Limp E!

[Crabby7Crabber]

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 as best you can. 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. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? EE and Quikrete Sand Mix/6 inches


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- Temp and Humidity average 75 (I'm trying to keep it up the best I can, and I know it should be preferably higher)


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? 2 Zoomed heaters, one on back and one on side

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 and regular-- both galloned water with IO salt


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? Shrimp, popcorn, worm castings, calcium supplement, leaves/twigs (from Maddamay's store), and others (all dry, refreshed every 2/3 days along with water)


6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? I've have him since the beginning of January, so almost 5 months.


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? Not yet, I'm hoping so though.


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? He's in a 10g, and there's a screen lid


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? He's with three other crabs- two penny/dime size, maybe nickel, and another a little smaller than him (he's about the size of a golf ball, just a little smaller)


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? There is 4/5 for the his size, and 2 for the little guys.


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


12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I clean it every two months by taking out everything, adding fresh sub, and putting decor in hot tap water (I assumed it'd be okay to do so as long as I dried it off).


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.)? I have been misting more and more regularly in hope that it can keep the humidity up, but it's becoming less and less effective.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
For the past month, my E has been becoming more and more inactive. I honestly didn't want to take him, but felt really bad because the conditions were even worse at the pet store. He is in a really small shell, so I guess it's normal that he hangs out a little bit, but when he comes out now, he just sits there motionless. And I'm beginning to freak because when he sits out now I can see his little back legs. Please help! Do you think it has something to do with the humidity? I know they're supposed to have it higher, and I'm going to ask if I can put saran wrap on the lid, which has a fluffy blanket on it right now. I'm trying my hardest to help him! (his antennae don't move as much either! Please help!

.

[CrabbyLover77]

Hi! Sorry your little E is having trouble!

I did a quick search in the HCA care guides and found this:

"Temperatures: Between 80F and 90F degrees, though they have been known to be perfectly alright with temperatures higher than that for short periods. Temperatures between 72 and 80 can cause Es to be sluggish and not active. Temperatures lower than that could potentially cause hibernation and a serious risk of illness and death due to the cold."

I'm thinking your E might be a little sluggish because it's not quite warm enough for him. If you can add a little more substrate too, that would be good. The care sheet says they like to dig more and require deeper substrate (although I don't think this probably has much to do with his sluggishness).

What is the temp in your house? When I moved, I was able to put my crabs in a separate room with my tortoise and fish, and it tends to not get as warm in there if I leave the door open (and they all like warmer temps). So when the heat is on, I keep the door partially or all the way shut to get the temp up a bit. Make sure all the vents are open in the room they're in to help boost the temp.

Good luck!!!

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

[curlysister]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? EE and Quikrete Sand Mix/6 inches
Curly - E's like deep sub, like 10-12 inches, from what I have read from others with E's.

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- Temp and Humidity average 75 (I'm trying to keep it up the best I can, and I know it should be preferably higher)
Curly - CL77 gave the advice about temp and E's from the E care sheet.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? 2 Zoomed heaters, one on back and one on side

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 and regular-- both galloned water with IO salt
Curly - What do you mean by 'galloned'? Is it just spring water, or is it distilled or reverse osmosis?


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? Shrimp, popcorn, worm castings, calcium supplement, leaves/twigs (from Maddamay's store), and others (all dry, refreshed every 2/3 days along with water)


6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? I've have him since the beginning of January, so almost 5 months.


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? Not yet, I'm hoping so though.


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? He's in a 10g, and there's a screen lid
Curly - COver the lid with plastic wrap to hold in humidity.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? He's with three other crabs- two penny/dime size, maybe nickel, and another a little smaller than him (he's about the size of a golf ball, just a little smaller)
Curly - Your tank might be getting crowded for that many crabs, especially if one is an E.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? There is 4/5 for the his size, and 2 for the little guys.
Curly - HCA recommends 3-5 extra shells per crab - you have enough for your E but need more for your PP's.

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


12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I clean it every two months by taking out everything, adding fresh sub, and putting decor in hot tap water (I assumed it'd be okay to do so as long as I dried it off).


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.)? I have been misting more and more regularly in hope that it can keep the humidity up, but it's becoming less and less effective.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
For the past month, my E has been becoming more and more inactive. I honestly didn't want to take him, but felt really bad because the conditions were even worse at the pet store. He is in a really small shell, so I guess it's normal that he hangs out a little bit, but when he comes out now, he just sits there motionless. And I'm beginning to freak because when he sits out now I can see his little back legs. Please help! Do you think it has something to do with the humidity? I know they're supposed to have it higher, and I'm going to ask if I can put saran wrap on the lid, which has a fluffy blanket on it right now. I'm trying my hardest to help him! (his antennae don't move as much either! Please help!
Curly - A blanket won't hold in humidity, you should definitely put saran wrap over the top.

[Hermiesguardian]

Just one more thing to add. There is no need to clean the sub. Ever really. As long as there is no bug infestation, flood, or bacterial bloom. Just pick up food and poop if you see it. By taking them out, putting them elsewhere for a bit, putting them back in, on a monthly basis will stress them out

[Crabby7Crabber]

Update: Thank you all for the replies! I have more shells, but am not sure if they're suitable. Maybe I'll talk about them in another post. As for the temp, I added some more moss, sprayed it, and it worked for the humidity and the temperature! The temp is gradually rising (77, I'm trying my best!), but the humidity is now 85%! My family honestly doesn't understand this crabbing thing though. They think that there is too much sand already (ugh!) and that putting saran wrap on the lid is absolutely absurd. I don't even know if they're going to let me get a bigger tank. I have a 5 gallon too, so I'm thinking I can do something with that, or set up another one just for the little ones. And I get the cleaning thing too, but it's another thing my family forces to do. It's really frustrating because they think all hermit crabs are the same thing, and that since they had crabs when they were younger (in those little "crates", they called it), they know all there is to know. I'm trying my best to help the guy out though. My PP's are moving around, and the E is still limp, but alive, next to the glass of one of the heaters. I put a shell next to him just in case he needs to change. Hoping I'm making him more comfortable. i really appreciate all the help guys! Thank you! <3
And the water is spring water, Curly)

[Crabby7Crabber]

As much as it pains me to say this, I believe George Washington is dead. His antennae are curled inward, his eyes are together, and when I picked him up he didn't fall completely out of his shell, but I assume that's because he's too big for it. He isn't moving at all, and also is beginning to stink. I really feel horrible for not being able to provide the right conditions, but I'm really hoping this can get through to my parents and they can see that there's actually different SPECIES of crabs, and that exotics need more care than I wasn't able to provide currently. George Washington was a sweet, energetic crab when I first got him, and it really hurts to know that he's presumably dead. Can someone confirm this before I take him out?

[CrabbyLover77]

As much as it pains me to say this, I believe George Washington is dead. His antennae are curled inward, his eyes are together, and when I picked him up he didn't fall completely out of his shell, but I assume that's because he's too big for it. He isn't moving at all, and also is beginning to stink. I really feel horrible for not being able to provide the right conditions, but I'm really hoping this can get through to my parents and they can see that there's actually different SPECIES of crabs, and that exotics need more care than I wasn't able to provide currently. George Washington was a sweet, energetic crab when I first got him, and it really hurts to know that he's presumably dead. Can someone confirm this before I take him out?

I'm so sorry! If GW is starting to smell, he probably is gone.

You can always put him in a small container by himself, with a little bit of lukewarm water on the bottom for moisture, and wait 24 hours to be sure. You can add a little cap full of food in there just in case, and then put him in a quiet/dark spot (preferably food that won't smell after a day so you know that any smell is coming from the crab). If the smell is bad and/or there's no movement after that time then you'll know he's gone.

Again, I'm sorry for your loss!

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

[Megan67A]

As much as it pains me to say this, I believe George Washington is dead. His antennae are curled inward, his eyes are together, and when I picked him up he didn't fall completely out of his shell, but I assume that's because he's too big for it. He isn't moving at all, and also is beginning to stink. I really feel horrible for not being able to provide the right conditions, but I'm really hoping this can get through to my parents and they can see that there's actually different SPECIES of crabs, and that exotics need more care than I wasn't able to provide currently. George Washington was a sweet, energetic crab when I first got him, and it really hurts to know that he's presumably dead. Can someone confirm this before I take him out?

I'm deeply sorry for your lost!

[Links]

It’s always sad but your doing your best. Keep your head up.

[Crabby7Crabber]

Thank you guys <3 I went to pick him up, and he fell out. I even set him on a paper towel for a few minutes, and he didn't move at all (It broke my heart). The smell was getting overwhelming as well. I appreciate all your support through this, and I can't express how much it means to me. I'm glad he's in a better place now though

[Maddamay32]

I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Hope your heart heals soon

[Crabby7Crabber]

I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Hope your heart heals soon

Thank you so much

[Crabalicious]

So sorry for your loss Crabby

[Crabby7Crabber]

So sorry for your loss Crabby

It's alright. Thanks a lot I appreciate it!