1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Play sand and ranges from 10-12 inches deep. I can't afford to get anything to mix in with it right now.
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 and yes. They are located in the centre of the tank, just a few inches above sub. Normally read about 80% humidity and 75-78 degrees. I know that's on the low side, but I don't have another heater right now. I'm waiting for my crabs in my smaller tank to surface so I can move them and the heaters over to the big tank.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes. Largest Ultratherm available. It's on the back, just above the sub. I have it insulated with tinfoil and styrofoam as best I can (I can't reach the middle back of the tank. It's 150 gallons with 500 pounds of sand in it, so moving it is not possible).
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 is treated with Prime and salt is treated with Instant ocean. I mixed according to directions on packaging (for Instant Ocean I made a large batch and just refill as needed).
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
They are offered a mix of different dried/dehydrated foods that is replaced once a week. Fresh food daily. Everything is from the list of safe foods.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
It's a PP. I've had him only a few months. I took him in from a home that couldn't care for him anymore.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes, I think so. It was right around the 11th, because that's when I found him on the surface without a shell the first time.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
150 gallon. Glass lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Only 3 right now. Two medium and one small.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
There's 15-20.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I haven't. It's a relatively new setup.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No.
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.)?
No playtime, no bathing. I don't handle the crabs unless I have to move them out of the way for maintenance.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
ALRIGHT.... This little crab is driving me insane. I'm just so frustrated and I don't know what to do anymore. I love my crabs, really, but it's almost getting to be too much for me
This guy was underground for 1.5-2 months. He came up sometime on the 11th and I found him without a shell. I posted a topic and got wonderful help. I moved him right into an ISO with a few shells, water, a shelter and some food (crushed eggshell for calcium and organic honey). He reshelled and was doing really well! His colour came back and he was eating and moving around really well. I still left him in ISO for a good while until I was sure he was okay, and then he was put back into the big tank.
He did fine. He was crawling all over and exploring his new giant home. I checked on him a lot and he was fine...
And then tonight I looked into the tank and he was sitting in his food dish without his shell. It was lying just a few inches away from him. His colour is pale again. He was moving around fine. While I was getting his ISO ready again, he moved clear across the tank and hid from me in some plants. I gently scooped him up and got him back into ISO.
I don't understand why he keeps doing this. The first time I figured he maybe bumped into someone underground (in the old tank, there were about 5 other crabs with him) and he got stressed or someone tried to take his shell... but in this new tank, there are only two other crabs and I KNOW they didn't mess with him. The other medium one has been hanging out in the salt water pool for days and the small one spends all its time up in the tree near the top of the tank...
He looks really bad... I don't know if he's going to make it this time. I'm going to leave him be for now and hope he reshells like he did last time... but I don't understand
Why did he leave his shell this time???
