HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I just picked up three little guys yesterday at Petco. So I've had them less then 12 hours.

I set them up in a little quarantine tank before I move them over to my big tank. I gave them a bunch of shells, food, a bowl of salt and regular water. I don't have heaters set up on my tank as the room I keep them in is around 80 degrees (fluctuates from 78-82). I'm pretty positive this is not a a husbandry issue as I have a very large tank of very happy crabbies for a few years now.

The three of them were exploring when I left them last night.

This morning I stopped in to check on them before going to work and was first worried my salt water was to deep and one had drowned as there was an shell in there. I scooped it out and it was empty (slightly breath of relief). Then I noticed a naked crab in my fresh water dish! He must of gone for a soak in the salt water and left his shell, crawled naked across the tank and was soaking in the fresh water. I thought he was dead but moved when I went to pick up the fresh water pool. He was actually pretty active so I left him in the pool and put his old shell in there and a spare shell close in size for him.

I didn't have time to do anything else really so I left him. I didn't want to disturb him too much to avoid stress from him nakkid escapades. The other two in the tank, one was in a corner, looking like he was digging down. The other other was sitting on the food dish with with food in his big claw. I'm not to worried about him getting eaten atm but I'm just worried because why would have abandoned his shell? I'm figuring its from the stress of changing homes, and maybe mites? his old shell had them so he left it behind?

I've never had a nakkid crab issue before so I'm just looking for some advise on what I can to do for this guy to help encourage him to go back into a shell!

Streaking like this is a sign that something is wrong. In this case, it's probably related to stress or previous illness/injury since the crab is so new but just to be safe I would triple check your tank conditions.
Here's an article on Post Purchase Syndrome: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 67&t=92531.

The first thing you need to do is get him reshelled. First you could try the glass cup method. This is where you place clean, appropriately sized/type shells (preferably his old shell too) in a tall container that's just large enough to fit the shells with the crab on top. Make sure the crab is clean of any substrate too (if not use lukewarm dechlor freshwater to rinse him). You can cover the container with a towel and place it in the tank to maintain proper conditions. This sort of forces him to check out the shells and most crabs usually go ahead and reshell. If that doesn't work, you'll need to carefully help him into a shell. Selecting one that's slightly too big and leaving a little freshwater in it may make it easier to gently slide his tail into the shell.
Once he's reshelled, isolate him in proper conditions and try not to disturb him. Leave food, fw, and sw in easy reach and supply him with a hide and extra shells too.

reichiere wrote:I just picked up three little guys yesterday at Petco. So I've had them less then 12 hours.

I set them up in a little quarantine tank before I move them over to my big tank. I gave them a bunch of shells, food, a bowl of salt and regular water. I don't have heaters set up on my tank as the room I keep them in is around 80 degrees (fluctuates from 78-82). I'm pretty positive this is not a a husbandry issue as I have a very large tank of very happy crabbies for a few years now.

The three of them were exploring when I left them last night.

This morning I stopped in to check on them before going to work and was first worried my salt water was to deep and one had drowned as there was an shell in there. I scooped it out and it was empty (slightly breath of relief). Then I noticed a naked crab in my fresh water dish! He must of gone for a soak in the salt water and left his shell, crawled naked across the tank and was soaking in the fresh water. I thought he was dead but moved when I went to pick up the fresh water pool. He was actually pretty active so I left him in the pool and put his old shell in there and a spare shell close in size for him.

I didn't have time to do anything else really so I left him. I didn't want to disturb him too much to avoid stress from him nakkid escapades. The other two in the tank, one was in a corner, looking like he was digging down. The other other was sitting on the food dish with with food in his big claw. I'm not to worried about him getting eaten atm but I'm just worried because why would have abandoned his shell? I'm figuring its from the stress of changing homes, and maybe mites? his old shell had them so he left it behind?

I've never had a nakkid crab issue before so I'm just looking for some advise on what I can to do for this guy to help encourage him to go back into a shell!

This has happen to one of my crabs also, he was a teeny crab named Pete that was still soft when I got him that I tried to rescue I do not know much about this, but you need to get him in a shell. My tiny crab died only 5 minutes after being out of his shell. Just do everything you can to get him in a shell.

crab by reichiere, on Flickr

I think that's him. I grab some photos last night. I pretty much assumed it was related to PPS. I pretty much did the glass method this morning, just didn't cover him. I thought about moving him into his own tank but I didn't have the time to get anything set up before work. And I was worried about adding even more stress.

If he's still alive when I get home I'll move him to his own tank with more shells. When I left him he was climbing over the shells I put right next to him in the water. I'm hoping he moved into a shell right after that. I'll update later tonight or in the morning...

Hurrah! He went back into his shell!

I know they were pretty active today cause all the shells are all over the cage. And the food bowl is empty.

I'm pondering if my salt water pool was to deep for him and he abandoned his shell instead of drowning. I don't think it is, but I've added a stick/rope so they have something to climb in and out of it. (it's just a plastic container)

I'll keep an eye on him though. But he popped out to say hi to me when I checked on them again tonight.

Glad to hear it! Yes, definitely make sure the crabs have easy ways in and out of pools.

That is awesome