Naked crab nit moving with missing small claw

[Jpw150481]

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!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
1/2 inch play sand as following week 1 of PPS

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 probe in middle.ofntje tank near substrate reading a constant 75F
Humidity gauge in middle.of tank near substrate, calibrated and reads plus 1. Ranging 75 to 85


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
UTH along back 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)?
Fresh water treated with dechlorinator
Salt water treated with dechlorinator and marine salt mix

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Constant bowls of worm castings, green sand and crushed oyster shell, oak leaves, sphagnum moss and cuttle fish on substrate, 10 day rotation of all food groups in food pyramid
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
5 Purple Pincher. Had them 6 days

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Not molted

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
50 gallon tank with custom made glass lid

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
5 crabs, small size, using 2.5cm opening shells
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
20 2.5cm shells to match what they are currently in, 15 3cm shells
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Remove fresh food every day, clean out water every 2-3 days

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges

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

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.

I got 5 PP crabs following months of research. The place I got them from.kept them in a sandwich tub with sphagnum moss and mealworm. Temps were 75F and humidity 95%. I decided to try the PPS method to get them eating and drinking before raising substrate levels to allow first molt with me. Initially they had a look around and then hid in the moss. One crab was hanging out their shell a lot but did move around and saw it eating. Yesterday I did my morning check and found the crabs shell empty and the crab naked and in the opposite corner of the tank. I scooped him out and out him in a container with a but of treated fresh water, his original shell and 2 extra shells. Left him for 2 hours covered and checked. He hadn't taken a shell. Then I moved him to a 10 litre iso tank inside the main tank. I added some food and extra shells and left him alone. This morning he is laid in his side, still naked and his small claw has come off and is laying next to him. The food has been disturbed through the night. His abdomen is white (I read that don't be sure they are dead until it turns black) and there is no strong odour in the tank. Could he be molting? My worry is that they could all be needing to molt so should I increase substrate levels and let them do their thing and with my guy in isolation is there any more I can do than what I'm doing? There is nobody here in the UK that has the knowledge to help so I am reaching out here. Thank you!
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[FJrocks003]

Crabs molt with their shells on so it's not a molt. If he isn't re-shelling on his own then you need to do it manually. Everything seems good in your tank but I'd add the full amount of substrate now instead of waiting. I've heard of the pps method but it hasn't worked well for me. It just makes them wait longer for much needed molts, which can be harmful. I actually lost a crab using this method. As soon as the crabs had barely enough substrate to molt they went down and then the adding more on top colasped the tunnels. I got them out but the constant stress of adding more and more sand was doing a number on them, sadly one didn't make it. I can't be sure this was the pps method's fault but I've never had this happen when adding them to a fully set up tank. This is just my opinion and I'm definitely not as experienced as some people on here, so choose to do this method at your own risk. As for the sick crab, I don't have high hopes, just re-shell him and wait. If he isn't eating on his own then put some easy to eat food (like honey or peanut butter) on a popsicle stick and set it under his mouth, same can be done with a bottle cap of fresh water.

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[Jpw150481]

Thanks for replying. Sadly he didn't make it. He started to smell bad as the day went on. I went ahead and added 10 inches of substrate, plants and a wheel. The other 4 were all looking ok. I put them back amd they all headed for cover. 2 hours later and 2 of them are out and about exploring eating and drinking. The PPS method made sense when I read up in it but I suppose it depends in each circumstance. I have never seen them so active since they came home a week ago.

[HermitCrabCHICA]

I am so sorry about your crab That story made me so sad... I wish you the best if luck with your other hermies.