Crab not really moving , eating or drinking and leg just fell off!!!

[Acohen]

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! redish/purple


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Ee & sand mixed with ee

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?
On back wall, humidity 80-90%, temp 75-80

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, on side wall of tank

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)?
Salt & fresh bothtreated

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Everyday veggies, nuts, eggs, meat fruit

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Week and a half

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

No
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? Screen lid with plastic to keep in moisture, 10 gallon tank with branches and things to hide under


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 2


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 3


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 had to yet

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Yes, cleaned and Dried sponges

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Miss

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. [/
His leg just fell off & all of the below! I bought my crabs on June 22 & set up their tank on the 23. One went to hide and dug down under the ee almost immediately, haven’t seen him since. The other one was hiding behind a branch until yesterday when I moved him to see if he was ok. He seems fine, but he hasn’t eaten or had water as far as I can tell. I put him in the freshwater and salt water pools, to feel the water a little bit. I tried offering him food, but he didn’t want any. He was in the same spot this morning that I left him in last night. He’s popping his legs out of his shell a bit & his feelers but basically just sits there. Needless to say I’m concerned.

So the tank is set up as follows- humidity between 75-90%, temperature 75-85. One half of the 10 gallon tank is moist ee and the other half is a mix of sand and ee in sand castle consistency. The substrate is about 4-6+ inches deep. I give them a variety of fresh food, peanut butter, fruit, nuts, meat, veggies and they have bowls of treated salt and freshwater.

Any advice or input would be so appreciated!

.

[GotButterflies]

Hi! I think I actually talked to you via phone and text, but I'll reply here anyway so you have it all
GB for GotButterflies

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! redish/purple


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Ee & sand mixed with ee

GB: For purple pinchers substrate should be 6 inches or 3 times the height of your largest crab (whichever is deeper). 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?
On back wall, humidity 80-90%, temp 75-80

GB: IMO, minimum heat and humidity should be 80/80. Hermit crabs have modified gills and need the humidity to breathe.
You can buy an Acurite guage from Amazon, digital, runs on batteries, tells you temp and humidity currently as well as low and high for last 24 hours: https://smile.amazon.com/AcuRite-00325- ... 184&sr=8-2

Hermit crabs have modified gills, and need humidity to breathe. IMO heat lamps are terrible at making the humidity evaporate, so I personally do not like them. A vast majority of crabbers use the ultratherms to heat the air instead of heat lamps.

I personally prefer glass tops, however with glass tops you cannot set heat lamps on top of them. Heat lamps can crack glass lids.

With mesh lids you can cover them in Press-N-Seal, or cut open gallon sized Ziploc bags and tape them to the outside with packaging tape to help keep the humidity in the tank.
Humidity boosters: Bubblers definitely do help boost the humidity. Double dish bubblers: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... r#p1030806

You can also add moss pits to help. You would use organic moss (as well as moss that is on the safe list), and moisten it with dechlorinated fresh water. Then, put the moss in a shower caddy or a glass vase laying on it's side so the hermits can walk in and out of it. Glass tops also help keep humidity in.[/b]

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, on side wall of tank

GB: IMO it would be better if you could get your heat up to at least 80. You can try to insulate around your heat pad 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.

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)?
Salt & fresh bothtreated

GB: 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?
Everyday veggies, nuts, eggs, meat fruit

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?
Week and a half

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

No
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? Screen lid with plastic to keep in moisture, 10 gallon tank with branches and things to hide under


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 2


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 3

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: 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?
Haven’t had to yet

GB: It is only necessary to clean out the poop, food and water. You only need to clean the sand if you have mold growing on it or if you have a bacteria bloom. I have never changed my sand.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Yes, cleaned and Dried sponges

GB: Sponges can be used as a food source. Squeeze all of the water out of it and put it directly on the substrate. Do not place them in the water bowls.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Miss

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. [/
His leg just fell off & all of the below! I bought my crabs on June 22 & set up their tank on the 23. One went to hide and dug down under the ee almost immediately, haven’t seen him since. The other one was hiding behind a branch until yesterday when I moved him to see if he was ok. He seems fine, but he hasn’t eaten or had water as far as I can tell. I put him in the freshwater and salt water pools, to feel the water a little bit. I tried offering him food, but he didn’t want any. He was in the same spot this morning that I left him in last night. He’s popping his legs out of his shell a bit & his feelers but basically just sits there. Needless to say I’m concerned.

So the tank is set up as follows- humidity between 75-90%, temperature 75-85. One half of the 10 gallon tank is moist ee and the other half is a mix of sand and ee in sand castle consistency. The substrate is about 4-6+ inches deep. I give them a variety of fresh food, peanut butter, fruit, nuts, meat, veggies and they have bowls of treated salt and freshwater.

Any advice or input would be so appreciated!

.

[Acohen]

Thanks, we haveNt spoken or texted, I’ll review all of this

[GotButterflies]

Okay, I'm sorry! I actually spoke to someone from NJ! How ironic! I would recommend just being hands off. You can also offer honey

[GotButterflies]

Definitely be hands off. When they lose a leg it's due to stress.

[Acohen]

Oh no! Ok, thank you so much!!

[GotButterflies]

You are welcome!

[Acohen]

I just want to make sure these are the correct items-

Instant Ocean Aquarium Sea Salt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NQH210G/re ... .EbF6PS0A5

Seachem Prime Fresh and Saltwater Conditioner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00025694O/re ... .EbCFWF400

And I have a question about the Ultratherm heaters. Is there’s a certain size you would recommend for a ten gallon tank and should it go under the tank, or on the side? Thank you so much for your time and help!

[GotButterflies]

Yes those products are correct.

You want to get an ultratherm heater that covers the back of your tank above the substrate. You put them on the back of the tank to heat the air

[Acohen]

Thank you so much!!

[GotButterflies]

My pleasure!