HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Posted: **Tue Jul 13, 2021 12:51 pm**

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? I use coconut fiber substrate by eco earth

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 have one it is in the top left hand corner it normally reads about 70°F and 80-90% humidity

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? yes there is a heating pad on the side of the tank and a light above

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)? Both Salt and fresh I use zoo med's drinking water conditioner and salt water conditioner

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? I feed them different types of fruits and veggies and I change it everynight.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? I have two crabs one for about 1 month and 12 days the other one I have had for about 3 weeks I have to say. Both are red pinchers.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? I think one may have molted but I cant say for sure.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? They are kept in a 10 gallon tank with a mesh lid

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? there are two crabs both have about an inch opening

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? there are two extra shells in the tank since I am unable to find and purchase more atm

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? None that I can think of.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I clean the tank once a month or when needed

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? There are no sponges in the water dishes

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? I kind of recently added a light the sits above their tank lighting it up.

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.)? Not that I an think of at this moment

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. Ok so my crab Cleo a female hasn't moved at all in about a week. she hasn't come out of her shell and she hasn't even moved. My crabs also don't like being sprayed much but I do spray the tank with treated water when needed, when I sprayed her last night she twitched a bit but this morning she didn't move. she hasn't move from her corner and she has been on her back if it helps I will attach a picture of where she is. There is also no smell coming from her.

Posted: **Tue Jul 13, 2021 6:06 pm**

If your temp gauge is near the top of the tank, and it reads 70 degrees Fahrenheit, then it is very much too cold in your tank. Remember that the warmest air will be near the top, so it is cooler down lower where the crabs are. Temperatures need to be between 75 and 85 degrees for PP's; temps lower than 75 for very much time is dangerous for them.

It looks like your humidity is good, but don't spray the crabs themselves; they don't like it and it adds to the stress they already feel from being abused into captivity. If you will cover your mesh lid with heavy duty plastic wrap (like freezer bags), that can help hold in both heat and humidity. Having a mesh lid that is uncovered just lets both heat and humidity out.

Because of the terrible things they have experienced being "harvested" from their wild homes and transported and sold, many crabs will die in the first few days, weeks, or months no matter how good your conditions are (we call this Post-Purchase Syndrome), so all we can do is try to give them the best conditions we can, try not to add to their stress any more than we have to, and hope for the best.

If your substrate is not at least about 3 times as deep as your tallest crab, and "sandcastle moist," they may not be able to dig down to molt, which they may need to do in order to try to repair the injuries suffered before you got them. Properly moist substrate will also help the humidity stay more constant. If you need to add more substrate or moisten it, try not to disturb the crabs any more than you absolutely have to. Then all you can do is maintain conditions and wait.

Final note: there is no need to "clean" the tank on any kind of regular basis. With just two crabs, you can remove any poop you happen to see, but if you have a good amount of EE in your substrate, that will help to process the poop you don't see.

Best wishes!

Posted: **Tue Jul 13, 2021 7:11 pm**

DragonsFly wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 13, 2021 6:06 pm
If your temp gauge is near the top of the tank, and it reads 70 degrees Fahrenheit, then it is very much too cold in your tank. Remember that the warmest air will be near the top, so it is cooler down lower where the crabs are. Temperatures need to be between 75 and 85 degrees for PP's; temps lower than 75 for very much time is dangerous for them.

It looks like your humidity is good, but don't spray the crabs themselves; they don't like it and it adds to the stress they already feel from being abused into captivity. If you will cover your mesh lid with heavy duty plastic wrap (like freezer bags), that can help hold in both heat and humidity. Having a mesh lid that is uncovered just lets both heat and humidity out.

Because of the terrible things they have experienced being "harvested" from their wild homes and transported and sold, many crabs will die in the first few days, weeks, or months no matter how good your conditions are (we call this Post-Purchase Syndrome), so all we can do is try to give them the best conditions we can, try not to add to their stress any more than we have to, and hope for the best.

If your substrate is not at least about 3 times as deep as your tallest crab, and "sandcastle moist," they may not be able to dig down to molt, which they may need to do in order to try to repair the injuries suffered before you got them. Properly moist substrate will also help the humidity stay more constant. If you need to add more substrate or moisten it, try not to disturb the crabs any more than you absolutely have to. Then all you can do is maintain conditions and wait.

Final note: there is no need to "clean" the tank on any kind of regular basis. With just two crabs, you can remove any poop you happen to see, but if you have a good amount of EE in your substrate, that will help to process the poop you don't see.

Best wishes!

Is there anything you suggest I put in to heat it up? I don't have any money rn so there is no way for me to buy anything

Posted: **Tue Jul 13, 2021 7:40 pm**

Is your heater working? And what kind of light do you have shining on the tank?

A simple incandescent light (if you still have one) can generate a good amount of heat; put it on top of the tank or position it in some way so that the light from the lamp shines into the tank--from the side is fine, too. Cover the mesh lid with plastic wrap or freezer bags; something clear that will let in the light but then keep in the heat (you are trying to create a "greenhouse effect" in the tank).

It has to be an old-fashioned incandescent bulb, though; LED bulbs do not produce much heat; fluorescent bulbs do not produce basically any heat.

In an emergency power outage, I also lit a line of candles all along one side of my tank (very small tank then), and again, with a solid lid (glass lid), they warmed the tank pretty significantly. Again, the light and heat goes in through the glass, but then it reflects back from the glass walls and a good bit of it stays in the tank.

Also, put your gauge down near the substrate, where the crabs hang out mostly; that will tell you how warm it is for THEM. As I said, up near the top of your tank is probably warmer, down near the substrate is probably cooler.

You can help keep more heat in your tank, also, by covering some of the sides of the tank with aluminum foil. Put the shiny side facing IN toward the tank. The idea is that, whatever heat does go in (from the heater, and any lights) will be reflected back in to the tank by the foil. If your heater is still working, make sure to check whether or not it is the type that is okay to cover with foil. If not, do not cover the heater.

Good luck!

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

My Hermit hasn't moved in about a week

My Hermit hasn't moved in about a week

Re: My Hermit hasn't moved in about a week

Re: My Hermit hasn't moved in about a week

Re: My Hermit hasn't moved in about a week