Crab molting but I did a goof

[Goomboi]

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? I mix sand and coconut dirt or something.


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? My humidity is all good and they are set in good places


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I don't need a heatsource so now

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, and I don't remember what dechlorinator and salt mix i use


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? I use flukers buffet blend as well as some fruits and veggies


6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? I have had the crab for about a year now I do not know what species it is


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
I have two crabs one molted fine and one is molting rn

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? I have a 5 gallon tank and i have a mesh tank lid with seran wrap on half


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? i have two small crabs


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I have around 6-8 extra shells in the tank

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I mostly just spot clean with a good clean every two monts or so

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?
nope

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.)? nope


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

So I was looking for my crab and I lift up their water dish because they like to hang out under there, and one of my crabs (his name is herbie) was under there out of his shell. I panicked because my other crab hadn't come out of his shell to molt (or I didn't see them.) So I kinda poked him with the water dish lightly but then I came to my senses and put the water dish on top. did I kill my crab? I hope not because my little brother loves my crabs.
.

[CrabbyLover77]

Hi! I'll put my suggestions under your answers. Hope this helps!

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? I mix sand and coconut dirt or something.

CL77- is it moistened to sand castle consistency using dechlor fresh or salt water? How deep is it? It should be 3x the height of your biggest crab.


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? My humidity is all good and they are set in good places

CL77- what is the actual percentage and temp? Temp should be 75-85°F and humidity should never fall below 70%, but 80%+ is best.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I don't need a heatsource so now

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, and I don't remember what dechlorinator and salt mix i use

CL77- if you're not using a marine salt, you'll need to switch to one. Other salts marketed for hermits don't contain all the minerals they need. Prime is a good dechlorinator and Instant Ocean is a popular Marine salt.


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? I use flukers buffet blend as well as some fruits and veggies

CL77- Variety is key. Many pellets marketed for hermits have preservatives, which aren't great for them in the long run. Hermits can eat many of the things we eat. Check out the safe food list for some ideas. Are you offering a daily source of protein and calcium?

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? I have had the crab for about a year now I do not know what species it is


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
I have two crabs one molted fine and one is molting rn

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? I have a 5 gallon tank and i have a mesh tank lid with seran wrap on half

CL77- Unless your crabs are very tiny, a 5 gal is a bit too small to comfortably house 2 crabs. You can also wrap the entire lid in plastic to keep the moisture in. Crabs will get air exchange when you do tank maintenance.


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? i have two small crabs


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I have around 6-8 extra shells in the tank

CL77- are they the right type of shells for your crabs? You likely have purple pinchers, and they prefer shells with round openings. Check the shell guide on here for more info.

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I mostly just spot clean with a good clean every two monts or so

CL77- no need to do a total substrate change unless there is an emergency like a bacterial bloom or flood.

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?
nope

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.)? nope


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

So I was looking for my crab and I lift up their water dish because they like to hang out under there, and one of my crabs (his name is herbie) was under there out of his shell. I panicked because my other crab hadn't come out of his shell to molt (or I didn't see them.) So I kinda poked him with the water dish lightly but then I came to my senses and put the water dish on top. did I kill my crab? I hope not because my little brother loves my crabs.

CL77- A crab drops its shell when it becomes too week to carry it. A shell-less crab is an emergency and must be re-shelled asap. Here is the guide on how to do that:
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=122302

Also implement my other suggestions above as soon as you can. Switch to a marine salt, add lots of protein and calcium to their diet, make sure the sub is moist and deep enough, and make sure the humidity and temp are in the proper range. Also check your shells to make sure they are the right type for your crabbies.

.

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[Goomboi]

Do crabs not come out of their shells to molt?

[CrabbyLover77]

No, crabs never leave their shells to molt. They only drop them when they are too weak to carry them.

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[Goomboi]

So I did what you said but when I picked him up he fell apart...he's dead right?

[CrabbyLover77]

Yes he is, I'm sorry. They go through a lot before we get them and sometimes they just can't recover.

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[Goomboi]

That stinks, I have another crab and I know they are supposed to be together with someone else should I get another crab?

[CrabbyLover77]

I'd make sure all your tank conditions are optimal, and then If you want to add another crabby it's up to you. My big guy Beau is very social and likes friends, but some crabs are fine alone.

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[Goomboi]

My crab did seem to come out more after the other had died is that a sign he'll be ok alone?

[CrabbyLover77]

If you're sticking with your 5 gal tank, I wouldn't get another crab at this point. If you upgrade to at least a 10 gal tank, then it might be worth to get him another buddy since he enjoyed the other crabs company.

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[Goomboi]

If i got a 10 gallon how many crabs could I have?

[CrabbyLover77]

This should help you out with your question:

https://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB ... 51#p836451

I'd get the biggest tank you have room and resources for. It will save you from having to upgrade later.

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[Hermitlover4212]

Double check the shell your dead crab was in as it sounds like you picked up his exoskeleton from molting and your actually crab could be in his shell. Some crabs will come out of their shell while shedding their exoskeleton and then put their shell back on although we usually don’t see this as they are buried. Your crab was buried so it was most likely molting but the first molt can be risky for them and there is a good possibility it died as well. All other suggestions the other poster gave you though are absolutely correct and you should get them changed as soon as you can and then when you can upgrade to a bigger tank get your surviving crab a buddy.