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?
It is a little more then 6 inches deep and I use a 5:1 ratio of play sand and coconut fiber.
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?
They usually read 75-78° and is in the top right corner of my tank.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? I use a heat pad located at the back of the tank placed right where the sand ends.
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 use seachem prime for both bowls of salt and fresh water and in my salt water i use the instant ocean sea salt.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I replace their food every couple days or when it gets to a gross consistency if they’re not eating. I feed them full and complete meals and give them fresh fruits sometimes and a foraging mix and green sand and worm castings.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I believe they’re carribean hermit crabs. I don’t know for sure I got them from a pet store. I got them in around April I believe.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? I have two crabs and they both molted pretty head on to me getting them. It was almost imediate.
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 20 gallon take for my 2 hermit crabs and are planning on upgrading. I use and acrylic lid made to the size of my tank.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have 2 crabs and are still relatively small. Probably the e size of a pink school eraser shell wise.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 11-12
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No chemicals at all
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges. I use two bubblers one for each bowl and clean out the water once a week.
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 have two relatively young hermit crabs and one is currently underground and I haven’t seen him for about 2 days now. It’s possible he could be molting but he likes to go under the ground for about a couple days and come back up and he does this about 1-2 times a month. Today on September 28th I was refilling their food when i saw a ton of little bugs crawling in their tank. I can’t quite figure out what bugs they are but they are extremely small and black. The don’t have any sort of pinchers or crazy long ligaments but there is a good amount on their food and in the tank. I have been researching what they are but have not come to a conclusion. I currently have a crab underground and I want to keep them safe from an insect-infested tank but I don’t know if I should dig up my crab. I’m worried the sand will collapse on him or if he is in the process of molting. I don’t want to risk digging him up if not necessary. I’m planning on making a temporary tank for them while I clean the tank but I don’t know if I should dig him up or not. Please help me asap because i’m only 15 and this is my first time.[/img][/img]
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My crab is underground but there are bugs in my tank. Do I dig him up or leave him in the infested tank?
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Topic author - Posts: 3
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- Location: DuPont Wa USA
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Re: My crab is underground but there are bugs in my tank. Do I dig him up or leave him in the infested tank?
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
It is a little more then 6 inches deep and I use a 5:1 ratio of play sand and coconut fiber.
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?
They usually read 75-78° and is in the top right corner of my tank.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? I use a heat pad located at the back of the tank placed right where the sand ends.
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 use seachem prime for both bowls of salt and fresh water and in my salt water i use the instant ocean sea salt.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I replace their food every couple days or when it gets to a gross consistency if they’re not eating. I feed them full and complete meals and give them fresh fruits sometimes and a foraging mix and green sand and worm castings.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I believe they’re carribean hermit crabs. I don’t know for sure I got them from a pet store. I got them in around April I believe.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? I have two crabs and they both molted pretty head on to me getting them. It was almost imediate.
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 20 gallon take for my 2 hermit crabs and are planning on upgrading. I use and acrylic lid made to the size of my tank.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have 2 crabs and are still relatively small. Probably the e size of a pink school eraser shell wise.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 11-12
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No chemicals at all
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges. I use two bubblers one for each bowl and clean out the water once a week.
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 have two relatively young hermit crabs and one is currently underground and I haven’t seen him for about 2 days now. It’s possible he could be molting but he likes to go under the ground for about a couple days and come back up and he does this about 1-2 times a month. Today on September 28th I was refilling their food when i saw a ton of little bugs crawling in their tank. I can’t quite figure out what bugs they are but they are extremely small and black. The don’t have any sort of pinchers or crazy long ligaments but there is a good amount on their food and in the tank. I have been researching what they are but have not come to a conclusion. I currently have a crab underground and I want to keep them safe from an insect-infested tank but I don’t know if I should dig up my crab. I’m worried the sand will collapse on him or if he is in the process of molting. I don’t want to risk digging him up if not necessary. I’m planning on making a temporary tank for them while I clean the tank but I don’t know if I should dig him up or not. Please help me asap because i’m only 15 and this is my first time.Image[/img][/img]Image
Curly - most bugs in the tank are totally harmless to crabs. They are most likely from the food.I would not dig up the crab that is underground. Have you looked at our 'mites' and 'bugs' care sheets to see if you can find what kind they are?
It is a little more then 6 inches deep and I use a 5:1 ratio of play sand and coconut fiber.
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?
They usually read 75-78° and is in the top right corner of my tank.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? I use a heat pad located at the back of the tank placed right where the sand ends.
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 use seachem prime for both bowls of salt and fresh water and in my salt water i use the instant ocean sea salt.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I replace their food every couple days or when it gets to a gross consistency if they’re not eating. I feed them full and complete meals and give them fresh fruits sometimes and a foraging mix and green sand and worm castings.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I believe they’re carribean hermit crabs. I don’t know for sure I got them from a pet store. I got them in around April I believe.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? I have two crabs and they both molted pretty head on to me getting them. It was almost imediate.
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 20 gallon take for my 2 hermit crabs and are planning on upgrading. I use and acrylic lid made to the size of my tank.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have 2 crabs and are still relatively small. Probably the e size of a pink school eraser shell wise.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 11-12
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No chemicals at all
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges. I use two bubblers one for each bowl and clean out the water once a week.
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 have two relatively young hermit crabs and one is currently underground and I haven’t seen him for about 2 days now. It’s possible he could be molting but he likes to go under the ground for about a couple days and come back up and he does this about 1-2 times a month. Today on September 28th I was refilling their food when i saw a ton of little bugs crawling in their tank. I can’t quite figure out what bugs they are but they are extremely small and black. The don’t have any sort of pinchers or crazy long ligaments but there is a good amount on their food and in the tank. I have been researching what they are but have not come to a conclusion. I currently have a crab underground and I want to keep them safe from an insect-infested tank but I don’t know if I should dig up my crab. I’m worried the sand will collapse on him or if he is in the process of molting. I don’t want to risk digging him up if not necessary. I’m planning on making a temporary tank for them while I clean the tank but I don’t know if I should dig him up or not. Please help me asap because i’m only 15 and this is my first time.Image[/img][/img]Image
Curly - most bugs in the tank are totally harmless to crabs. They are most likely from the food.I would not dig up the crab that is underground. Have you looked at our 'mites' and 'bugs' care sheets to see if you can find what kind they are?
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers
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Topic author - Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2024 10:11 pm
- Location: DuPont Wa USA
Re: My crab is underground but there are bugs in my tank. Do I dig him up or leave him in the infested tank?
I’ve looked but i can’t quite figure out what they are. They are extremely small and blackish gray. I’ve been researching and something said to spray your tank with salt water to help detoxify and cleanse the tank so i did that and I haven’t seen much bugs anymore. They were mostly in the food which I think usually means that they’re not harmful to your crabs. Thank you so much!
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Re: My crab is underground but there are bugs in my tank. Do I dig him up or leave him in the infested tank?
Be careful misting with salt water. It can lead to an excess buildup of salt in the sand. However, it is ok to initially soak your sub in dechlor salt water to help keep away mold. If you only misted with salt water once or twice, don't panic, just don't do it on a regular basis.darcyrmince wrote:I’ve looked but i can’t quite figure out what they are. They are extremely small and blackish gray. I’ve been researching and something said to spray your tank with salt water to help detoxify and cleanse the tank so i did that and I haven’t seen much bugs anymore. They were mostly in the food which I think usually means that they’re not harmful to your crabs. Thank you so much!
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Topic author - Posts: 3
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Re: My crab is underground but there are bugs in my tank. Do I dig him up or leave him in the infested tank?
Hi this is Darcy again and there seems to be more bugs tonight then there was before. Yesterday they were mainly in the food and there were none on the crab and there is still none on him but there are a ton of bugs in the sand. I am still researching but please help asap and let me know if I should be digging up my other crab!
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Re: My crab is underground but there are bugs in my tank. Do I dig him up or leave him in the infested tank?
Don't dig up the crab.
The bugs will not be harmful to the crabs.
Can you post a photo of the bugs? (Use the TapaTalk app, or a file sharing site.)
The bugs will not be harmful to the crabs.
Can you post a photo of the bugs? (Use the TapaTalk app, or a file sharing site.)
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers