Limp Jumbo Hermit Crab
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 7:59 pm
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1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
I use eco earth coconut fiber in my tank, 6 inches deep at its deepest point, tapers off on the other end of the tank.
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, I use an electronic humidity/temperature gauge which is located in the middle of my tank near the ground. The temperature usually reads 75-80 degree, and the humidity usually read 80-85%.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I use a heating pad on the back, left side of the tank, as well as a heat lamp with a night time bulb for short periods of time just to raise the temperature when needed.
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)?
Fresh and saltwater are provided. I use Prime Dechlorinator and I use Instant Ocean to make my salt water according to the box directions.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed my crabs a variety of foods including spinach, cucumbers, carrots, celery, strawberries, eggshells, pellets, dried fruits and nuts, and grapes. It’s replaced nightly.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
The hermit crab I am concerned about I have had for 2 weeks now. It’s a jumbo crab I believe it’s a PP but I’m still not 100% sure.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Since it’s been in my care, I haven’t noticed it molting. It’s been buried (not completely) in the corner for maybe a week now which I believed it was molting at the time, however now I’m not sure.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
The crabs are kept in a 20 gallon glass tank (3 crabs in tank). I use a screen lid but it’s covered with a blanket to keep in heat and humidity.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
There are 3 crabs in the tank, 2 jumbos a tad smaller than palm sized, and then a smaller crab about an inch long.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I usually keep 15 shells in the tank scattered around of varying sizes.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
The plan has been to do a thorough cleaning once a year, but I clean it weekly where I remove any food bits laying around, mix up the substrate, and change their water.
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 added new shells two days ago for the jumbos, but I boiled them and cleaned them thoroughly before adding them.
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.)?
I bought the 2 jumbos about 2 weeks ago to keep my other hermit crab company since he was alone. Before this I had tried adopting a hermit crab from Petco which didn’t work out as he passed within a week. Before going back up to college, I bought 2 more healthy looking crabs from a more reliable pet store. They did wonderfully, climbing and exploring daily, eating the fruits and veggies I gave them. They even transported well to college during the 5 hour car ride. Since I’ve been at school they’ve been active and eating, but this one has been hiding in the corner buried for about a week, which I had assumed to be molting.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
One of my jumbo crabs has recently come up from being partially buried. He walked to the salt water bowl and was submerging in the water for only a few minutes. He then crawled out and sat next to the bowl, and nothing seemed off about it, I just figured he finally felt comfortable coming up and was exploring. He was responsive (aka he tucked into his shell when he saw me). I left him be while I went out and when I came back 2 hours later he was in the same spot except this time he was droopy looking. His eyestalks and feelers were pointed down sort of tucked between his front legs. I picked him up and he felt super limp, not completely falling out of his shell, but limp. He moved his claws just a bit but otherwise did not react to me at all. I moved him to a quiet corner, but I’m not sure what’s going on? I read that he could be molting, but why did he unbury himself? I don’t smell the typical death scent, but he’s not moving at all. I feel like it’s my fault in some way, but I know that my setup is pretty good. I don’t know if I should give him time? Is there anything I can do to help him?
.
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
I use eco earth coconut fiber in my tank, 6 inches deep at its deepest point, tapers off on the other end of the tank.
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, I use an electronic humidity/temperature gauge which is located in the middle of my tank near the ground. The temperature usually reads 75-80 degree, and the humidity usually read 80-85%.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I use a heating pad on the back, left side of the tank, as well as a heat lamp with a night time bulb for short periods of time just to raise the temperature when needed.
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)?
Fresh and saltwater are provided. I use Prime Dechlorinator and I use Instant Ocean to make my salt water according to the box directions.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed my crabs a variety of foods including spinach, cucumbers, carrots, celery, strawberries, eggshells, pellets, dried fruits and nuts, and grapes. It’s replaced nightly.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
The hermit crab I am concerned about I have had for 2 weeks now. It’s a jumbo crab I believe it’s a PP but I’m still not 100% sure.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Since it’s been in my care, I haven’t noticed it molting. It’s been buried (not completely) in the corner for maybe a week now which I believed it was molting at the time, however now I’m not sure.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
The crabs are kept in a 20 gallon glass tank (3 crabs in tank). I use a screen lid but it’s covered with a blanket to keep in heat and humidity.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
There are 3 crabs in the tank, 2 jumbos a tad smaller than palm sized, and then a smaller crab about an inch long.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I usually keep 15 shells in the tank scattered around of varying sizes.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
The plan has been to do a thorough cleaning once a year, but I clean it weekly where I remove any food bits laying around, mix up the substrate, and change their water.
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 added new shells two days ago for the jumbos, but I boiled them and cleaned them thoroughly before adding them.
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.)?
I bought the 2 jumbos about 2 weeks ago to keep my other hermit crab company since he was alone. Before this I had tried adopting a hermit crab from Petco which didn’t work out as he passed within a week. Before going back up to college, I bought 2 more healthy looking crabs from a more reliable pet store. They did wonderfully, climbing and exploring daily, eating the fruits and veggies I gave them. They even transported well to college during the 5 hour car ride. Since I’ve been at school they’ve been active and eating, but this one has been hiding in the corner buried for about a week, which I had assumed to be molting.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
One of my jumbo crabs has recently come up from being partially buried. He walked to the salt water bowl and was submerging in the water for only a few minutes. He then crawled out and sat next to the bowl, and nothing seemed off about it, I just figured he finally felt comfortable coming up and was exploring. He was responsive (aka he tucked into his shell when he saw me). I left him be while I went out and when I came back 2 hours later he was in the same spot except this time he was droopy looking. His eyestalks and feelers were pointed down sort of tucked between his front legs. I picked him up and he felt super limp, not completely falling out of his shell, but limp. He moved his claws just a bit but otherwise did not react to me at all. I moved him to a quiet corner, but I’m not sure what’s going on? I read that he could be molting, but why did he unbury himself? I don’t smell the typical death scent, but he’s not moving at all. I feel like it’s my fault in some way, but I know that my setup is pretty good. I don’t know if I should give him time? Is there anything I can do to help him?
.
