Help! Naked, soft crab topside
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 8:19 am
I got a new crab a few weeks ago to be a companion to a loner crab. He was very active for a couple days, then dug below, presumably to molt.
It appears the original crab dug him up. I thought it was dead, but had read to wait and see, so I waited overnight. I found him this morning totally out of the shell, bending over into fresh water bath. I took him out and put him in warm sand. (I'm not sure if this is an "emergency" or a normal issue with multiple crabs and molting?)
Questions:
1. He is very lethargic; is that normal for a soft crab?
2. Do I re-bury him?
3. Do I put him into another tank until he hardens to keep him away from other crab? Buried or on top?
Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions by coping and pasting this list into a New Topic. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. Thanks!
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Sandcastle-wet sand. (I get issues with mold when add bark substrates.)
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?
Yes. 2-3 inches above sand. Right now 75 degrees and 80 humidity.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Large stick on heater.
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)?
Large fresh water bath. Salt water dish, API conditioner and API Aquarium Salt
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Lots of lettuce & veggies daily. Fruit occasionally. Dehydrated tiny shrimp occasionally.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Had original one over a year. New one about a month. Both purple claw.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Just molted. Crab is soft.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20 gallon aquarium with sliding screen lid, with plastic laid over 80 percent to keep humidity in.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2. Golf balls.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
5
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Scrape off top sand, then just dump all and replace all sand, rinsing with hot water.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No.
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.)?
(See above)
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
(See above) Soft crab on top of sand. Lethargic.
It appears the original crab dug him up. I thought it was dead, but had read to wait and see, so I waited overnight. I found him this morning totally out of the shell, bending over into fresh water bath. I took him out and put him in warm sand. (I'm not sure if this is an "emergency" or a normal issue with multiple crabs and molting?)
Questions:
1. He is very lethargic; is that normal for a soft crab?
2. Do I re-bury him?
3. Do I put him into another tank until he hardens to keep him away from other crab? Buried or on top?
Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions by coping and pasting this list into a New Topic. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. Thanks!
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Sandcastle-wet sand. (I get issues with mold when add bark substrates.)
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?
Yes. 2-3 inches above sand. Right now 75 degrees and 80 humidity.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Large stick on heater.
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)?
Large fresh water bath. Salt water dish, API conditioner and API Aquarium Salt
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Lots of lettuce & veggies daily. Fruit occasionally. Dehydrated tiny shrimp occasionally.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Had original one over a year. New one about a month. Both purple claw.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Just molted. Crab is soft.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20 gallon aquarium with sliding screen lid, with plastic laid over 80 percent to keep humidity in.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2. Golf balls.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
5
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Scrape off top sand, then just dump all and replace all sand, rinsing with hot water.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No.
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.)?
(See above)
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
(See above) Soft crab on top of sand. Lethargic.