HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi. So my hermit crab, red, has started to slow down. She's not in pre molt, because she has bright red legs and a purple claw. and solid black eyes. But she has started to shake, (very shaky movements) when she moves her legs and move VERY shakily and VERY slowly. She WILL NOT EAT. I've tried everything she just doesn't seem interested in eating. She hasn't eaten since I put her in the ten gallon 5 DAYS AGO.I just feel like slowly her condition is declining. I feel like she is going to be leaving us soon.

If anyone can tell me what's happening id appreciate it.

I just don't want her to leave us so soon.

Also, unlike other people I do not appreciate not having my question answered, and instead, being told what to do. My crabs are under good care right now. I appreciate advice, but please DO NOT START LECTURING ME ON WHAT TO DO. They have everything they need!

The only way we can know what is causing this and how to fix it is if you take the time to fill out the Help Template. Their health is almost always directly related to their environment. We would be completely guessing at the cause without knowing how she is being kept.

Alright! Gladly. Here goes!

Housing.: 10 gallon aquarium.
Humidity: 70%
Temperature:79 degrees
Hidey houses?: coconut hut
Climbing equip: cholla wood and and some thick wood I purchased at petsmart.
Substrate?: Cocoa fiber and play sand, 5 inches.
How many hermies?: 2 medium.
Water?: fresh and salt.
Food?: fresh NATURAL fruits and veggies every day.

Am I missing anything?

Your condtions sound fine so I doubt it's related to that. How long have you had this crab and has she molted with you before? You don't really need to worry about her eating they can go a very long time without eating and she may even be eating small amounts of wood or the substrate that you're just not noticing. The other thing is color fading and cloudy eyes are just possibile signs of crab that is soon to molt, the crab can be getting ready to molt and display neither of those symptoms.

We're heading on a month on saturday!
She is a brightly colored crab, so she's not about to molt. She's also not dug a bit. She has BIGGGGG trouble climbing though she's missing no legs¿ has some issues moving around, trembles and her body vibrates when she's trying to move. She's quickly becoming weak and inactive. I just don't want to lose her.

It could just be PPS if it's only been a month and theres not much you can do to besides give her perfect crabitat condtions, which your already doing.

Alright. Thank you. I'll do my best to help her but things are just getting worse and worse.

Your crab has to have an animal protein source every day. Pieces of unseasoned meat or insects or dried shrimp or something like that. You want to look at her leg tips. Does she have sharp black claws and hairy legs? Please know no one is trying to lecture you we just want to help.

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Red is female. So she does not have much hair, but a little bit. She doesnt have black tips. She has solid red legs. And I'm
Going to get some meat for her soon. Thank you for being understanding.

Both male and female crabs have super hairy legs right after a molt. The only way to tell the difference between male and female crabs is that females have two tiny little pores on their 3rd set of legs by their abdomen on the underside of their bodies. Sounds like she needs to molt because all crabs have sharp shiny black tips after they molt along with the hairy legs.

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Ok thank god I have something to go on!

The 'crab care' section on the site has a 'food and water' section with permanent notes called stickies with all the info you need about hermit nutrition. These stickies expand upon what soilentgringa is explaining about protein. Like the need for calcium, protein, beta carotene etc... and why it's vital to their well-being.