Naked Ecuadorian hermit crab! Help!
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 5:12 pm
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Sand, eight 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?
Two of each gauge, both gauges read 80/80 they are located mid tank an stay pretty consistent
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
One of those sticky outside glass heaters on one end. An light on top on the other side
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)?
One fresh an one salt. Treated with treatments they sell for hermit crabs same with the salt
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I've been making my own food for two years, it's changed daily
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
This was a rescue I've had for about two months. Ecuadorian
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He molted about a month ago.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
55 gal glass aquarium. Glass lid
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
12. One jumbo, one tiny. The rest are in between a baseball an golf ball size
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Over 25
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No to my knowledge
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every so often when no crabs are buried I'll mix the sand around a little. An wipe the glass down inside
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?
Nothing new
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.)?
This crab molted came out for a couple weeks an then went back underground. He did change shells in that time. I've had problems in the past with ecuadorians doing this same thing. They unfortunately died afterwards. Also to note I've never had any problems with any being aggressive. The tank is large enough to everybody to have their own spot an enough shells never cause a fight
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I woke up this morning to notice he was naked. Did the usual steps to try and get him back into his shell with no luck. I'm not sure what else I can do
Sand, eight 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?
Two of each gauge, both gauges read 80/80 they are located mid tank an stay pretty consistent
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
One of those sticky outside glass heaters on one end. An light on top on the other side
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)?
One fresh an one salt. Treated with treatments they sell for hermit crabs same with the salt
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I've been making my own food for two years, it's changed daily
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
This was a rescue I've had for about two months. Ecuadorian
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He molted about a month ago.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
55 gal glass aquarium. Glass lid
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
12. One jumbo, one tiny. The rest are in between a baseball an golf ball size
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Over 25
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No to my knowledge
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every so often when no crabs are buried I'll mix the sand around a little. An wipe the glass down inside
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?
Nothing new
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.)?
This crab molted came out for a couple weeks an then went back underground. He did change shells in that time. I've had problems in the past with ecuadorians doing this same thing. They unfortunately died afterwards. Also to note I've never had any problems with any being aggressive. The tank is large enough to everybody to have their own spot an enough shells never cause a fight
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I woke up this morning to notice he was naked. Did the usual steps to try and get him back into his shell with no luck. I'm not sure what else I can do