Molting Crab Tunnel Collapse

[kep816]

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? [/c]
Sand/Coconut

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 but became inaccurate but visually monitored sand/humidity

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
yes, temp around 80F

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 and Salt

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Varies quite a bit, but followed food protocol, veggies, fruit, calcium, green sand

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

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Successfully molted within week of acquiring neglected crab, completed in 4 weeks, but went down for another molt with 2 weeks of completing first molt

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
He's been in an isolation tank since I acquired him due to mites from previous owner. Mites were rectified prior to putting him in the isolation tank and no sign of mites since acquisition; 10 gallon tank.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
One medium purple pincher

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
6

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
no

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

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
no sponges and dishes are deep enough for submersion

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
no

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.)?
no

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I think the tunnel has collapsed on the molting crab. I was able to see him in the tunnel against the glass at one point, and covered glass with a post-it for light/privacy issues, but can no longer see him. 1st molt lasted 4 weeks, and am now on 4 weeks for 2nd molt but no sign of movement. Due to faulty hygrometer gauge, sand became semi-dry, but constantly sprayed tank. Recently checked for moisture 4 days ago, and found top of substrate to be drying too much. Carefully sprayed around edge of sand/glass and light spray on top of sand. Any suggestions as to what to do at this point?

.

[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? [/c]
Sand/Coconut

CL77- How deep is it? Was it moistened to sand castle consistency using fresh or salt dechlor water?

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 but became inaccurate but visually monitored sand/humidity

CL77-There is no way to measure humidity without a hygrometer. You'll need to pick one up asap. Crabs need moisture in the air to breathe, and can become stressed/die if humidity is consistently below 70%.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
yes, temp around 80F

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 and Salt

CL77- What kind of water and dechlorinator do you use? Are you using a marine salt (like instant Ocean) for your saltwater pool?

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Varies quite a bit, but followed food protocol, veggies, fruit, calcium, green sand

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

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Successfully molted within week of acquiring neglected crab, completed in 4 weeks, but went down for another molt with 2 weeks of completing first molt

CL77-I think that may be too soon for the crab to molt again. It's more likely he's just digging around.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
He's been in an isolation tank since I acquired him due to mites from previous owner. Mites were rectified prior to putting him in the isolation tank and no sign of mites since acquisition; 10 gallon tank.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
One medium purple pincher

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
6

CL77- Are they the type of shells PPs prefer? (shells with round openings)

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
no

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

CL77- I assume you mean spot clean daily?

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
no sponges and dishes are deep enough for submersion

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
no

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.)?
no

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I think the tunnel has collapsed on the molting crab. I was able to see him in the tunnel against the glass at one point, and covered glass with a post-it for light/privacy issues, but can no longer see him. 1st molt lasted 4 weeks, and am now on 4 weeks for 2nd molt but no sign of movement. Due to faulty hygrometer gauge, sand became semi-dry, but constantly sprayed tank. Recently checked for moisture 4 days ago, and found top of substrate to be drying too much. Carefully sprayed around edge of sand/glass and light spray on top of sand. Any suggestions as to what to do at this point?

CL77- It's likely he's moving around under the sand, and not staying in the place where you first saw him. If the sand is too dry, you can pour a little water around the edges of the sand, and it will seep inward. I've also used damp eco earth and gently placed it on top of the sand. The damp EE helps moisten the sand underneath it. But def get that thermometer/hygrometer as soon as you can. That is essential.

.

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[kep816]

My answers are supplemented to your commentary below:

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? [/c]
Sand/Coconut

CL77- How deep is it? Was it moistened to sand castle consistency using fresh or salt dechlor water?

-Depth is 5 inches and only use fresh spring water, never anything else

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 but became inaccurate but visually monitored sand/humidity

CL77-There is no way to measure humidity without a hygrometer. You'll need to pick one up asap. Crabs need moisture in the air to breathe, and can become stressed/die if humidity is consistently below 70%.

-I had placed a temporary one in the tank, and it seemed to work ok and was fine on humidity. I'll place it back in tonight to see what readings I get

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
yes, temp around 80F

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 and Salt

CL77- What kind of water and dechlorinator do you use? Are you using a marine salt (like instant Ocean) for your saltwater pool?

-No dechlorinator used, only spring water, and yes, use marine salt

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Varies quite a bit, but followed food protocol, veggies, fruit, calcium, green sand

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

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Successfully molted within week of acquiring neglected crab, completed in 4 weeks, but went down for another molt with 2 weeks of completing first molt

CL77-I think that may be too soon for the crab to molt again. It's more likely he's just digging around.
Not possible, since he appeared to like to dig but I was concerned that he didn't come back up after molting so recently.

-I was uncertain what his habits were since I haven't had him for very long, and he was very stressed when I received him from my grandson who neglected him terribly.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
He's been in an isolation tank since I acquired him due to mites from previous owner. Mites were rectified prior to putting him in the isolation tank and no sign of mites since acquisition; 10 gallon tank.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
One medium purple pincher

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
6

CL77- Are they the type of shells PPs prefer? (shells with round openings)

-Yup

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
no

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

CL77- I assume you mean spot clean daily?

-yes

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
no sponges and dishes are deep enough for submersion

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
no

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.)?
no

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I think the tunnel has collapsed on the molting crab. I was able to see him in the tunnel against the glass at one point, and covered glass with a post-it for light/privacy issues, but can no longer see him. 1st molt lasted 4 weeks, and am now on 4 weeks for 2nd molt but no sign of movement. Due to faulty hygrometer gauge, sand became semi-dry, but constantly sprayed tank. Recently checked for moisture 4 days ago, and found top of substrate to be drying too much. Carefully sprayed around edge of sand/glass and light spray on top of sand. Any suggestions as to what to do at this point?

CL77- It's likely he's moving around under the sand, and not staying in the place where you first saw him. If the sand is too dry, you can pour a little water around the edges of the sand, and it will seep inward. I've also used damp eco earth and gently placed it on top of the sand. The damp EE helps moisten the sand underneath it. But def get that thermometer/hygrometer as soon as you can. That is essential.

-I'm still concerned that he hasn't come back up for 4 weeks now. Would it be safe for me to pull sand back from where he's buried. I saw his shell yesterday, and think he's still moving in there, but not certain on his status. I know it was too soon to molt again but want to confirm that he's ok. No fishy smell to the tank either. He's not my first hermie, but I'm so worried that I lost him!

Thanks for the response,

[curlysister]

You have received excellent advice so far from CL77. I agree that he probably just moved away from the edge, and dug a tunnel further toward the center.

No, do not go looking for him. If he's small, he may be molting again. Even if he isn't small, some crabs will pull back to back molts. If he's dead, there is nothing to be gained by digging him up. If he's alive, there is potential harm to be done by digging him up. So don't dig. Four weeks really isn't that long. Four months, if you are certain he hasn't come up and gone back down, then maybe start wondering if he's alive (I had a crab come up for literally less than 4 hours after being under for 3 months - then went back down for another 2 1/2 months - if I hadn't happened to be in the room during the few hours she was above ground, I would have thought she was under for almost 6 months - and she was fine!).

[kep816]

THANKS!