Hermit Crabs Keep Dying

[jesstheginger]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Sand and EE mixture, about 5 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?
Yes, they are stuck to the side of the tank, and they read about 80% humidity and about 80 degrees Fahrenheit quite consistently.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Lamp on during the day with a daylight bulb plus one of those tank heaters stuck to the side 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)?
Salt water and fresh water, treated with water conditioner and salt water mixture. I use All Living Things brand treatment for salt water and the same brand for fresh water.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Fresh fruits and veggies, calcium supplement; replaced daily or every other day depending on what it is. They really like oranges, bananas, lettuce. I recently have also been giving them organic non processed chicken baby food.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
About 5 months, purple pinchers
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes, I had one successful molt with one of my crabs a few months ago, but sadly he has passed on since then.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
I keep my three crabs in a ten gallon glass tank with a wire mesh lid covered with plastic to keep humidity in.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
3 crabs, they are all small
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
A LOT of extra shells, I have 3 crabs, about 15 shells.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
I don't think so. I recently did a deep clean and completely cleaned out my tank and washed the tank and toys with dawn dish soap.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I clean up junk and waste and buried food weekly or bi weekly if they're being crazy, and I deep clean about every two months. I take all of the substrate out and replace it with brand new substrate and I wash all of the toys with dish soap.
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?
I crocheted a climbing net for them to climb on. One of my crabs absolutely loves it.
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.)?
N/A
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Hi, so if you read my previous post, you know that I had one of my poor guys (Alexander) loose both of his big pinchers and he just never recovered. Since then, I went to the pet store and got another crabby because I thought 3 was a good number for some reason(?), and I called him Alexander 2.0. So Alexander 2.0 had climbed up on the net and I had noticed that he hadn't come down and hadn't moved and it had been a couple days, so I opened the tank to check. When I picked the poor guy up, he fell completely out of his shell and smelled bad. I also had noticed that another one of my crabs, Eliza, hadn't come out from the hut in a few days, and I decided to check on her and make sure she was doing good. When I picked her up, she also fell completely out of her shell and had the death smell. I have had Eliza for about a month now, and she's always been a little sluggish and not as active as my other crabs. Alexander 2.0 I had for literally less than a week and he passed. I'm down to once crab for the moment, Peggy, and I haven't noticed any difference in her temperament really since I got her, and I've had her for about three months. Could it be that the pet store I go to just has really bad conditions and they are already on their way out, so to speak, when I get them? I am just so heartbroken and I feel like a bad parent. I don't know if I really even want to continue crabbing if they are just going to pass away as soon as a get them.

[daws409]

So I don't really see anything major. A few things that catch my eye tho....

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
I don't think so. I recently did a deep clean and completely cleaned out my tank and washed the tank and toys with dawn dish soap.

D- chemicals including dawn is harmful to them. You'll want to clean with lemon juice water or vinegar water and rinse really well before re-placing them in the tank.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I clean up junk and waste and buried food weekly or bi weekly if they're being crazy, and I deep clean about every two months. I take all of the substrate out and replace it with brand new substrate and I wash all of the toys with dish soap.

D- deep cleans aren't needed unless emergency such as flood or bacteria bloom.
Edit- deep cleaning takes away beneficial bacteria.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
I crocheted a climbing net for them to climb on. One of my crabs absolutely loves it.

D- love DIY things. Again, was it cleaned before placing it in the tat. ( I think this is cleaned by soaked in marine salt water, not sure.)

Other than these things, it sounds like your doing everything correct. Don't beat yourself up. You aren't a failure. Your crabs sound like they have PPS which is very common with store bought crabs. My advice would be to stop buying and start adopting. Search craigslist, newspapers, HCA adoptions, maybe even facebook. You could also put an ad out saying that you are willing to adopt..... And include any important details you feel like sharing.

Sent from my HTC6515LVW using Tapatalk

[GotButterflies]

Hello! I replied with GB for GotButterlfies

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Sand and EE mixture, about 5 inches deep

GB: HCA recommends a minimum of 6 inches deep or 3 times the size of your largest crab - whichever is deeper.

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, they are stuck to the side of the tank, and they read about 80% humidity and about 80 degrees Fahrenheit quite consistently.

GB: Please make sure you are using digital. Analogs are not accurate and reliable.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Lamp on during the day with a daylight bulb plus one of those tank heaters stuck to the side 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)?
Salt water and fresh water, treated with water conditioner and salt water mixture. I use All Living Things brand treatment for salt water and the same brand for fresh water.

GB: Okay, here is a major issue. All living things brand is not good. Things marketed for hermit crabs do not work. You need a dechlorinator called prime, and your need Marine salt water. Most of us use instant ocean.
Link on water: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92553

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Fresh fruits and veggies, calcium supplement; replaced daily or every other day depending on what it is. They really like oranges, bananas, lettuce. I recently have also been giving them organic non processed chicken baby food.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
About 5 months, purple pinchers
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes, I had one successful molt with one of my crabs a few months ago, but sadly he has passed on since then.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
I keep my three crabs in a ten gallon glass tank with a wire mesh lid covered with plastic to keep humidity in.

GB: You are are little overcrowded. 1 crab per 5 gallons is recommended.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
3 crabs, they are all small
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
A LOT of extra shells, I have 3 crabs, about 15 shells.

GB: There are incorrect shells on the market. Make sure you have the right kind Here is the link: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 24&t=92552

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
I don't think so. I recently did a deep clean and completely cleaned out my tank and washed the tank and toys with dawn dish soap.

GB: Mool has used Dawn. As long as you completely rinse I guess okay. Not necessary to fully clean tank like that though. (Unless issues). I only use vinegar if I need to clean anything. Rinse with dechlorinated water. Chlorine, chloramine is poison to the hermits gills.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I clean up junk and waste and buried food weekly or bi weekly if they're being crazy, and I deep clean about every two months. I take all of the substrate out and replace it with brand new substrate and I wash all of the toys with dish soap.

GB: I addressed this above. You really need to just clean poop, food spilled and water. I change food daily, and water weekly because I have deep pools and air stones.

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?
I crocheted a climbing net for them to climb on. One of my crabs absolutely loves it.
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.)?
N/A
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Hi, so if you read my previous post, you know that I had one of my poor guys (Alexander) loose both of his big pinchers and he just never recovered. Since then, I went to the pet store and got another crabby because I thought 3 was a good number for some reason(?), and I called him Alexander 2.0. So Alexander 2.0 had climbed up on the net and I had noticed that he hadn't come down and hadn't moved and it had been a couple days, so I opened the tank to check. When I picked the poor guy up, he fell completely out of his shell and smelled bad. I also had noticed that another one of my crabs, Eliza, hadn't come out from the hut in a few days, and I decided to check on her and make sure she was doing good. When I picked her up, she also fell completely out of her shell and had the death smell. I have had Eliza for about a month now, and she's always been a little sluggish and not as active as my other crabs. Alexander 2.0 I had for literally less than a week and he passed. I'm down to once crab for the moment, Peggy, and I haven't noticed any difference in her temperament really since I got her, and I've had her for about three months. Could it be that the pet store I go to just has really bad conditions and they are already on their way out, so to speak, when I get them? I am just so heartbroken and I feel like a bad parent. I don't know if I really even want to continue crabbing if they are just going to pass away as soon as a get them.