Naked crab won't go in shell

Please post here if you are having a crab care emergency! Use a real subject and not just "HELP!"
User avatar

Moonlightdreams
Posts: 401
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:01 pm

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by Moonlightdreams » Wed Aug 29, 2018 5:14 pm

heyitseggs2 wrote:I just converted your temps to Fahrenheit and -1 degrees Celcius is 30 degrees Fahrenheit. That's below freezing. I don't know if I misread but I don't know how your tank can be that low.
22 C is about 71-72 F. Still on the low side, but not freezing! :wink:
Loving owner of two hermit crabs and two dogs! Call me Moon, Icy, Kermit, or anything you'd like! sheldon_and_peanut (hermit crabs) and sisterchins (dogs) on Instagram.

User avatar

PinchersAndShells
Posts: 1343
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2016 12:02 pm
Location: Ohio
Contact:

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by PinchersAndShells » Wed Aug 29, 2018 8:27 pm

Madi.crab wrote:Oh. I read somewhere that the smell of a molting crab smells tasty to them so they go to eat them


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Actually, the crabs will bury themselves under the substrate when they go to molt (which makes it so they can't smell each other) so they will be fine as long as they aren't surface molting. :)

Sent from my SM-J327V using Tapatalk
4 PPs + 1 E = Dusty, Momo, Seasalt, & Elvis
Captive Bred PP = Randy
75 Gallon Crabitat | Crabbing Since 8.11.2015
https://www.instagram.com/pinchersandshells/

User avatar

Topic author
Madi.crab
Posts: 196
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:24 am

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by Madi.crab » Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:51 pm

I have an update on Uma. Mum said she has left her shell again, mum respelled her for a second time for me because I'm at school. Is there any reason she would be doing that? What am I doing wrong?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

User avatar

Topic author
Madi.crab
Posts: 196
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:24 am

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by Madi.crab » Thu Aug 30, 2018 1:10 am

At the moment she s hanging limply just inside her shell. I think she might be dead but she doesn't smell yet. What do I do? Would she be molting? Or is she actually dead


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

User avatar

wodesorel
Tech Support
Tech Support
Posts: 10587
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:49 am
Location: Leetonia, Ohio
Contact:

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by wodesorel » Thu Aug 30, 2018 1:37 am

Moonlightdreams wrote:
heyitseggs2 wrote:I just converted your temps to Fahrenheit and -1 degrees Celcius is 30 degrees Fahrenheit. That's below freezing. I don't know if I misread but I don't know how your tank can be that low.
22 C is about 71-72 F. Still on the low side, but not freezing! :wink:
That's as low as PPs can handle safely for any length of time. I was under the impression Aussies required more though? How much below 22 would it have dropped, as anything below 20 is the danger zone?
Want to see all my crazy pets? @waywardwaifs on Instagram

User avatar

Topic author
Madi.crab
Posts: 196
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:24 am

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by Madi.crab » Thu Aug 30, 2018 1:59 am

It could have dropped to below 15 degrees. She was near the heat mat too so she would have been warm. At the moment it's 25 degrees. I don't know if she is dead or not though. She is still hanging out of her shell limply


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

User avatar

GotButterflies
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 7242
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:56 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by GotButterflies » Thu Aug 30, 2018 9:33 am

You definitely need to try to get the heat up. What kind of heat mat do you use? Some can be insulated which is why I ask.

In the meantime you can insulate the rest your tank. You can use aluminum foil, shiny side facing the inside of the crabitat. Then, do a layer of cardboard or styrofoam. This can help get the heat up. You can also try drying warm blankets/towels without a dryer sheet and drape it over the tank to help warm it up. You can do layers of this.

Try offering raw honey also. If you have access to bee pollen that would also help.

Good luck! Going to tag @AussieJJDude for input on Aussies :)
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

User avatar

heyitseggs2
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2018 12:12 pm

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by heyitseggs2 » Thu Aug 30, 2018 2:51 pm

Moonlightdreams wrote:
heyitseggs2 wrote:I just converted your temps to Fahrenheit and -1 degrees Celcius is 30 degrees Fahrenheit. That's below freezing. I don't know if I misread but I don't know how your tank can be that low.
22 C is about 71-72 F. Still on the low side, but not freezing! :wink:
She said that her tank was -1 degrees Celcius
sophia
rio (pp, male)
malibu (pp, female)
angeles (pp, female)
lover of saxophone, guitar, soccer, and of course hermit crabs!

User avatar

soilentgringa
Posts: 4352
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2014 5:18 pm
Location: Dallas, TX

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by soilentgringa » Thu Aug 30, 2018 3:08 pm

They said that it was -1°C in general not that their tank was. It's winter in Australia right now.

Sent from my LGMS550 using Tapatalk

User avatar

heyitseggs2
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2018 12:12 pm

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by heyitseggs2 » Thu Aug 30, 2018 3:45 pm

Oh, good. I was gonna say... :hlol:
sophia
rio (pp, male)
malibu (pp, female)
angeles (pp, female)
lover of saxophone, guitar, soccer, and of course hermit crabs!

User avatar

Topic author
Madi.crab
Posts: 196
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:24 am

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by Madi.crab » Thu Aug 30, 2018 4:15 pm

Unfortunately Uma didn't make it. The temp is 25 degrees at the moment so I have got the heat up. Why would she have left her shell twice and then died?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

User avatar

piratetoothgir
Posts: 1341
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 7:08 am
Location: Texas

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by piratetoothgir » Thu Aug 30, 2018 5:26 pm

Madi.crab wrote:Unfortunately Uma didn't make it. The temp is 25 degrees at the moment so I have got the heat up. Why would she have left her shell twice and then died?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I am sorry to hear that! :(


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Crabber Since 2016
7 Caribbeans & 2 Ecuadorians
I am the proud owner of my hermit crabs, aquarium fish, and isopod totes!

User avatar

heyitseggs2
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2018 12:12 pm

Re: Naked crab won't go in shell

Post by heyitseggs2 » Thu Aug 30, 2018 6:05 pm

I'm so sorry for your loss. Learn from your mistake and remember to keep your tank temps high.
My thoughts and prayers to you and your crabs.
sophia
rio (pp, male)
malibu (pp, female)
angeles (pp, female)
lover of saxophone, guitar, soccer, and of course hermit crabs!

Post Reply