Smell
Smell
Can someone tell me do hermit crabs smell? Because we just recently bought a new crab well he just started to not be active for about two days he is in his shell picked him up and put my nose up to him and he has a fishy smell not too strong but it's there then smelt my other crab and nothing so can a crab that is alive smell?
Anyway to make 100% sure before I bury him?
Re: Smell
There have been crabs that owners have described as having a fishy odor that were still alive, but generally rotten fish smell = death. There can also be times where the crab appears dead because it's slumped and not moving but still be alive. The only way to know for sure is to wait for the smell to become obvious and/or decomposition. I'm sorry I don't have a better answer.
Re: Smell
Well luckily my daughter hasn't gotten to close yet being we have only had him for two weeks. So hopefully he is just still in shock.Rawrgeous wrote:Sadly waiting is the only sure way.I'm very sorry, losing a pet is never easy.
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soilentgringa
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Re: Smell
If he was dead, he would be limp and falling out of the shell when you tilted it forward. Since he is new he may just need to molt.
What are your tank conditions like? Can you fill out the Emergency template questions stickied in this forum so we can help you if there are any crabitat issues?
It is best to leave new crabs alone so that they can destress and molt. If he is in his shell tightly and won't come out, isn't limp or falling out, then he is probably still very much alive. Molting crabs have a sort of chemical-y strange odor, I'm not sure how to describe it.
What are your tank conditions like? Can you fill out the Emergency template questions stickied in this forum so we can help you if there are any crabitat issues?
It is best to leave new crabs alone so that they can destress and molt. If he is in his shell tightly and won't come out, isn't limp or falling out, then he is probably still very much alive. Molting crabs have a sort of chemical-y strange odor, I'm not sure how to describe it.
Re: Smell
soilentgringa wrote:If he was dead, he would be limp and falling out of the shell when you tilted it forward. Since he is new he may just need to molt.
What are your tank conditions like? Can you fill out the Emergency template questions stickied in this forum so we can help you if there are any crabitat issues?
It is best to leave new crabs alone so that they can destress and molt. If he is in his shell tightly and won't come out, isn't limp or falling out, then he is probably still very much alive. Molting crabs have a sort of chemical-y strange odor, I'm not sure how to describe it.
Yeah sadly he is definitely dead the smell is a lot stronger today than yesterday called the pet store and are exchanging him out thank you for your guys help and I will try to fill that template out when I return later today.
Re: Smell
I will answer in here if it's okay.
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Sand very little on the bottom and coconut fibers about 2 to 3 inches my crabs are very small I heard they require 6 but figured that was way too much for my small crabs
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?
Temperature waiting for money for a humidity one and it's usually 80ish lowest is 75
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes a medium sized reptile heater on the back of the 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)?
Yes salt water and fresh I can't remember the salt ratio but I got the info from a YouTube video and I use bottle spring water so I haven't used any treatment not sure if I needed to
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Hermit Krill honey and sometimes bananas but my crabs hardly ever eat so I replace food about every other day
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Pepsi for about a month and Elmo just got him/her and I'm guessing Purple pincher
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Not yet
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
A 10 gallon aquarium with a lid with holes but we Ave them covered with a piece of paper and a towel
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 and small
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
4
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 yet as we just had it two weeks
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Yes and same as number 12
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.)?
How often do I bath them?
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
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HCADirectors
Posts: 53
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:37 pm
Location: The HCA
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Sand very little on the bottom and coconut fibers about 2 to 3 inches my crabs are very small I heard they require 6 but figured that was way too much for my small crabs
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?
Temperature waiting for money for a humidity one and it's usually 80ish lowest is 75
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes a medium sized reptile heater on the back of the 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)?
Yes salt water and fresh I can't remember the salt ratio but I got the info from a YouTube video and I use bottle spring water so I haven't used any treatment not sure if I needed to
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Hermit Krill honey and sometimes bananas but my crabs hardly ever eat so I replace food about every other day
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Pepsi for about a month and Elmo just got him/her and I'm guessing Purple pincher
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Not yet
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
A 10 gallon aquarium with a lid with holes but we Ave them covered with a piece of paper and a towel
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 and small
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
4
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 yet as we just had it two weeks
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Yes and same as number 12
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.)?
How often do I bath them?
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
User avatar
HCADirectors
Posts: 53
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:37 pm
Location: The HCA
Re: Smell
I just wanted to take a minute to post that this is not always the case. Sometimes they'll still be pulled tightly up in their shells, kind of stuck there, even though they have passed. And also, sometimes a crab will still be alive even though they are weak enough (and likely are dying but not there yet) that they're limp and fall out of their shells. That's why it's always recommended to wait until the smell is obvious (and if there is a smell, trust me it will be) and/or decomposition.soilentgringa wrote:If he was dead, he would be limp and falling out of the shell when you tilted it forward.
Some have said the smell reminded them of iodine. Others have described it as slightly fishy though.soilentgringa wrote:Molting crabs have a sort of chemical-y strange odor, I'm not sure how to describe it.