Accidentally disturbed a molter.

[angelbear]

This is more just me checking in to make sure I did not miss anything else I should do.


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

I have a mixture or EE leaflitter and sand but do not remember the exact ratio. I do know it is about 6 to 7 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?

Yes I have a digital gage located currently in the front of my tank. Temps read between 78 and 80. Humidity usuay 75 to 80 depending on how recently I opened the lid or rfreshed the substrate or water bowls ect....


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

Yes I use the Zoomed heat mats 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)?

I have fresh and salt water avaliable. I use API declornator as it is what I have in hand for my fish and Instant Ocean for my salt.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

Mixture
I try to follow the hermit crab food pyramid. All food is fresh for the most part. Changed as needed. Usually a weekly to every few days basis.

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

I have had my lone EE for 7 years. He is a small to medium crab.
I have had his companion a small PP for about 2 or 3 years now.

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

This crab is currently molting. But the last time was a few months ago.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

10 gallon tank. A bit small I know. But so are they right now. Ive had no problems or signs of aggression. I know EE are reconended for bigger tanks. I have a full aquarium hood covering.


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

2. Small to Medium.

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

Standard 3 to 5 shells rotated once a week. I do not keep shells in my tank all week but only on the weekends to simulate them coming across shells in the wild amd give them some stimmilation. I have never seen any signs of shell aggression amd have been doing this for a year nkw. If anytjimg I see more active intrest in shells as well as acticly trying on shells were before they were kind of ignored.


11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

Daily Chores consist on checking gauge and toppong off water, changing food of needed

Weekly Chores consist of changing out and washing the food dish and water dishes

By-Weekly Chores: Wiping down the inside and outsode of the tank with declorinated fresh water.

Monthly: rewetting sunstrate if needed


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

No


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

Some new locally sorced and cleaned oak wood at the beginning of the year. Cleaned it by boiling it in saltwater for five minites to kill any pests.

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.)?

Though it is not recommended about twice a year I bathe my surface crabs and check them over for missing limbs/general health. I only do this to surfaced crabs. I also if both are up rearange a few things in the crabitat to keep the envoroment stimulating.


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

I was picking up the lightweight paint pallet I use as their food dish amd discovered the EE had dug up under it and was molting apparently. As the dish was not burried it sort of suprised me. As I needed to clean the dish because the food was old I placed a hide over the spot and blocked the entrance but otherwise did not touch or disturbs him. Just wondering if there is anything else I could do. Both recently went down about a week ago after a highly active night. So I am not worried about another crab finding him persay. Just a concerned crab mama.

[Hermielover121]

How do you know he is molting? I would guess he is just digging around. Do you see an exoskeleton?


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[angelbear]

How do you know he is molting? I would guess he is just digging around. Do you see an exoskeleton?


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Yes actually it looked like he was just starting I saw small slivers of shed exo or what looked like it around his legs. I didnt want to touch and go exploring. The food dish was acting like a lid to his cave I guess. He was just there when I picked it up. Why it suprised me.

I also saw what looked like part of a claw. Like I said it was just by looking. He also did not react to me moving or withdraw into his shell.

[Hermielover121]

Please immediately move him into an iso tank. This is similar to a surface molt ( but not because of improper care ) so he/she will be vulnerable to cannibalism. Gently place him into the iso tank and try not to handle. Make sure to have lots of protein and calcium available.


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[angelbear]

Please immediately move him into an iso tank. This is similar to a surface molt ( but not because of improper care ) so he/she will be vulnerable to cannibalism. Gently place him into the iso tank and try not to handle. Make sure to have lots of protein and calcium available.


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I don't really have a ISO tank. Would a deep tuppaware dish in the main tank for humidity and heat work. I could make sure it's tall enough the PP cod not accsess it.

[Hermielover121]

Yes


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[Hermielover121]

Also do not rebury it just gently place it on the surface.


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[angelbear]

Also do not rebury it just gently place it on the surface.


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Alright will do. Thank you

[curlysister]

Personally, I would iso him where he is. That way, you don't need to disturb him at all. You could use a 2L pop bottle, lid off, bottom cut off. Push it into the sub deep enough that he is protected from your other crab. That is assuming that your other crab is above ground. Your other crab is top-side, correct?

[angelbear]

Personally, I would iso him where he is. That way, you don't need to disturb him at all. You could use a 2L pop bottle, lid off, bottom cut off. Push it into the sub deep enough that he is protected from your other crab. That is assuming that your other crab is above ground. Your other crab is top-side, correct?

Yes during the night. At day break he digs under.

[curlysister]

Hmmm....okay. If he's underground, you wouldn't know where, so pushing the pop bottle down into the sub far enough to protect the molting crab might cause a problem for the one under. In that case, it might be better to use the Tupperware.

[angelbear]

Hmmm....okay. If he's underground, you wouldn't know where, so pushing the pop bottle down into the sub far enough to protect the molting crab might cause a problem for the one under. In that case, it might be better to use the Tupperware.

That's what I did I found a tall tupaware dish put a little bedding in it carry my scooped him up with rhe exo i found out a small bottle cap with food abd water and covered rhe top so it was dark. I peeked in this morning just to check. He seems ro be no worse for wear. I'll check again in a few more days.

[Hermielover121]

Has he moved at all?


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[angelbear]

Has he moved at all?


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Yes very pale from molting but I saw him move around slowly. Other than putting a little blaclstrap molasses in there I left him alone. I'll check again in a day or two.

[Hermielover121]

That sounds good. As long as he keeps his shell on that means he is not getting a lot worse.


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