My beloved Han is naked!!
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?
1/2 moist coconut husk shred 1/2 washed and baked play sand. 4-6 in
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?
temp and humid; about 2 inch from substrate. reads normal.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
UTH on side. Moonlights up top during night or cold days.
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 a fresh and a salt. I dont remember the brands, but I took the recommendations off of here.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
My crabs mostly eat unsalted, un buttered pop corn. They love it. I always have 2 types of hermit crab pellets available but I haven't seen them eat it once. I leave food scraps in there some times. I take out what is left of the kernal husks, the rest was changed out maybe 2 weeks ago.
I did put it some banana peal the other day- they didn't touch it. It just went black, and I havent taken it out yet.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Oh for about a year. He is a PP I assume. Just a normal pet store crab.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He has molted a bundle of times. I haven't seen him much in the last 2 months so he might have molted, but he is very bashful, so I wouldn't know one way or the other.
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. It has a mesh lid with a light hood.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
3 crabs. Harold's is probably in a 3/4 opening. Hal is a little smaller. Han is about a 1/2 in.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
A whole bundle, but they were behind a rock. Maybe he couldn't turn them around to get a good look at them?? Also When I cleaned the tank ago I put away all the small shells. I have like 4 in there his size (or so I thought-maybe I am wrong!?!?)!
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
Not that I know of- but I can't smell bacon cooking so....
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Oh about every 3 months. I put my crabs in the little carrier. I take all the rocks out and clean any debris out (old legs, corn kernals, etc) I rehydrate the substrate, put back in all the stuff, and put in the crabs.
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?
Just a banana pill a week ago. I went up to add some chicken and the little feller was running around naked!
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.)?
My crabs have done very well for the last year. I went out of town for a month and let my brother take care of my crabs and Holly died, I think from the cold. One time Hal decided he liked Han's (the naked crab's) shell, and tried to kill him for it. I heard Han's chirping in time to stop him, but not before he lost an eye and a leg to the ever power hungry Hal (names are important I learned). Within a few molts his leg was great and his new eye fully developed. He has been good, just more bashful. And more willing to stay at the bottom of the food chain.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
So I was eating me some BBQ Chicken, and thought maybe my crabs would like some meat. I went up stair and dropped some in, and saw Han staring at me Naked!!! Hal was sitting in the food dish 1 in away just eating his food. Han (naked man) was eating pop corn-more active then he normally is, and NAKED! This is not okay! I immediately started calling out "CRAB EMERGENCY!" And executed rehabitation procedures with great haste, drawing out all the stuff I put in the corner of my brain (mostly from this site). He looked happy as can be just to be naked, but I know that naked is bad. One note is that he looked noticeably Smaller! I get that he isn't in his shell, but even his big claw just looks way smaller. Is that even possible?
I got the tiny cary case (1/2 the size of a shoe box) and got some coco nut shred in there and soaked it real fast. I found some shells about his appropriate size and put them in. Then, after some brain storming my room mate brought me a spoon and I scooped him up and put him in the carrier. There is very little space left, but I added a pop lid of fresh and salt water. I also put in some pop corn and a bit of chicken. Then I closed the lid and put the whole carrier in the tank. It is a little akward, but it is the only way he is gonna be warm and moist enough.
I just checked on him, and he did put himself in a shell. Hopefully he stays in there the dear silly bean. If he runs naked again what am I to do!?!?! Is this a shell size/accessibility problem?
