I am using all play sand with the exception of an EcoEarth shelf I added yesterday. It's about 10" thick after I added the new sand so it was about 7-8" before.
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?
I do have both. The hygrometer is about halfway up from the sand line and the top. The temperature gauge is digital so I can move it around and check different areas, but it usually reads 82 day time and 75 night. Hygrometer stays between 75-80.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, two 40w bulbs that shine over the lid during the day otherwise it stays at 75 on its own.
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)?
Both fresh and salt water. We use distilled water and instant ocean for the salt at about 1 cup per gal. Both haver bubblers.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Fresh food rotates every other day and the dry foods are rotated every other day. Diet has some form of freeze dried protein: shrimp, crickets, meal worms. Fruits fresh and dried. Scraps of veggies lots of greens (I have rabbits so we have a lot of those). Home blend of mineral powder from ground up starfish, sea urchins, shells, etc. ground cuttle bone daily, and an assortment of nuts.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
This crab is a purple puncher who I have had for nearly 2 years and just finished a molt 2 weeks ago.
7. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
75 gal aquarium with a clear plastic shower curtain to keep humidity.
8. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
There are 7 now, one died recently as I found out yesterday
similar in size, shell, species, and time in care. The biggest is a large E ranting to a large small PP. This crab is one of the larger PPs.9. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Previously, around 50 but I trimmed it down yesterday to about 30 of varying shapes and sizes.
10. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
None, the tank is in the bedroom so it's really quiet and unscented.
11. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Spot clean when I change out the food and I deep clean once a year, but I did have to go digging in June because the tank flooded for no apparent reason and found one alive and two dead. Just had to add more sand yesterday because it was flooding again ( still not sure why I don't have to spray any more). Did not have to dig since everyone was accounted for.
12. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Nope none.
13. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
The only recent thing would be the water bowls I added just after Labor Day.
14. 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.)?
We are usually pretty hands off and everyone gets along fine. No attacks or bullying.
15. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
This particular crab was doing well up until yesterday/last night. I had to pull everyone out and secure them in a wire, clean trash can whilst I added the new sand and remodeled things. The crab ran and shrunk away like normal when I went to catch it and then didn't move much in the trash can (I assumed fear was the reason), but when I put it back in after finishing the tank it hadn't moved hardly, but did manage to peak it's head out. There was no antennae movement and no recoil as well as VERY slow movement. Thinking it might be too weak to get to the food bowl I placed it in there and left it be to eat and went to sleep. When I came home at 2 it had turned itself around but not left the food bowl. So I picked it up and dipped it in the fresh water for hydration and appeared to drink for a minute. Then I placed him up and away from the others in the EcoEarth and offered some honey. Seemed to move slowly towards the honey then turned away. All body parts are in tact, but it's just hanging out of its shell. Any hope or suggestions to help it survive or just make it comfortable and wait for it to pass?
he's all stiff now instead of being soft and moveable, just waiting for a stinky whiff
