1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
A mix of play sand and Eco earth, 5:1 ratio attempted. It's about 6 inches deep.
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, I have an outdoor gauge that reads temp and humidity. Temp is usually mid 80's with humidity around 80-85%.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, it's a ceramic heat emitter.
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 are available. Water was spring water from the store, so no dechlorinator was needed.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Fresh foods mostly. Kale, blueberries, pear, peanut butter, honey and dried mealworms. I've only had them a few days but I've been giving them fresh food every night.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I've only had him about 4 days. He's probably a PP.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He has not molted since I've had him.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
He is in a 10 gallon tank with a screen lid that is 3/4 covered in Saran Wrap.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 little ones and this guy is significantly larger.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I put in extra shells last night. About 2-3 extra per crab.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
It hasn't needed to be cleaned yet.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
I put in the shells on a reptile hammock last night.
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 have done very minimal handling of the crab since I got him and there was one bath when I got him when I sexed him. He wasn't out of the tank for long.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
So I went to work today and everything was fine but when I came home, my big guy Kenai was out of his shell and it was sitting right next to him. I have no idea how long he was like this before I saw it. Could have been 10 minutes or 4 hours.
I put him in a tub of dechlorinated water to rinse him off and then put him in a tub for about a half an hour with 3 different shells in hopes he would reshell himself. No such luck. I had to ease him into a shell myself (a turbo I believe but I'm new to all this) and he stayed in it and even walked around for me a bit before I put him back in his habitat. I kept an eye on him and all was well before I went to bed.
I just woke up about 3 hours later and he was out of his shell again. I regal shelled him the same way as before but I don't know what to do anymore. I know this is a really bad sign but he's the crab that made me fall for hermies in the first place and I really don't want to lose him. Am I doing something wrong, or is this just stress from all the moving and the store? Is there anything I can do to help him? I would set him up in an iso tank if I had one, but I don't. And I just spent all my extra money getting them set up correctly in this habitat that I don't have the money to go out and get a whole additional set up. Is there anything I can do for him?
Naked Crab!
Re: Naked Crab!
Even if you could ISO him within the main tank somehow. An old food container, a kritter keeper, or just sectioning of an area somehow. Especially if he's sluggish and keeps streaking or may pull a surface molt.
He's so new this could be PPS. Keep him reshelled. Offer him high energy foods as described in that article. Keep conditions right. Try not to disturb him unless it's absolutely necessary. I'm afraid that's really about all you can do.
If he comes out of his shell again, just double check that there's nothing in it, no sharp pokey bits or something.
He's so new this could be PPS. Keep him reshelled. Offer him high energy foods as described in that article. Keep conditions right. Try not to disturb him unless it's absolutely necessary. I'm afraid that's really about all you can do.
If he comes out of his shell again, just double check that there's nothing in it, no sharp pokey bits or something.