Crab left shell and has some weird growth.

[Josersmith]

I saw my son's hermit crab scooting along his home with no shell. I immediately surrounded it with other shells (including the one he had just left) and it didn't seem interested. I tried dropping his abdomen into a shell but he didn't want to hold on. Within 20 minutes he has gone from crawling on his own to looking lifeless.

Also, I immediately saw an odd looking growth. I don't know how to post pictures on here but I can only describe it this way; it looks like a glob of ear wax. It is that color and it is tucked between his large claw leg and the leg directly behind it.

He is now isolated with a shell. I'm hoping he's just freaked out by all the activity. He's always been VERY shy so someone holding his shell-less body might have scared him.

I've never held a naked hermit crab. His abdomen is very clammy. Is that normal?

I'm hoping to hear something positive on here but I'm prepared for bad news.

What is going on with him?

What is that growth?

Should I be worried about his two roomies?

[soilentgringa]

Can you post a picture?

Does it look like gelatin?

[wodesorel]

They often ditch their shell if they are too weak to carry one around. That he looks lifeless now may mean he is dying or he could be about to surface molt- unfortunately the only way to tell is time. Can you answer the questions found here and post them in this topic? If something is off we should be able to spot the problem, if there is one. http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 27&t=46102

Right now, isolating him from any other hermit crab is the most important thing. I would recommend rinsing him and some of the shells off in dechlorinated tank temperature freshwater and placing them into an empty plastic container (old food containers are great for this) and putting the whole thing back in the tank. This will keep him safe from the others and if he does recover he'll have shells to put on.

How many legs does he have on then side with the glob? I should be a claw and two legs, if one is missing, you're probably seeing the start of a gel limb forming, which means a molt is imminent.

[Josersmith]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Coconut Fiber. About an inch 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?
Temperature is usually around 75-80 degrees F and humidity will get around 70% but only after I mist the inside of the tank. I haven't figured out how to keep a terrarium with a screen lid humid. If I didn't spray it would be about 50% humidity.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

I use a night basking bulb that sits on the screen lid.

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 haven't been giving them salt water. I just learned that. So I bought some tonight. Otherwise they get pet store-bought de-chlorinated water. I also bought a small bottle of ALL LIVING THINGS freshwater conditioner that I may start using.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

Diced cucumber, diced mustard greens, and pellets from the pet store. Fed twice a week.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

We've had the hermit crabs since last May. Unknown species.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

No molting. They bury themselves but they come out every few days.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
10 gallon glass terrarium with a screen lid.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

There are 3 hermit crabs and there are two about an inch in diameter and the other is about 1 1/2 in diameter.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

About 9 extra shells of different sizes.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
About every two months. How often should I? They're not very messy.


13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

Yes. There is a sponge that has been replaced about 3 times since May.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
A toilet paper roll. I saw that on YouTube and added it about a week ago.

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.)?
The smaller crabs are extremely shy and will quickly hide if there is any movement. The larger one is very active and loves to come out and play.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I think I described it pretty well already.
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Posts: 53
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Location: The HCA

[Josersmith]

They often ditch their shell if they are too weak to carry one around. That he looks lifeless now may mean he is dying or he could be about to surface molt- unfortunately the only way to tell is time. Can you answer the questions found here and post them in this topic? If something is off we should be able to spot the problem, if there is one. http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 27&t=46102

Right now, isolating him from any other hermit crab is the most important thing. I would recommend rinsing him and some of the shells off in dechlorinated tank temperature freshwater and placing them into an empty plastic container (old food containers are great for this) and putting the whole thing back in the tank. This will keep him safe from the others and if he does recover he'll have shells to put on.

How many legs does he have on then side with the glob? I should be a claw and two legs, if one is missing, you're probably seeing the start of a gel limb forming, which means a molt is imminent.

It looks like he lost a leg where the glob is. How did that happen?

If he molts, can he do that in an empty container?

[JulesRolyCrab]

I can only post very quickly, so this'll be brief, sorry.

1. Susbtrate should always be at least 6 inches deep.
2. I reccomend covering the mesh lid with plastic wrap and keeping only a tiny bit uncovered. A towel works too.
3.
4. I reccomend "Instant Ocean" salt mix, and "Seachem Prime" dechlorinator. I couldn't find if the All Living Things one is safe. Make sure the dishes for water are deep enough for the largest crab so submerge completely.
5. I'd scratch the commercial food, nearly all commercial pellet crab food is unsafe, though there are exceptions (see links at bottom)
6.
7. The shallow substrate might delay there molting, or prevent a safe molt environment.
8./9. They will get bigger and won't fit eventually, as 3 not-tiny crabs will outgrow a tank, so be prepared you might need to upgrade eventually.
10. Make sure they are appropriate in size, but this is fine. Shell guide link @ bottom.
11.
12. This is perfectly fine. Just replace food and water often, depending on food type and maybe twice/once a week for water.
13. Dump it. Seriously. Though some swear by them, they need to be dried, microwaved, etc. every week at least to stay safe. just provide a rock or shell or something in the water for them to get out.
14. I think this is fine. Probably.

Sorry if I seem rude. I really am not trying to be. It is so hard to be well informed on some aspect of crabbing, especially w/ the usually false info given at the pet store. Hope your crabs are fine, and best of luck.

Food (safe, unsafe, commercial):
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92557
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92556
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92555

Water:
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92553

Shells:
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=92552

All care sheets:
viewforum.php?f=51

[purpleperson]

The glob is most likely a 'gel limb' which is an early step to him regenerating (regrowing) the limb.

With some crabs the gel limb is a sign they need to molt. He can molt in a container, if it's dark and in the proper conditions, however it would probably be a surface molt.

Has he taken a shell? If it has, you're probably better to set him up in an ISO and hope he can dig down himself to molt underground.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[marandashermies]

you can post pictures by adding them from a website such as photobucket. Like the others previously stated, it is most likely a gel limb being generated so the crab can re-grow that lost leg. If it is, the crab will need to molt ASAP. Your substrate needs to be at least 6inch deep through-out the tank, and even more if the crabs are larger. Most of us use a mix of eco-earth and play sand with a ratio of 5:1, 5 being play sand and 1 being the eco earth. The eco earth will also help with your humidity, but you will need to saran wrap/cover that lid. Play sand can be purchased at Lowes or Home Depot for less than $5. The most common kind is Quickert and it comes in a 50lb bag. When you are mixing the play sand and eco, you want to make sure that it ends up being sand castle consistency. This is important, because when the crabs dig down, they make tunnels to molt in. If the sand is too dry, the tunnels will not stay formed and can collapse on your crab, while they are vulnerable and molting.

At the temp/humidity you have now, the crabs will most likely not make it. You want a constant temp and humidity level of around 80 degrees and 80%. Anything under 75, is likely a death sentence. You may want to consider a UTH to stick on the back of the tank. You can find them at livereptiles.com, they are better quality than any heat mat you will find at PetsMart or Petco and half the price. Heat bulbs work, but they also suck out the humidity in the tank, so that can be a struggle.

Make sure you toss that sponge as that carriers bad bacteria! Keep feeding fresh foods and make sure they have salt and fresh water, that is very important! They carry water in their shells to keep their gills saturated, so its very important that they can fully submerge in both of the pools. Let us know if you have any other questions. Hopefully your crab pulls through the surface molt. If you are able to add pictures through the taptalk app or photobucket, that would be helpful as well!
Good luck!

[JulesRolyCrab]

You want a constant temp and humidity level of around 80 degrees and 80%. Anything under 75, is likely a death sentence.

75 won't kill them, though it is less then optimal. Not as good for them, obviously, but not fatal. That being said, it is BETTER by a long shot to keep it above that, and below 70 for prolonged time in heat can definitely hurt them.

[CallaLily]

75 won't kill them, though it is less then optimal. Not as good for them, obviously, but not fatal. That being said, it is BETTER by a long shot to keep it above that, and below 70 for prolonged time in heat can definitely hurt them.

I'd also add to this that a gradient (within safe ranges for your species of crab) is perfectly acceptable, as is a slight drop in temp/rise in humidity at night. It doesn't have to be constantly 80/80. For PPs, 75-85F and anything above 70% is considered safe. Es safe zones are 80-90F and again, anything over 70% RH.
Care sheets for individual species found here: viewforum.php?f=51&sid=7bc65265b18a2d0193cc054451e0243b.

[marandashermies]

I'd also add to this that a gradient (within safe ranges for your species of crab) is perfectly acceptable, as is a slight drop in temp/rise in humidity at night. It doesn't have to be constantly 80/80. For PPs, 75-85F and anything above 70% is considered safe. Es safe zones are 80-90F and again, anything over 70% RH.
Care sheets for individual species found here: viewforum.php?f=51&sid=7bc65265b18a2d0193cc054451e0243b.

Sorry I should have been more clear, I have Straws in all my tanks, so the guidelines I mentioned are imbedded in my head. Like you said calllily, at night it dips down a bit, but I found any more then a degree or two is not preferred and they are much less active.

Temperatures:80 degrees is mostly recommended, but temperatures from 78 to 90 appear to be safe. Some keepers suggest maintaining Straws at a constant temperature with absolutely no variation, but others find no problem with keeping straws the same as with other exotics and allowing variations from day to night.

Humidity: At least 80%. Higher humidity is safe for any hermit crab, although it can lead to mold growth in the enclosure over time

[JulesRolyCrab]

^ Sorry for the misunderstanding, I understand that could be confusing.

[kornchaser]

When adding the necessary 6" of substrate and creating an ideal molting environment, dont bury him it'll suffocate him. Make sure your substrate is packable to make it 'sand castle consistency'. Sounds like he's struggling too much already and a surface molt is unavoidable. Make sure you keep him safe from other crabs, in the dark and quiet, fed and watered with dried or none perishables foods may be needed to sustain him through molting too.