mass death!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 3:23 pm

we have had no chemicals within the last couple months. maybe it was time to leave this place and go to a better.

maybe it was a coincidence for all four?

annopia · Post by **annopia** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 3:33 pm

I think that three of them could have been a coincidence. I am inclined to think that the temps might have been a bit too low for the straw. But I do think that, besides keep the temp too low, there is nothing else you could have possibly done to cause harm to your crabs. Are you considering using a small lamp to heat the tank a few degrees?

Caroline

MomToDixie · Post by **MomToDixie** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 3:39 pm

FMR food has EQ in it and that is not safe for hermies

Gorthaur · Post by **Gorthaur** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:17 pm

beckers_86 wrote:Iâ€™m not sure if Iâ€™m right or not.. but I think I read somewhere that using distilled water wasnâ€™t good? Not that it was dangerous, but that it didnâ€™t have all the minerals and stuff like regular water. I really donâ€™t know where I read that, or if itâ€™s correct though.

You're right - distilled water does lack benbeficial minerals, but the minerals in salt water apparently give our crabs everything they need from water.

MomToDixie wrote:FMR food has EQ in it and that is not safe for hermies

I agree. FMR does not have the welfare of crabs in mind at all, and I don't think any of us should buy their products. But EQ has not been directly linked to any deaths, especially deaths not related to molting.

PurplePinch2 - Have you calibrated your hygrometer? Also, could you describe the conditions of your crabs' deaths, i.e., did they go naked?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:27 pm

FMR is bad.
You should've also had hermit crabs that were the same species. Did you have a salt water bowl for your straw?
Misting their gills might be stressful.
Instead of giving your hermit crabs baths every 3 months, you should just put a water bowl in there for them.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:54 pm

thank you. on friday i am going to petco, so i can get the supplies i need. i hope i have enough money. i'm not old enough to get a job.

when they died, they were in the shell. there were no mites on them or in the crabitat. what fresh water can i buy? and what is the best food?

annopia · Post by **annopia** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:14 pm

I like fresh food, because there are so many thing they like. mine like crushed nuts, eggs, fresh fruits, veggies, peanut butter, honey, and tons else.

Caroline

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:02 pm

And you can use distilled water, there's nothing wrong with it. The amount of minerals in tap water is negligible. As Goarthur said, the salt water will provide the minerals they need. A balanced diet will provide many more important vitamins and minerals, I definitely recommend feeding them fresh, human-type foods. I don't think that the commercial food killed your crabbies (4 deaths in a week suggests something more immediate), but you will have better long-term crabbie health if you feed them stuff that's closer to what they'd find in the wild. Fish, chicken (in the wild, it would be sea birds, but chicken will do), greens (I suggest raw, boiling can remove nutrients, just be sure to rinse it thoroughly), leaves, fruits, etc.

As for cause of death, do you know if your town is spraying for mosquitoes? My town is, I haven't seen any hermie problems from it, but maybe your town uses something different.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:04 pm

i live downtown. there is nothing to spray if they want to keep those bugs away. i live in an airconditioned apartment. could chemicals be coming from outside?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:22 am

Did anyone spray for any form of insect? Bees even? My husband is a tech for a stinging insect company and his chemicals will kill the crabs too. He talked to his boss and they researched it- ANY FORM of INSECTICIDE is deadly for our little guys. Watch out for Raid and ant traps and all of that.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:00 pm

can radioactivity be deadly for the hermit crabs? the hermits were exposed to the computer a lot so can it cause the deaths?