limp, lifeless,new teeny crab

[crabby1]

Ok on the 29th somehow I ended up with 4 new teeny crabs,( I just hate their conditions in some of these pet stores). I already had 6 who all but one of them have molted successfully molted but my biggest who I suppose will when he's ready. Well the one I brought home hasn't moved in a few days. A few of his friends have all appeared fine, they even cuddled near him one day for hours sleeping I suppose. Well I just checked on him and( he's been under one of my large crab hiding tubes the whole time) he appears lifeless and half hanging out of his shell. I don't know what wrong, is he dead or just was too weak to dig and attempting a surface molt?. I'm getting ready to move and currently only have 4 inches of substrate in a 40 -50 gallon. ShouldI put some damp EE and the 2liter bottle or what? Either way it doesn't lol good to me, I mean has any one ever have a crab survive anything like this? A healthy crab wouldn't really try to molt like this even if it had no where else to go would it? I have tons of damp dark places like moss pits and such! Help, theres also a slight smell but I think it might be from the new food. He moved 2 days ago but just a little.

[jclee]

If he were dead, he'd smell pretty rank. Since he's coming from poor petstore conditions, I would treat this like a surface molt and try to isolate him for now. Keep the updates coming. I will have my fingers crossed.

[marandashermies]

Personally, I think the crab is suffering from PSP. These poor crabs go through a lot. Being plucked off beaches, flown to pet stores, living in the bad conditions and then re-homing with whomever buys them, really takes its toll on some of them. I have had this same thing happen, and the crab did not make it. I have also had very successful purchases from Pet stores and the crabs are really thriving. But some of them just can't get through it. Unfortunately, there is nothing we as crab owners can do. Just to make sure they have proper conditions with us, then wait. Has he dropped any limbs? That is also a sign of PSP and though some crabs can push on and molt and re-generate, more than not, the crab doesn't make it. This has been my experience though and others may have a totally different opinion. Hopefully your little one pulls through! Fingers crossed

[soilentgringa]

Hi! If he is hanging out of the shell and limp, unfortunately it is probably gone

Would you mind filling these questions out so we can address any areas of concern?

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=46102

[CallaLily]

I always stress waiting until you are absolutely sure they've passed before assuming death. I've had a crab that appeared pretty darn lifeless that absolutely was not. Please wait until you're sure. The smell or decomp will be obvious. I'd hate for someone to bury/toss a living crab!

EDIT for link: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 55#p742155
Granted the crab did eventually pass away, though I wonder if more due to the fact that he wouldn't reshell. He was my first, and only, crab that wouldn't get back into a shell at all.

[crabby1]

I have somewhat good news, today I picked up the 2 Liter bottle over my life less seemingly dead teeny crab and saw his shell still turned upside down (which it was about a week ago, but I kept crossing my fingers,). I was hoping that the crab had left his shell and some exoskeleton in his shell to hurry and molt at least that's what my boyfriend ( I'm trying to educate him as well about the crabs,while I learn as well) suggested somewhat because you couldn't see either of his claws. Personally I was scared that another one of the crabs had eaten part of her/him. Well today I picked up the two liter bottle the first time in days and showed it to my bf and I picked up the shell and brushed the substrate away a little maybe a inch or less and we saw two claws that looked quite rubbery, my bf even said he saw a sack. I hurriedly covered him/her with substrate put a egg shell with some water and covered it he/she with the 2 liter and damp washcloths to keep it dark ( should I cut a hole where the lid normally would've of went?). My main question is what else can I be doing to keep the crab alive ? The only shell it has access to is the one that still has part of his exoskeleton in it. Like I said I put a egg shell in with a little water or would ibe better off putting o a little honey in the shell. If I can't get another shell in there I guess I will have to get a bigger 2liter bottle to put on top or a larger container of some sort? HELP!!!! I'm prepared that my little crab might not survive, but ill never give up on him/her. I just was wondering what else I could do? Please, if anyone has been through anything like this or knows what to do I appreciate a reply.Thanks

[KellyCrabbieLove]

A few things . 1-crabs do not leave their shells to molt so anything in the shell was part of him unless he was naked and it was just substrate in the shell. If naked that is another problem altogether. 2- the rubbery claws means he did surface molt which is a good sign since it means he is more likely to still be alive but still not great for his well-being. I do have to say that if rhe crab is inside the shell, your bf saying he saw a "sack" is incorrect. The molt sack is only seen when the crab is almost completely out of his shell since it is so far back. 3- never rebury a crab. They can suffocate if they can't get air. When they bury themselves they leave an air filled tunnel that we cannot recreate. 4- if you can fit honey in with him too that would be great but he needs water more.

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[crabby1]

I myself have never had an Ecuadorian but I have read in a few places that they molt with out their shells. That is why people had a harder time keeping them in captivity,and that they were more cannibalistic. On the up side I've read they are more active and very fast.

[purpleperson]

Sorry, crabby1 but where did you read this? I have never heard of this before as they would probably die if they molted without shells because their shells store water and keep them moist among other things. Also, I thought they were harder to keep in captivity because they are very high energy so they require more space than other crabs, so there is a higher chance for aggression in smaller tanks.
I may be wrong though but I was just wondering where you got your information.


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[KellyCrabbieLove]

Not sure where you read it, but no, Es do not molt without their shells. They would die. They are aggressive, cannabalistic and huge diggers which make them hard to keep as pets and they do have more trouble than some other breeds molting but it doesn't have anything to do with leaving their shells. I would like to know where you found that info so the source can be notified it is incorrect. Incorrect information gets spread around just like correct so it is always nice to try to find the source of the bad to educate others. Thanks!

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[CallaLily]

They are aggressive, cannabalistic and huge diggers which make them hard to keep as pets

*Can be. But not always. There are many crabbers who've had very little trouble with Es. But then, yes, others who've had nothing but trouble. (and those in between)

[KellyCrabbieLove]

I mean in general. Lol mine are great. Even if Jockey thinks he is king of the tank.

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[crabby1]

Still surrounded by the two liter his shell has since been turned right side like & I posted earlier I have a extra shell and a egg shell filled first with dechloronated safe water. Then I added some organic honey. I spray water every other day . He was therewith his two rubber claws. Oh yeah and there is still absolutely no smell to him.

[crabby1]

I have been very busy and even more so today, but I will find the place where I red that e's drop there shells when they molt , because bad information is worse than no information. On the two liter crab in ISO things are not looking as good as I had hoped. I took the 2liter lid off after I found one fruit fly in the tank. This was confusing for me because I never leave food in their "tat" longer than overnight at the longest, and keep it very tidy in there. Well when I picked up the 2 liter bottle top the honey must of spilled cause mold was growing. I took the egg shell filled with honey out an picked up all the mold.There is still no smell ,since the crab is very close to the surface hence I saw two big claws and whole rubbery crab 1/4 inch under the ee a week ago I knew she was intact still but while I was cleaning the little bit of mold I found a nice hardened leg, not claw that she must of dropped. Still no smell, so I'm hanging on to hope. I know the little patch of mold was from the honey and not her. Keeping my fingers crossed, but am prepared for The worse. Thanks any feed back welcomed. I mean this started the day after I rescued her. It's been going on fir about two weeks or longer now.