48 HOURS OUT OF SHELL

[Dom :)]

Habitat:

10 gallon

5 inches of substrate

Two crabs

Medium size

Salt water

Fresh water

Humidity is up to the requirements (80)

Heat is also (80)

Purple pincher

Access to food

Story:

My hermit crab is naked going on 48 hours!! He is in isolation with 5 shells, smaller, larger, and the same size, like substrate. He has a coco hut in there and a small freshwater bowl.

He is alive 100% he is buried up against the glass and I can see him, but he is still naked!!! His antennas are moving and he has been making his cave bigger. Could he be doing a naked molt or what? The hole by the glass is basically covered so I can't really see... I just need advice.

I don't want to force him but I have school and stuff so I can't sit here and tend to him 24/7... Please help

[marandashermies]

hi there!
You are going to want to re-shell him asap. They can not live long with out their shell. Gently pick him up and un curl his abdomen and slide him into a proper shell.
They do not go down to molt with out a shell, so he is probably digging from stress. Try to get his butt back in a shell ASAP!

It isn't typical that they streak, can you possibly fill out the emergency template in a bit more detail? Hopefully we can find out the reason he is streaking.

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

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?

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

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)?

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

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

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

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

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

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

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

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

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

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.)?

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail

[DarthKrab]

I hope my crabs never streak. Their abdominal region freaks me out hahahaha

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[Ilovehermies74]

Yeah one of my crabs streaked and it was pretty freaky He is ok now though (thanks to this website)

[Kaleighshermies]

Isn't it traumatizing for them to be forced into a shell? Also a lot of crabs ditch their shells when hey have become too weak to carry around their shell. What if you put him in the shell and he wastes his energy on trying to carry it around? Would it be better for the crab to de-stress for a little while and get some energy back? Then he can come up when ready and check out the shells? Please correct me if I am wrong!

[KellyCrabbieLove]

No. The shell holds shell water to keep their abdomen and gills moist. Without it to protect then and keep them moist they will dry out and die.

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[Kaleighshermies]

Okay thanks! Like I said in another thread when I first stared every one told me to just let them be and do their own thing and that helping them into a shell was a no no. Good to know.