Dark colored and lethargic crab after molt - repost to emergency

[avagoldsmith]

Hello,

I currently use a reptile sand coconut fiber mix that amounts to around six inches. There are two temperature gauges in the tank on opposite sides (one is a thermometer that is coordinated with the heating pad), and there is one hydrometer that is located on the back wall of the tank towards the top. The heat source in the tank is a reptile heating pad that is on the back wall of the tank. The heating is controlled by a thermostat and it is kept at a constant temperature of 78ºF. The crabs have access to both fresh and salt water. I'm not sure the exact brands used for dechlorinatior and salt mix (I'm not home right now to check sorry), and I use the ratio that is listed on the bottle. I feed my crabs a wide variety of foods like fresh veggies and fruits, as well as animal products for proteins. I also occasionally add some calcium powder to their meal dish. The food is switched out whenever it starts to look off, but it's never in the tank any longer than five days. I've had my crab for about one year and it is a purple pincher. I am not sure of the age of the crab. My crab has recently molted within the last two weeks. The crabs are kept in a 20-gallon glass aquarium with a glass lid that covers only part of the tank opening for easy access and airflow. There are two crabs in the tank and they are pretty large, maybe around four inches in length. There are four extra shells of different shells and varieties kept in the tank. I deep clean the tank every three months or so by removing and replaying all the sand, washing down the interior of the tank, cleaning all the tank accessories, etc. On a weekly basis, I sift the sand and change/wash the water and food bowls. There have been no fumes of chemicals near the tank that I know of.

About one week ago my large/older male, purple pincher completed a molt. The crab was buried for three months while he completed a molt. I recently removed his exoskeleton from the tank. This molt took a very long time (longer than usual) and since then my crab looks and has been acting strange. Pre-molt, my crab was a dark red-purple, and very active. Post-molt, my crab has become very dark in color. The crab is a deep coffee brown color. The crab's legs look deformed and injured as if the legs have been crushed or twisted. The crab is also now very lethargic; it will not eat or go into its water bowls. The poor thing looks like it is in pain. There is another crab in the tank as well. She is doing completely fine, as she is growing and very active. Unfortunately, I am expecting my male to die due to its worsening condition. But, I was wondering if anyone has seen this happen before and can help inform me so that I can make sure this does not happen again.

This is a response to a previous question that I received when I posted this on the care forum. I noticed a part of the crab's exoskeleton after its molt sticking out of the sand so I dug up the rest of it and removed it. Should I not have done that?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.


.

[myllkti]

Sorry that I dont have the time to give a more in depth response, but if you still have the exoskeleton, could you put it back in? They eat it to help recover from the molt!

[curlysister]

I currently use a reptile sand coconut fiber mix that amounts to around six inches.
Curly - Reptile sand is calcium sand, which tends to turn hard like cement when it is wet. Play sand is what is recommended; it can be mixed with eco earth. It should be at least 3 times as deep as your largest crab is tall, and should be moistened with dechlorinated water so that it holds it's shape, ie- sand castle consistency.

There are two temperature gauges in the tank on opposite sides (one is a thermometer that is coordinated with the heating pad), and there is one hydrometer that is located on the back wall of the tank towards the top. The heat source in the tank is a reptile heating pad that is on the back wall of the tank. The heating is controlled by a thermostat and it is kept at a constant temperature of 78ºF.
Curly - What is your humidity?

The crabs have access to both fresh and salt water. I'm not sure the exact brands used for dechlorinatior and salt mix (I'm not home right now to check sorry), and I use the ratio that is listed on the bottle.
Curly - Be sure to check the 'water' care sheet to ensure that your dechlorinator is removing everything it needs to, and that you are using a marine salt. Most products listed for 'hermit crabs' aren't actually appropriate for long term health.

I feed my crabs a wide variety of foods like fresh veggies and fruits, as well as animal products for proteins. I also occasionally add some calcium powder to their meal dish. The food is switched out whenever it starts to look off, but it's never in the tank any longer than five days.
I've had my crab for about one year and it is a purple pincher. I am not sure of the age of the crab. My crab has recently molted within the last two weeks.
The crabs are kept in a 20-gallon glass aquarium with a glass lid that covers only part of the tank opening for easy access and airflow. There are two crabs in the tank and they are pretty large, maybe around four inches in length.
Curly - If your crabs are jumbo, your tank may not be large enough. Be sure to check the care sheet that details how many crabs of what size can be safely kept in what size of tank.

There are four extra shells of different shells and varieties kept in the tank.
Curly - HCA recommends 3 to 5 extra shells per crab. Be sure to check the 'shells' care sheet to ensure you are offering the appropriate types of shells for your species of crab.

I deep clean the tank every three months or so by removing and replaying all the sand, washing down the interior of the tank, cleaning all the tank accessories, etc.
Curly - Once you have the appropriate substrate, you don't need to deep clean that often - some people do so once every year or two, but some of us do even less than that.

On a weekly basis, I sift the sand and change/wash the water and food bowls. There have been no fumes of chemicals near the tank that I know of.

About one week ago my large/older male, purple pincher completed a molt. The crab was buried for three months while he completed a molt. I recently removed his exoskeleton from the tank. This molt took a very long time (longer than usual) and since then my crab looks and has been acting strange. Pre-molt, my crab was a dark red-purple, and very active. Post-molt, my crab has become very dark in color. The crab is a deep coffee brown color. The crab's legs look deformed and injured as if the legs have been crushed or twisted. The crab is also now very lethargic; it will not eat or go into its water bowls. The poor thing looks like it is in pain. There is another crab in the tank as well. She is doing completely fine, as she is growing and very active. Unfortunately, I am expecting my male to die due to its worsening condition. But, I was wondering if anyone has seen this happen before and can help inform me so that I can make sure this does not happen again.

This is a response to a previous question that I received when I posted this on the care forum. I noticed a part of the crab's exoskeleton after its molt sticking out of the sand so I dug up the rest of it and removed it. Should I not have done that?
Curly - Are you able to post a photo of your crab? Crabs will change color over the years, I wouldn't be worried about that. A crab should eat almost all of it's exo before coming back up from a molt, and the bits that are left are usually underground - that's why I asked how you had found it; I thought maybe you had dug up the crab or that he had molted on the surface.


Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.