White fuzzy stuff on crab

[Jocostorm09]

My hermit crab has white fuzzy mold type stuff on it and has been out of his shell for 2 days...advice anyone?

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[KellyCrabbieLove]

Fill this out and we will do our best to help.

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 41#p411841

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[CallaLily]

Has this crab already passed? Any movement? Does he smell at all? I hope I don't sound insensitive, but I'm thinking the crab has passed and that's mold growing.

[Mr. Crabby Pants]

I had the same questions CallaLily.

[DragonsFly]

I'm sorry to say I think the same as CallaLily. If so, I am very sorry for your loss. If this is not your only crab, though, please do fill out the emergency template so that perhaps conditions can be improved to prevent this happening to others.

[Jocostorm09]

Yea it smells and hasn't moved it days. Just got 2 on Sunday

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[CallaLily]

I'm sorry for your loss.

Check out our caresheet section, if you haven't already. viewforum.php?f=51&sid=b54b6185c333b2ce2222f97d06cf77e1

[Jackolope]

You should probably clean out the entire tank before putting the new ones in because mold spores can spread. It may have come from the substrate, sometimes it can come from the air. The mold soaks up all the water the crab uses to breathe in its shell and dies of suffocation. Make sure no mold is growing on anything else in the habitat before putting it back in. I mean it, clean everything.

[DragonsFly]

From years ago, I remember being told that mold in the tank is not really a problem for the crabs, but as it is a health hazard for people it should be dealt with on that basis. Has this consensus changed now?

[purpleperson]

From years ago, I remember being told that mold in the tank is not really a problem for the crabs, but as it is a health hazard for people it should be dealt with on that basis. Has this consensus changed now?

I don't think so, or at least I've never heard that it has. Technically I don't think mold can grow on living things, it can only grow on dead/non-living organic things. Mold spores are everywhere, wether we like it or not.. We breathe them in all of the time. And to try and eliminate them completely from the crabitat wouldn't be an easy task of its even possible. I think that in this case the crab just molded after it died (mold can grow quickly!) and the mold wasn't responsible for the death of the crab.


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[Jackolope]

It can start growing on a crab who isn't moving much and near death. I have seen it before. And yes, I am one of those folks incredibly allergic to mold so I don't take chances. I had heard of a friend who also had mold grow in there habitat. All it takes is one spore.

[purpleperson]

Not gunna lie, mold grows in my crab tank quite a bit.. If I don't notice a piece of food that they dragged off and it stays there a few days or if a piece of wood or stuff like that is too far into the moist sub it molds. No adverse effects on the crabs, and it's not a huge deal to me, however I am not allergic to mold. It's not like I just leave it in there, but it does happen occasionally. Especially when you're just figuring out a crab tank. It's more a danger to humans than anything.


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[purpleperson]

A crab tank is also the perfect place for mold to grow. (Warm and humid) so it's really not that uncommon.


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[Rawrgeous]

I too am pretty allergic to mold, but it happens, more than I'd like to admit, but with a 55 gallon tank, and the fact that I have a rescued crab that hoards food in hides- I hit an unpleasant surprise about once every two weeks ish. I simply glove up, hold my breath, and double bag any mold in grocery sacks along with the substrate around it to throw away.I then lightly treat the glass with a mix of water and vinegar, which seems to prevent any huge outbreaks. I honestly wouldn't recommend them to those with mold allergies... but I love them too much to give them up. I wouldn't say mold is a huge issue, but it does happen.

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[Rawrgeous]

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