dinner. Everything is sprinkled with crushed cuttlebone (powder). There are also plants growing in th tank as well as moss and isopods.

GB: Hermit crabs can eat a lot of the same things that we eat. Just check to make sure the item is on the safe list. Foods should be organic when possible. Hermit crabs are sensitive to pesticides and fertilizers.
You also want to provide one or more calcium sources at a time. Examples would be Cuttlebone, Organic Eggshell, Oyster Shell, Lobster Exo, Shrimp Exo.
Make sure you cover all aspects of food pyramid :)
Safe food list: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92557
Unsafe food list: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92556
Food pyramid: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92554



6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
He is a pp and I've had he for about a year.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Molting right now, last molt was in january and before that september.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
Old tank: 10 gallon aquarium mesh lid covered by a plastic sheet New tank: Mesh lid covered with boxing tape

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 golf ball sized one about half of that (the small one is the rab I am talking about)

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Around ten but I switch them out reguarly.

GB: Here is the shell guide: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 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?
Old tank: Spot clean (not much, isopods eat most of it), changed substrate about 2 months ago due to flood New tank: all new substrate, mixed today

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges, I use a mesh hammock.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Old tank: Completely empty other than water and food bowls. New tank: Everything is brand new.

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.
I was taking the moss pit out of the old tank by digging just slightly around the base of it but it turns out one of the crabs (only one left in old tank) was molting right next to it. I only noticed when I pulled th moss pit out, the sand around loosened enough for it to all fall into the hole made by the moss pit being removed. When it fell it left half of the molting cave exposed. I could see the back of the crab's shell but not enough to tell if he was in the middle of a molt or just recovering after, he has been down for about 2 weeks (if he was down much longer it would be his longest molt yet) I'm not sure if I should dig him up, let him be, or try to uncover more by digging around him.

GB: As mentioned previously - with collapsed tunnels, you want to dig up carefully so they don't suffocate and isolate them . Offer any exo he might have shed. Do not handle. Make sure crab has a minimum of 80/80 heat humidity.
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

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FJrocks003
Posts: 272
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2020 8:03 am
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: Molting tunnel colasped!

Post by FJrocks003 » Wed Jun 03, 2020 6:40 pm

Good news! I carefully removed him from his cave and he is not in the middle of a molt (thank goodness!) He must have already finished it because I found a teeny tiny scrap of exoskeleton stuck to his shell. I placed him in isolation for now.
Indigo, Fleck, Flame, Dilly, and our newest addition: Thunder
RIP: Bubbles (passed on Wednesday March 31, 2020)

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GotButterflies
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Re: Molting tunnel colasped!

Post by GotButterflies » Wed Jun 03, 2020 6:44 pm

FJrocks003 wrote:
Wed Jun 03, 2020 6:40 pm
Good news! I carefully removed him from his cave and he is not in the middle of a molt (thank goodness!) He must have already finished it because I found a teeny tiny scrap of exoskeleton stuck to his shell. I placed him in isolation for now.
Great! Wait until he is walking around before placing him in your new tank. Offer him organic honey, protein and calcium :) When you go to place him in your new tank I would dip him in your tanks freshwater to get the molting smell off of him.
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

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Topic author
FJrocks003
Posts: 272
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2020 8:03 am
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: Molting tunnel colasped!

Post by FJrocks003 » Wed Jun 03, 2020 6:47 pm

Also, this is the one that was molting in the shell that was way to big for him. I think that that is what saved him! He must of ducked into the large space to avoid sofacting! He is already exploring his isolation tank so I guess he must have been about to come up anyway I'll keep an eye on him for a little but I think it should be safe to move him in with his friends once I'm sure his exoskeleton has hardened up. Also, is the zoomeds dechlorinator fine for now? I don't think that I can go to the store any time soon to get something diferent.
Indigo, Fleck, Flame, Dilly, and our newest addition: Thunder
RIP: Bubbles (passed on Wednesday March 31, 2020)

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GotButterflies
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Re: Molting tunnel colasped!

Post by GotButterflies » Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:38 pm

I just looked at the Zoomed dechlorinator. It will be okay for dechlorinating, freshwater, but I wouldn't use the saltwater portion. Is there anyway you can order Instant Ocean? You could order it from Amazon, Petsmart, Petco or perhaps another pet store in your area. It's typically around $10 for a box that makes 10 gallons.
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

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