Naked Crab

[HoneySweets96]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
1/2 coconut fiber and 1/2 sand at sandcastle consitency. It is about 6 and a half inch.

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?
The gauges arw right in the middle on the tank on the back wall, the temp is usally right at 70 and the humidity ranges between 65 and 70, Im having a bit of trouble keeping the humidity up.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
And heating pad on the side and back of the tank.

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)?
The fresh water is treated with API tap water conditoner, and for the salt water I use Jungle Aquarium salt (1/4 tbs per gallon)

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I replace their food everyday, I always give them my home made everyday food (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, oats, dried egg shells, dried coconut, a few different types of beans, and gronola, all of it is organic and ground up to make it easier to eat) I also give them "treats" which are different everyday, applesauce, baby food, mango, honey, rice, all kinds of stuff. It is all organic.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
About 6 months and he is a purple pincher.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He just hardened from his molt.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
A 55 gallon fish tank

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
11 All small, except for the guy in question, he is medium size.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
About 20 at the moment, I plan to get more this summer.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
Not that I know of.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I spot clean everynight. But I usally do a deep clean every year and a half ( I replace the substrate, and boil everything that is safe to boil) I just had to replace my substrate due to mold.

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?
A rescue crab from the store, But he was put in isolation for 2 weeks before I put him in.

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.)?

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
About a week ago I was forced to replace my substrate because I couldnt control a mold problem. Unfortunatly my biggest guy was down for a molt at the time. When I dug him up(which I literally hated myself for doing) he had already eaten most of his exo. But hadent hardened yet. So I put him in isolation with fresh and salt water, food, his uneaten exo and a few shell choices. He hardened up pretty quickly and was starting to move around. so two days ago I gave him a bath and put him back in with the other crabs. He semmed to be normal for most of the day but Last night he started going limp and just hanging out of his shell. This morning when I got up he was naked, and No amount of trying will get him back into a shell. He is moving all around the tank and seems to keep going to the fresh water. None of my other crabs are bothering him, But I am just concerned that He is dying. And at this point I dont know what to do.

[PTCrabs]

Ok so I have been dealing w a nudist crab for over a month...he also came out of his first molt with me when he refused to go in a shell...I tried to reshell him and he kept coming out...he was "happy" without his shell...he was more mobile and ate and drank like normal...when I tried reshelling him I had to put his tail in and tap him w the pad of my finger so he would go in...he tried to come out and I'd do it again...he would stay for a day or two then come right back out...I had sev shells for him to chose from but I guess he didn't like any of them...he would sit in the lip of a huge one (I have them for the other crab we have)...I just made sure he was always moist, I'd spray him and make sure the humidity was at 80...reshelling him and letting him do it on his own were the two methods I used...I made sure all shells were free of debris and I would put him in a bowl with them till he decided to reshell...if he didn't at about an hour then I'd do the reshelling myself and tap him...he has been in his old original shell for 3 days now but he's spent most of his time out of a shell than in...he was never lethargic though...make sure he has organic honey and peanut butter and u can give him egg shells as well...that's what I did...no one really knew what to do and I'm not sure why he did what he did but what I'm doing has been working. Hope your little guy gets his pants back on soon...it's stressful I know :-/


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[PTCrabs]

Thes are diff pics that I have taken during his nudity...like I said he's been doing this since Memorial Day...my tank is right where it needs to be and I just had another one come up from a molt and is doing perfect.


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[HoneySweets96]

Thank you for your quick reply. I just tried again to get him into a shell, and he went in. But as soon as I walked away he crawled back out and went and hid under a log! I have put honey and penut butter in the tank along with their other food. I just really hope he pulls through. This is my worst nightmare, Having to dig up a molter. :/ I feel terrible.

[PTCrabs]

Mine surface molted and hadn't molted the whole time we had him since the tank wasn't right cause I took the advise of the pet store...so for a year they both were strong and pulled through w the horrible conditions and molted as soon as I made the tank right...we lost 2 during that time that's when I found this site and changed the tank...I would reshell him again...I kept doing that for a while till this past week...I just let him do his own thing and finally he went back into his old shell lol hey, at least he's got his pants on! praying all goes well with him and he's just being stubborn


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[PTCrabs]

And here he is this morning...smh


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[PTCrabs]

Just put him in here w all his shells...we shall see if he reshells himself...


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[Giner13]

Let us know what happens!!


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[PTCrabs]

He reshelled in that painted shell I bought him in...again oh well at least he's reshelled lol


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[PTCrabs]

HoneySweets96, how is your little guy today?


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[Giner13]

He reshelled in that painted shell I bought him in...again oh well at least he's reshelled lol


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True...keep trying!

[PTCrabs]

He reshelled in that painted shell I bought him in...again oh well at least he's reshelled lol


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True...keep trying!

I will...it's nothing new now...I would freak out before...now I just scoop him up and put everything together...it's a "normal" thing round here lol


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[HoneySweets96]

Sadly I dont think he is going to make it. He did eat a little of the honey. But now he is just laying by the last shell I tried to put him in. He hasnt moved for a few hours now. If I lift the lid to the cage his antenas move, but that is it.


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[HoneySweets96]

I just want to hold my poor baby :/ But he is one of mine that has a serious grudge against humans, So I dont want to stress him out anymore than I have.


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[PTCrabs]

Awe little guy...praying he pulls through and gets in that shell!!!!


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