Hermit crab appears to be molting under prosthetic log has exoskeleton hanging out of shell firmly.
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:45 am
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
I use store bought sand and eco earth mixed. It is approx. 15cm 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?
I do not.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
There is no heat source in the tank. I live in a naturally hot area.
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)?
He has dechlorinated drinking water and dechlorinated bath water with aquarium salt.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
He gets a mix of grains, dried shrimp, dried fruits and other things that are store bought from the brand Krabooz.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I do not know what species, but I do live in Australia and I believe they are gathered here, if that helps.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
My crab has previously molted, about 3-5 months ago.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
The crab is kept in a transparent, plastic circle dome like enclosure. The size is unknown, but plenty for one crab. The lid is plastic, and closes shut on top of the dome with holes for ventilation..
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
There is only one crab in the tank who is medium size.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Right now there are only two because of unavailability. One small, one large.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I don't really clean the tank, but I do clean food and water dishes when topping up.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
There is a sea sponge used in the bath. It is washed with tap water by rinsing and squeezing 3 times before being dried and used again.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Not really.
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 do not spray the tank as I see mold growing when I mist with salt water. I rely on the sea sponge to increase humidity.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I was topping up my crabs food and water, when I realized I couldn't see him anywhere. I lifted up a prosthetic log and I saw the top of his shell. I lifted it up and discovered what appeared to be some kind of exoskeleton in the shell (assumed by his empty eye slits). It looked extremely weird and dry but did not smell or look decomposed so I quickly put him back, assuming a molt. I don't know what I saw, but it was very strange. Kinda like a tangled mass, with his claws and body in a weird spot. I was told by someone I might have caught him mid-molt, but I'm still not sure. He does not seem to be molting underground, which I initially dismissed as he did so in a similar manner the last time he shedded successfully, but I have been told otherwise that it is not normal and not good. I might sound selfish and cruel, but school and work has caught up to me and I do not wish to spend any more money on this crab (other than for food, etc.) as I fear he will die and the money spent will be all for nothing as I do not wish to get another crab. What do I do? Am I in trouble? Should I expect the worst? Forgive my inexperienced ramblings and bad caretaking and please help me!
I use store bought sand and eco earth mixed. It is approx. 15cm 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?
I do not.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
There is no heat source in the tank. I live in a naturally hot area.
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)?
He has dechlorinated drinking water and dechlorinated bath water with aquarium salt.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
He gets a mix of grains, dried shrimp, dried fruits and other things that are store bought from the brand Krabooz.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I do not know what species, but I do live in Australia and I believe they are gathered here, if that helps.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
My crab has previously molted, about 3-5 months ago.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
The crab is kept in a transparent, plastic circle dome like enclosure. The size is unknown, but plenty for one crab. The lid is plastic, and closes shut on top of the dome with holes for ventilation..
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
There is only one crab in the tank who is medium size.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Right now there are only two because of unavailability. One small, one large.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I don't really clean the tank, but I do clean food and water dishes when topping up.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
There is a sea sponge used in the bath. It is washed with tap water by rinsing and squeezing 3 times before being dried and used again.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Not really.
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 do not spray the tank as I see mold growing when I mist with salt water. I rely on the sea sponge to increase humidity.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I was topping up my crabs food and water, when I realized I couldn't see him anywhere. I lifted up a prosthetic log and I saw the top of his shell. I lifted it up and discovered what appeared to be some kind of exoskeleton in the shell (assumed by his empty eye slits). It looked extremely weird and dry but did not smell or look decomposed so I quickly put him back, assuming a molt. I don't know what I saw, but it was very strange. Kinda like a tangled mass, with his claws and body in a weird spot. I was told by someone I might have caught him mid-molt, but I'm still not sure. He does not seem to be molting underground, which I initially dismissed as he did so in a similar manner the last time he shedded successfully, but I have been told otherwise that it is not normal and not good. I might sound selfish and cruel, but school and work has caught up to me and I do not wish to spend any more money on this crab (other than for food, etc.) as I fear he will die and the money spent will be all for nothing as I do not wish to get another crab. What do I do? Am I in trouble? Should I expect the worst? Forgive my inexperienced ramblings and bad caretaking and please help me!
IMO, minimum heat and humidity should be 80/80. Hermit crabs have modified gills and need the humidity to breathe. 