HCA: Hermit Crab Association

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?
EcoEarth, 6inches

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, 80% and 75+

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes heating pads

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)?
Insta salt salt water, dechlorinated fresh water

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Lettuce, mango, almonds, mealworms, pellets, eggshell, change it out everyother day

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Since august, have 3 ecuadorians

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Trying to see if this is a molt

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
15 gallon tank with glass lid

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
3: 1 med, 1 small, 1 large

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
7

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Spot cleaning with a scoop

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.)?


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

So its been about two months since one crab dug behind a rock and I presumed he has been molting since he has not moved, and i picked up the rock on accident one time and saw a limp grey body. Since then I have not bothered him, but this morning I saw that the rock has been shifted by the other crabs and his shell is almost entirely exposed on the surface. What should I do?? Should I check on him or keep waiting? Just worry he might be dead
.

Does the tank smell bad? It's possible he did molt, and the thing you see is the exoskeleton. However, most crabs should dig down to molt if in the right conditions.

If you know exactly where he is and you don’t think he’s dead you can press in half a soda bottle over him to cage out the others.


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