HCA: Hermit Crab Association

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
I use the ecoearth it's 6 inches deep.

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?
I measure the temperature it's a little above the substrate and it's constantly between 75-80 degrees F.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I have a hermit crab heating lamp. I keep it humid by having a hot rag at the top of the cage and misting.

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)?
I have both fresh water and salt water it's the hermit crab brand.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
They have been molting, so I am keeping just hermit crab food out and changing it every 2 days or so.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I've had them about a month or two now.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Ever since I got enough substrate which was less than a week after I got them they have been under trying to molt, I think.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
10 gallon tank. (only two crabs) It's a screen lid.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Two crabs. I don't know their sizes, probably medium and medium-large.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Six, currently.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
Nope.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I haven't had them long so I haven't cleaned it yet.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Nope.

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.)?
They were active-ish for the first week they got here. Got them from a petsmart. The one I'm having concerns with was thrown in the cage there when the guy was trying to handle it. Always been slower than the other one. Has been trying to molt for a month now. Before this I could hear it scratching at the glass or chirping, which was rare. I forgot to check on him for about a week until tonight.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
So continuing, I forgot to check them for a week (by looking under the cage) I still have been replacing everything and misting. Just letting them molt. Today I looked under and it looks like he has fallen apart??? His claws and legs are scattered around him. (I will provide an image...) I can't see anything but the fallen limbs. I can barely see the other one but it looks fine. I don't know if any other info is relevent so here's the photo:



Please help... I'm very scared....

It might mean that he molted. I think you are seeing the exoskeleton.

Let him be and let him finish! He needs to eat the exo to regain strength.

The pictures are very dark, but it sounds very much like he molted and those "limbs" are the exoskeleton that has been shed. Is he on the surface or just buried next to the glass?

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It sounds like you're peeking through the bottom. Stop doing that and let them molt in piece! Since he's buried you'll just need to leave him alone. He'll eat all those shed limbs and come up when he's ready.

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The picture is very dark but it is most likely his shed exoskeleton. He will stay down a while longer while he hardens back up and he'll eat all or most of his exo during this time. No worries.

There are a few things a little off with your answers though. Please read through the care sheets and articles found here: viewforum.php?f=51. Particularly the threads on water, humidity, commercial foods, and molting.