MHC accidentally taken home from Gulf of Mexico

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 3:48 pm

now he's kind of hanging onto his shell... he acts like he's trying to go back in but I don't know. I'm so sad now!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 4:55 pm

Now the biggest crab is also leaving his shell!!! What did I do wrong?? The only one not leaving it's shell as of now is the middle crab and he just changed his shell last night! What have I done wrong??!! The two that have left the shells are both still alive but just don't seem to be moving much. I've screwed up so bad:(

P.S. The baby is Woon, The middle crab is Cricket and the big guy is Viggo

OIF_VET · Post by **OIF_VET** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:15 pm

What are ya Using For "Salt" ? For the Tank? Have You got a Hygrometer? This Measures Salinity.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:18 pm

for salt i have sea salt, the kind you grind, it says on the bottle no iodine. and i don't have the meter thing, i haven't had a chance to get to the pet store yet seeing as it's sunday!

OIF_VET · Post by **OIF_VET** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:23 pm

You Really Need Instant Ocean Or Oceanic. These are Specific for Marine Tanks.
Sea Salt, Iodine is okay! It is the Anti-Caking Agents found in most "Table" Salts.
IO or Oceanic contains Vital elements that would be found in the Ocean.

Not to break your Heart, But I really do not think these guys are gonna Make it! Wrong Salt is the Main Problem here.
I wish I could come thru the Pooter screen and give ya some of my "Established Marine Aquarium" Water. It is extremely vital to get the Hygrometer and the Correct "Marine" Salt.
Darn it. I really wish I was there to Help ya try and Save them.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:29 pm

Darn it! I just named them and spent over $66 to get stuff to save them!! grrrrrrrr Sundays!!! This really stinks!

OIF_VET · Post by **OIF_VET** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:33 pm

With Luck, They May Survive the Night!
They are extremely Stressed at the Moment.
As soon as You Can, get those Items I mentioned. And do an Immediate Water Change after You have the Stuff.
I learned how to keep Marines the exact same way as you!
I have Lost at least 30 Marine Hermies early on from my Lack of Knowlege.
You will be okay!
This is a Great Learning experience for ya.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:34 pm

I do believe I need lots of prayers for them to survive the night! Please pray for the little guys!

OIF_VET · Post by **OIF_VET** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:42 pm

You got it!
Alot of times the Marine Hermies that I have Collected from the Beaches up here in New England, Most wont Survive the "Stress"....I have had however a few Marine Hermies Survive. And have Lived with me for a Couple Years.
It is very Hard on them to Remove them from the Beach.
Folks can Flame Me and Tell me that I am an Idiot all they Want!
It is my choice to do the things I do. And let the folks walk half a tenth of a Mile in my Boots. Cookiemonster, this is in no way a Slam against you!
I will do my best to Help ya as Best as I can!
Sooner or Later, You will have an Awesome Setup.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:54 pm

I did not mean to bring them home, mt friend had collected shells for me that happened to have crabs in them. She checked several times to see if they did and they were so far up in there that she thought they were empty. I also thought they were although i had not looked that closely. It was not until the next morning at work that I happened to look in the bag and seen movement. It was Wednesday that we went to the beach. I am surprised that they have lived this long. I am doing everything I can to keep them alive! It just doesn't seem to be working. If I get any more crabs they will most likely be land crabs. I wish there was a way I could tell them I'm sorry.

OIF_VET · Post by **OIF_VET** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:30 pm

The thing is, You are definately trying to do your Best!
Don't give up on it. They can be quite fun to watch

Hang in there!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:44 pm

sadly, the little guys did not make it through the night. Now my question is. Am I able to take them out of the shells to keep the shells for possible future hermies or must i dispose of them shell and all? And also, how do I dispose of them? Can I flush them or is that bad? I sure wish I could have done more to save them! Thank you guys for all you did to try and help. However, they didn't quit make it.

OIF_VET · Post by **OIF_VET** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:59 am

I use the shells of the departed. In the wild, the shells are are used by
Hermies that are looking for a New Home.
I am sorry you lost them. I expected it though

Keep the shells and re-use them.
Don't give up on trying to have a Marine tank.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:19 am

Ok, but what about disposing of them? Can they go down the toilet or is that a bad idea? I just really don't feel like diggin a big hole in the back yard seeing as I have a pinched nerve in my back and it's hard for me to do things like that.

And, will they just slip out of the shells since they have passed?

Thanks again for all the help.

OIF_VET · Post by **OIF_VET** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:30 am

Yes, they will fall out of the Shell. You could *Gasp* Flush Them or *Gasp*
Feed them to the LHCs you have.

I truly hope that I was able to Help ya in some way.