UPDATED: After surface molt, crab on verge of death

[lulaagrl]

I posted here around 2 months or so ago when a crab looked like she needed to molt but wasn't digging down. I put her in isolation, and sure enough, she did a surface molt within a few weeks. Now, it's been a couple months since this all started and she hasn't finished eating her exo much at all and hasn't come out of her hiding spot. I just looked in at her and she's really light colored (like light tan - I've heard this can be a carotene deficiency?), really shriveled up and small, and barely able to move. She's just hanging out of her shell but moves a tiny tiny bit. Looks to be on the verge of death. I am so upset and frantic. I know there is probably nothing I can do, but posting just in case. The parameters in the tank have been good - 81 degrees, 75-80 humidity. She hasn't eaten or drinken anything that I've seen in a couple months. Is it too late? Is there anything I can do? The other thing is that the tank I have I guess is inefficient at keeping moisture in so I have to spray pretty frequently which has resulted in her sand bedding being quite soggy but I haven't been able to change it because of her condition. Not sure if that would have affected anything.

Thank you so much

UPDATED TO ADD: I just got home and checked on her. I thought she was dead so I moved her shell slightly and she moved a little. I realized her exo was halfway off and there is an even tinier crab underneath - is it possible that she would be molting again after just a month? I probably ruined it by disturbing her so now I am even more worried. She was already in such a weakened state. I am guessing that the advice with the honey and peanut butter won't work right now since she's in the middle of shedding again. I gently slipped a piece of coconut fiber mat underneath her because she was sitting in a puddle and I don't want to do even more disturbing by trying to change the substrate as recommended below...then covered her tank with a towel and am just waiting. Any other tips??

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Q tip.with water.and one with honey rolled in crushed cuttlebone right in front of her. Maybe even one with peanut butter. If she eats and drinks it will help her get.stronger. have you been misting her, not just the tank? I misted my surface molter and it really helped him. For awhile I felt like I was just waiting for him to die...but he pulled through and is super healthy and. Beautiful shade of bright peach.

he was on the far right of the iso tank so I slowly removed some sand from the left side, probably half the tank without disturbing him and replaced it with fresh dry sand to help absorb some of the extra.water.

[lulaagrl]

Thank you so much. I will try that. I haven't misted her directly because I didn't want to disturb her - you think it's ok? Also, for the first month or so we kept her tank covered with a towel for complete darkness but in the last few weeks we removed it. She is in a hide-away but there is some light that can get in. Do you think this might have something to do with it?

[KellyCrabbieLove]

It only takes 1 quick spray to moisten her. It didn't bother Berry but he is an oddball. I kept Berry in full darkness to mimic what he would experience underground but towards the end I exposed him to an hour or 2 of light a day. He is a really cool little guy and the honey really helped. I just stuck one end in the substrate so the end with food and water were straight up for him. I did do the sand removal a little at a time. Flooding would have made the situation so much more serious. I worked at a snails pace and gently and silently as to not disturb him. It may be too invasive for her being so sick. Have you checked on her at around 1am? I caught Berry out a few times while he was appearing on the brink of death. This is one of the pics when he was caught in the act despite appearing to never move from his spot.



This is him now

Good luck!

[lulaagrl]

Thank you so much. A few weeks ago I know she went out at least once because her food was moved. Unfortunately she looks much more shriveled up now than your crabby did in the photo. Her antennae are just hanging limply and she is so much smaller than she used to be. She's just draped outside of her shell but I saw slight movement. I will still try though.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Poor baby