I have been the proud owner of Hermit Crabs since 2002, and at least 3 of my originals are still with me. I mention this to give a bit of my background. I currently have 7 crabs, 4 of which I adopted last summer from a hermit crab kiosk that went out of business.
One of those crabs came up from what I assume was a molt with ashen looking ecto skin and what looks like a slight bruise or "rot" on his lower part of puncher.
My crabs live in a 150 gallon terrarium with at least 6-7 inches of play sand. Lately they all have been tunneling around like crazy, so I don't know if he was disturbed during a molt and couldn't complete it.
I'm really scared because one of my originals died over a year ago after coming up from a molt looking the same way. He went from ashen to hanging out of shell to crawling around naked and it was just an awful experience to watch. (I put him in an isolation tank when it was clear he was not doing well) I had reached out to Florida Marine Research and there advisement didn't really help.
I want to jump on what is happening with my current crab before it gets that bad. Any thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks!
Crab looks ashen after molt
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soilentgringa
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Re: Crab looks ashen after molt
Hi! If you would answer these that could help pinpoint any issues:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=46102
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http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=46102
Sent from my LGMS550 using Tapatalk
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wodesorel
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Re: Crab looks ashen after molt
It could be substrate, diet, being disturbed, etc. The questions that SG linked to gives us a much better idea of what is going on and what the problem may be. Because they are so long lived little things over time can effect them in bad ways. Hopefully something will stick out and we can brainstorm ways to make him better and make these problems stop!
Want to see all my crazy pets? @waywardwaifs on Instagram
Re: Crab looks ashen after molt
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
I use play sand and it is anywhere from 5-8 inches deep.
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?
I used to but they break frequently. When I did the gauges read moderate humidity and between 70-85 degrees. I should note, that I live in Minneapolis, so in the summer it gets pretty warm and humid, but in the winter the room they are in is heated by dry heat.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes. On one end of the cage I have a 7x7 inch heating pad under the sand (in this area the sand is about 5 inches deep) and another one that is 7x10 inches along the glass (actually it is plexi. The cage is actually a terrarium, not an aquariam).
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)?
They have both fresh water and salt. I try to use bottle water, but when I run out I use tap with a dechlorinator I get at Petsmart in the Hermit Crab section (don’t remember the brand as I am out now). And yes on occasion I have used just regular tap, but I try not to do that too much. The salt water is derived from a brand called Aquarium Water, that I mix in the water. For fresh and saltwater, I follow the directions on the bottle or carton to mix it up.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I always have about a teaspoon or so of TetraFauna Hermit Crab Meal and some tropical fish flakes. I also feed perishable food, most often applesauce, spring greens, peanut butter (Jiff), and whatever leftover proteins we’ve had from dinner like salmon, chicken bones with meat on them. I also give them hard boiled eggs, canned tuna, and for treats they like potato chips, popcorn and cookies (short bread). Sometimes they get dried sea vegetables (seaweed), shredded carrots and plain yogurt. I also provide calcium powder or a cuttle bone. I replace the food and water every 3 days and the perishables about every 2.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I’ve had the crab in question for 15 months, but some of the others since 2002. I believe they are purple pinchers. I don’t have any strawberries.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He molted once before about 6 months ago in a separate molting tank.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
They are in a 6 foot by 15-inch terrarium with a height of two feet. The walls are plexi, the frame is metal and the back and base is a sealed particle board tested for pet safety. I bought the tank online in 2008 from a company that makes cages primarily for lizards. The lid is a double sliding plexi glass, and I keep about 7-10 inches on each side open with a screen for air circulation.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have 7 (2 jumbos – small orange size, 3 medium – small plum size and 1 small guy – apricot size)
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I have about 7 extra shells at any given time that get rotated from a collection of about 28. But as the crabs getting bigger, I have less larger ones. I still have 2 big shells for the jumbos if they want them.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I do a surface clean once a month and totally change out the sand once a year. I wipe off the sides with warm water about once a month.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Yes and I clean them with hot water every 3 days when I change the water and boil them once every 2 months or so. They also have a pool of fresh water with no sponges.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
I made a hemp net last fall and brought in a large branch from outdoors last fall. I also added around this time 2 potted spider plants in organic soil. One plant died, so now its just one.
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.)?
I bath the crabs about once a month in spring water. I don’t handle them too much, but sometimes I let them out to crawl around the house for monitored periods of about a half hour. I talked to them and the more gregarious one I let crawl around on me about once I month.
The only other thing I want to add is that up until last fall, I used to have them molt in separate 10 gallon tanks (I have 3, each filled with 50 lbs of play sand), with their main tank only having a substrate of about 3 inches. Once I would find one digging around I would move them to separate tank and if they dug in, leave them alone for however long it took for them to resurface.
However, when I had the loss of two my originals from what seemed to be a similar post molt issue (ashen ecto skin) I did more researched and learned that now most people just have a deep enough substrate so that they can molt in the main tank. This past year has been the first that I have tried that, but I don’t like it because about half of them are always underground and I don’t know if they are molting or just goofing around. Of course I am afraid to check, so I have no idea the condition of half of the crabs at any given time.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
The crab (I have not named him yet) came up from what I assumed was a molt with ashen looking ecto skin and what looks like a slight bruise or "rot" on his lower part of puncher. The photo I am attaching looks like sand on his pincher, but I can't wipe it away. And I hope the photo shows the small dark spot on the lower half of pincher. He seems to be eating and even tried some other shells on, but he just doesn’t look right. Lately they all have been tunneling around like crazy, so I don't know if he was disturbed during a molt and couldn't complete it.
I'm really scared because two of my originals died over a year ago after coming up from a molt looking the same way. They went from ashen to hanging out of shell to crawling around naked and it was just an awful experience to watch. I put the sick Ivan in an isolation tank when it was clear he was not doing well and then I few months later I found Jose dead hanging out of the water bowl-just awful. Also, when Ivan was in the isolation tank and started crawling around naked, I noticed a black spot on his soft back. I reached out to Florida Marine Research and their advisement didn't really help at all. I posted on HCA as well, but never heard from anyone.
Anyway, I’m just really scared that this is the beginning of the awful deaths I witnessed last year with my two originals. I will try to post a picture. Thanks for any help you can provide!
I use play sand and it is anywhere from 5-8 inches deep.
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?
I used to but they break frequently. When I did the gauges read moderate humidity and between 70-85 degrees. I should note, that I live in Minneapolis, so in the summer it gets pretty warm and humid, but in the winter the room they are in is heated by dry heat.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes. On one end of the cage I have a 7x7 inch heating pad under the sand (in this area the sand is about 5 inches deep) and another one that is 7x10 inches along the glass (actually it is plexi. The cage is actually a terrarium, not an aquariam).
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)?
They have both fresh water and salt. I try to use bottle water, but when I run out I use tap with a dechlorinator I get at Petsmart in the Hermit Crab section (don’t remember the brand as I am out now). And yes on occasion I have used just regular tap, but I try not to do that too much. The salt water is derived from a brand called Aquarium Water, that I mix in the water. For fresh and saltwater, I follow the directions on the bottle or carton to mix it up.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I always have about a teaspoon or so of TetraFauna Hermit Crab Meal and some tropical fish flakes. I also feed perishable food, most often applesauce, spring greens, peanut butter (Jiff), and whatever leftover proteins we’ve had from dinner like salmon, chicken bones with meat on them. I also give them hard boiled eggs, canned tuna, and for treats they like potato chips, popcorn and cookies (short bread). Sometimes they get dried sea vegetables (seaweed), shredded carrots and plain yogurt. I also provide calcium powder or a cuttle bone. I replace the food and water every 3 days and the perishables about every 2.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I’ve had the crab in question for 15 months, but some of the others since 2002. I believe they are purple pinchers. I don’t have any strawberries.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He molted once before about 6 months ago in a separate molting tank.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
They are in a 6 foot by 15-inch terrarium with a height of two feet. The walls are plexi, the frame is metal and the back and base is a sealed particle board tested for pet safety. I bought the tank online in 2008 from a company that makes cages primarily for lizards. The lid is a double sliding plexi glass, and I keep about 7-10 inches on each side open with a screen for air circulation.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have 7 (2 jumbos – small orange size, 3 medium – small plum size and 1 small guy – apricot size)
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I have about 7 extra shells at any given time that get rotated from a collection of about 28. But as the crabs getting bigger, I have less larger ones. I still have 2 big shells for the jumbos if they want them.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I do a surface clean once a month and totally change out the sand once a year. I wipe off the sides with warm water about once a month.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Yes and I clean them with hot water every 3 days when I change the water and boil them once every 2 months or so. They also have a pool of fresh water with no sponges.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
I made a hemp net last fall and brought in a large branch from outdoors last fall. I also added around this time 2 potted spider plants in organic soil. One plant died, so now its just one.
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.)?
I bath the crabs about once a month in spring water. I don’t handle them too much, but sometimes I let them out to crawl around the house for monitored periods of about a half hour. I talked to them and the more gregarious one I let crawl around on me about once I month.
The only other thing I want to add is that up until last fall, I used to have them molt in separate 10 gallon tanks (I have 3, each filled with 50 lbs of play sand), with their main tank only having a substrate of about 3 inches. Once I would find one digging around I would move them to separate tank and if they dug in, leave them alone for however long it took for them to resurface.
However, when I had the loss of two my originals from what seemed to be a similar post molt issue (ashen ecto skin) I did more researched and learned that now most people just have a deep enough substrate so that they can molt in the main tank. This past year has been the first that I have tried that, but I don’t like it because about half of them are always underground and I don’t know if they are molting or just goofing around. Of course I am afraid to check, so I have no idea the condition of half of the crabs at any given time.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
The crab (I have not named him yet) came up from what I assumed was a molt with ashen looking ecto skin and what looks like a slight bruise or "rot" on his lower part of puncher. The photo I am attaching looks like sand on his pincher, but I can't wipe it away. And I hope the photo shows the small dark spot on the lower half of pincher. He seems to be eating and even tried some other shells on, but he just doesn’t look right. Lately they all have been tunneling around like crazy, so I don't know if he was disturbed during a molt and couldn't complete it.
I'm really scared because two of my originals died over a year ago after coming up from a molt looking the same way. They went from ashen to hanging out of shell to crawling around naked and it was just an awful experience to watch. I put the sick Ivan in an isolation tank when it was clear he was not doing well and then I few months later I found Jose dead hanging out of the water bowl-just awful. Also, when Ivan was in the isolation tank and started crawling around naked, I noticed a black spot on his soft back. I reached out to Florida Marine Research and their advisement didn't really help at all. I posted on HCA as well, but never heard from anyone.
Anyway, I’m just really scared that this is the beginning of the awful deaths I witnessed last year with my two originals. I will try to post a picture. Thanks for any help you can provide!
Re: Crab looks ashen after molt
Tried to post a photo, but I couldn't. Again, thanks for all your help.
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aussieJJDude
- Administrator
- Posts: 5010
- Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:12 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Crab looks ashen after molt
2 things for me come into mind:
1. Water. You mention that you use tap, which in my eyes are a big red flag. Tap water contains additives such as chlorine and chloramine which is damaging to the crabs gills; which is why its so important to invest in a quality dechlorinator. Likewise, tap water can contain a lot of heavy metals, which also isn't beneficial in high concentrations either. Many suggest using brands such as 'Prime', which remove all of the above and often cheaper than using hermit crab specific dechlorinators.
2. Food. You mention feeding them chips and commercial foods, most likely laced with additives which can make them sick. Here, we recommend feeding an 'all natural' diet, and providing very little processed foods. Try offering more vegetative matter, such as leaves, stems or fruit/nut of various plants to ensure they receiving a balanced diet. Hermit crabs can often look ashy when they dont receive a balanced diet.
I'd leave this here, as it may help answer some questions:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... m.php?f=51
But these:
safe food list: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 25&t=92557
Store brought foods: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 25&t=92555
Food & water sub forum: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... m.php?f=25
can also help in the meantime.
1. Water. You mention that you use tap, which in my eyes are a big red flag. Tap water contains additives such as chlorine and chloramine which is damaging to the crabs gills; which is why its so important to invest in a quality dechlorinator. Likewise, tap water can contain a lot of heavy metals, which also isn't beneficial in high concentrations either. Many suggest using brands such as 'Prime', which remove all of the above and often cheaper than using hermit crab specific dechlorinators.
2. Food. You mention feeding them chips and commercial foods, most likely laced with additives which can make them sick. Here, we recommend feeding an 'all natural' diet, and providing very little processed foods. Try offering more vegetative matter, such as leaves, stems or fruit/nut of various plants to ensure they receiving a balanced diet. Hermit crabs can often look ashy when they dont receive a balanced diet.
I'd leave this here, as it may help answer some questions:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... m.php?f=51
But these:
safe food list: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 25&t=92557
Store brought foods: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 25&t=92555
Food & water sub forum: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... m.php?f=25
can also help in the meantime.
|| Avid Aquarist Addict (2007) || Crazy Crabbing Connoisseur (2012) || Amateur Aroid Admirer (2014) ||
I strive to make HCA a welcoming space for all
Infrequently on due to studies, on a little more on in FB group
I strive to make HCA a welcoming space for all
Infrequently on due to studies, on a little more on in FB group
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Happyhermiehome
- Posts: 475
- Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2017 12:41 pm
Re: Crab looks ashen after molt
I have a lil crab who went down for a molt as soon as I got him. He was normal color when he went down like a reddish brown with purple and he came up super pale light orangey. I think this is because he had not molted with his last owner and his exo was still his "wild exo" and was fed only a diet or pellets and no salt water. So he didn't get the nutrience he needed for vibrant color and healthy exo. They day I got him he went down and then came up a month or so later like this. He's been eating very well since and I think he will darken up on his next molt. The best thing you can do is provide a well balanced diet as suggested. But as for the black spots I have no idea...maybe shell rot? I don't know much about it but I've heard it very contagious. Also could be an injury sustained during a molt?
Last edited by Happyhermiehome on Fri Sep 08, 2017 12:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
Livin' the Crazy crab life :P
Re: Crab looks ashen after molt
Thank you everyone for your kind informative responses. Unfortunately things are getting worse. I found my little guy out of his shell tonight. I gently bathed him in spring water and put him in an isolation tank with his old shell and new ones, plus food and water and a hiding place. Thankfully he went back into his old shell. But this was the pattern before with the others, and they died.
I also noticed a dark spot on the tip of his tail. Perhaps he was injured after leaving or being dragged from shell? I saw such a spot on one of the others that died. (Please read above for history).
I started this post on the molting forum, but need to bring it to emergency forum. What is the best way to do that?
I also noticed a dark spot on the tip of his tail. Perhaps he was injured after leaving or being dragged from shell? I saw such a spot on one of the others that died. (Please read above for history).
I started this post on the molting forum, but need to bring it to emergency forum. What is the best way to do that?
Re: Crab looks ashen after molt
Tagging @GotButtterflies Maybe she would know how to move topic to emergency section.
Ummm... wish I how to help. I guess just leave him alone and hope for the best. Unless he remains shellless. Then he would need to be reshelled asap so his abdomen doesn't dry out.
To upload pics... You can use a hosting site such as Google or photobucket - not sure how to use these. Or you can download the tapatalk app for smartphones/tablets. Once downloaded, find HCA forum, and reply to this topic.
Sent from my HTC6515LVW using Tapatalk
Ummm... wish I how to help. I guess just leave him alone and hope for the best. Unless he remains shellless. Then he would need to be reshelled asap so his abdomen doesn't dry out.
To upload pics... You can use a hosting site such as Google or photobucket - not sure how to use these. Or you can download the tapatalk app for smartphones/tablets. Once downloaded, find HCA forum, and reply to this topic.
Sent from my HTC6515LVW using Tapatalk
Crabbing since Dec. 2010!
35 Crabbies - 28 PP's, 2 E's, 2 Straw's, 1 Viola, & 2 Indo's
35 Crabbies - 28 PP's, 2 E's, 2 Straw's, 1 Viola, & 2 Indo's
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aussieJJDude
- Administrator
- Posts: 5010
- Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:12 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Re: Crab looks ashen after molt
Consider it moved. 
I personally think that pics are a good idea if you can, as it could be a number of factors.
I personally think that pics are a good idea if you can, as it could be a number of factors.
|| Avid Aquarist Addict (2007) || Crazy Crabbing Connoisseur (2012) || Amateur Aroid Admirer (2014) ||
I strive to make HCA a welcoming space for all
Infrequently on due to studies, on a little more on in FB group
I strive to make HCA a welcoming space for all
Infrequently on due to studies, on a little more on in FB group
Re: Crab looks ashen after molt
Hi all,
Thank you to whomever put my molting post to the emergency one. Some good news to report:
As I mentioned above, he did go back into his shell and into an isolation tank with food and water. The next morning a lot of the food had been eaten (disturbed) and I could hear him digging. He is currently underground in castle building moist sand that is at least 8 inches deep. Maybe he was interrupted during an early molt with the group. I'm glad he is safe now and hopefully will come up with a fresh new happy ecto skin. I have removed the food so that there is no mold. I'll check everyday to see is he above ground.
I'll keep you posted and thanks again!
Thank you to whomever put my molting post to the emergency one. Some good news to report:
As I mentioned above, he did go back into his shell and into an isolation tank with food and water. The next morning a lot of the food had been eaten (disturbed) and I could hear him digging. He is currently underground in castle building moist sand that is at least 8 inches deep. Maybe he was interrupted during an early molt with the group. I'm glad he is safe now and hopefully will come up with a fresh new happy ecto skin. I have removed the food so that there is no mold. I'll check everyday to see is he above ground.
I'll keep you posted and thanks again!