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 have about 3 inches 9f play sand with ecofiber sprinkled on top. Got recommendation from a YouTube hermit crab care taker. Suggested to minimize PPSD.
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. Temp says 71 humidity says 99. But tank doesn't feel super humid. They are wired (probs)gages in middle of take.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? I just got a tank pad located outside of tank at back. B4 used a heating pad for two days.
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 two types of water fresh and salt. Prime used to de-cholr.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? every two days replace. Been feeding fresh veggies milworms, coconut treat. Just got a cuttlebone.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? Daughter got crab mid to end of June from beach shop. Was in take home cage till about three days ago. Was feeding and giving only fresh water b4. I feel horrible.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? No it has not. When I first put in new tank "she" walked all around got in the water seemed super happy and active. Then went to tge corner dug out the sand and has been there since yesterday.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? 28 gal tank. Has a lid but does not full close. Keep a towel over to cover the gaps on the ends.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? only one crab.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? I have some med to large on order. Should have by Sunday. Do I have to clean them b4 placing in tank?
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? None.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how? Only cleaned it when I got it a few days ago.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? No sponges did read they are no good.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? just what I added when set it up. Cleaded everything in prime water b4 adding to tank.
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.)? I've never actually given her a bath.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. I am extremely distraught. I am hoping and praying that my lack of knowledge has not harmed Rosie. I do have a tank light on. Should this be shut off? Should I add some more sand and eco to a different corner. Something a bit deeper or would that just cause more of an issue. New Crab mom waiting with hope.
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New Tank In Corner
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curlysister
- Administrator
- Posts: 4613
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: New Tank In Corner
Welcome to crabbing and to the site!
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? I have about 3 inches 9f play sand with ecofiber sprinkled on top. Got recommendation from a YouTube hermit crab care taker. Suggested to minimize PPSD.
Curly - Some groups/ people recommend minimizing substrate, etc - but there is no evidence that any specific method improves outcomes. Many of us feel that it is better to just get the crab into ideal condition as soon as possible.
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. Temp says 71 humidity says 99. But tank doesn't feel super humid. They are wired (probs)gages in middle of take.
Curly - 71 is the lowest you'd want the tank to be - generally 72 to low 80s is ideal. Crabs are more active when it is on the warmer side. Even tho the hygrometer is new, it might not be accurate. There is a care sheet that explains how to callibrate your hygrometer.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? I just got a tank pad located outside of tank at back. B4 used a heating pad for two days.
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 two types of water fresh and salt. Prime used to de-cholr.
Curly - That's great, the dechlorinator is just what you need. Double check that the salt water is an ocean salt like Instant Ocean.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? every two days replace. Been feeding fresh veggies milworms, coconut treat. Just got a cuttlebone.
Curly - Crabs do best with a varied diet. They can eat much of what is in our kitchen. Meats, fruits, veggies, grains, nuts, seeds, eggs and eggshells, etc. Check out the 'nutrition' care sheet for lots more info.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? Daughter got crab mid to end of June from beach shop. Was in take home cage till about three days ago. Was feeding and giving only fresh water b4. I feel horrible.
Curly - You didn't know any better. Now that you do, you have both in there.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? No it has not. When I first put in new tank "she" walked all around got in the water seemed super happy and active. Then went to tge corner dug out the sand and has been there since yesterday.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? 28 gal tank. Has a lid but does not full close. Keep a towel over to cover the gaps on the ends.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? only one crab.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? I have some med to large on order. Should have by Sunday. Do I have to clean them b4 placing in tank?
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? None.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how? Only cleaned it when I got it a few days ago.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? No sponges did read they are no good.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? just what I added when set it up. Cleaded everything in prime water b4 adding to tank.
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.)? I've never actually given her a bath.
Curly - Bathing isn't recommended - they will go in the waters that they need, and will carry a mix of fresh and salt water in their shells, so bathing them will disrupt that balance.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. I am extremely distraught. I am hoping and praying that my lack of knowledge has not harmed Rosie. I do have a tank light on. Should this be shut off? Should I add some more sand and eco to a different corner. Something a bit deeper or would that just cause more of an issue. New Crab mom waiting with hope.
Curly - If you have a light, don't leave it on all the time. If your tank is in a room with a window, the crabs will get indirect light from that. You are doing really well, take a breath! Many of us got our crabs before we knew how to properly care for them. The important part is that you are getting an appropriate tank set up now!
Is the crab totally underground, or only partially?
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? I have about 3 inches 9f play sand with ecofiber sprinkled on top. Got recommendation from a YouTube hermit crab care taker. Suggested to minimize PPSD.
Curly - Some groups/ people recommend minimizing substrate, etc - but there is no evidence that any specific method improves outcomes. Many of us feel that it is better to just get the crab into ideal condition as soon as possible.
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. Temp says 71 humidity says 99. But tank doesn't feel super humid. They are wired (probs)gages in middle of take.
Curly - 71 is the lowest you'd want the tank to be - generally 72 to low 80s is ideal. Crabs are more active when it is on the warmer side. Even tho the hygrometer is new, it might not be accurate. There is a care sheet that explains how to callibrate your hygrometer.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? I just got a tank pad located outside of tank at back. B4 used a heating pad for two days.
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 two types of water fresh and salt. Prime used to de-cholr.
Curly - That's great, the dechlorinator is just what you need. Double check that the salt water is an ocean salt like Instant Ocean.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? every two days replace. Been feeding fresh veggies milworms, coconut treat. Just got a cuttlebone.
Curly - Crabs do best with a varied diet. They can eat much of what is in our kitchen. Meats, fruits, veggies, grains, nuts, seeds, eggs and eggshells, etc. Check out the 'nutrition' care sheet for lots more info.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? Daughter got crab mid to end of June from beach shop. Was in take home cage till about three days ago. Was feeding and giving only fresh water b4. I feel horrible.
Curly - You didn't know any better. Now that you do, you have both in there.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? No it has not. When I first put in new tank "she" walked all around got in the water seemed super happy and active. Then went to tge corner dug out the sand and has been there since yesterday.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? 28 gal tank. Has a lid but does not full close. Keep a towel over to cover the gaps on the ends.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? only one crab.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? I have some med to large on order. Should have by Sunday. Do I have to clean them b4 placing in tank?
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? None.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how? Only cleaned it when I got it a few days ago.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? No sponges did read they are no good.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? just what I added when set it up. Cleaded everything in prime water b4 adding to tank.
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.)? I've never actually given her a bath.
Curly - Bathing isn't recommended - they will go in the waters that they need, and will carry a mix of fresh and salt water in their shells, so bathing them will disrupt that balance.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. I am extremely distraught. I am hoping and praying that my lack of knowledge has not harmed Rosie. I do have a tank light on. Should this be shut off? Should I add some more sand and eco to a different corner. Something a bit deeper or would that just cause more of an issue. New Crab mom waiting with hope.
Curly - If you have a light, don't leave it on all the time. If your tank is in a room with a window, the crabs will get indirect light from that. You are doing really well, take a breath! Many of us got our crabs before we knew how to properly care for them. The important part is that you are getting an appropriate tank set up now!
Is the crab totally underground, or only partially?
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers