Crab Leaving Shell EMERGENCY

[nicolegetscreative]

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?
Play sand/ eco earth substrate mix (used the online guide here to make it!)

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 have a gauge in the back of the tank. Temp is between 75-80 degrees. Humidity has been around 60 but I’m working on bringing it up.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I have a medium and small zoomed heating pad in the back of the tank, and one heat lamp on the side with the deepest substrate

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 pools. I used the guide on here to make it and can’t remember the exact numbers, same with the dechlorinated water.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I try to give them a calcium mix, a berry mix, meal worms, walnuts, organic coconut shreds, almonds (all nuts organic) and dried strawberries. I’ve also given them some fresh zucchini before. I try to switch it out every other day depending on what I give them. Oh and they also get some foraging mixes.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
The crab in question I have had 6 months

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
They seemed to have a normal molt underground.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
30 gallon tank, mesh lid sealed with cream wrap

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
4. 3 medium and one small.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
20 or so. I switch them out.

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

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I clean them every 2 or so months. I wipe it down with water and no soap, I ensure it’s fully dried before putting any fresh substrate in it.

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?
I put a new food bowl in there, but boiled it before placing it inside

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.)?
No

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Last night my small crab took a dip in the saltwater pool. This morning I found him out of his shell and still in the pool. I was able to safely scoop him up and put him on dry land (I think it got a little too cold last night). I went to get fresh shells for him but he got in a new larger shell before I got back. I left him alone, but when I went to check on him the second time (an hour apart between checks) he had climbed out of the shell, moved all the way across the tank, and landed in the freshwater. I thought he had drowned but he didn’t. I put him in a Tupperware with some dechlorinated water (just covering the bottom), put two clean shells in there, and a larger flat seashell with some mealworms and a piece of cuttlefish bone. After an hour he had put himself in one of the shells, but I’m so afraid that he will leave it again and hurt himself.

What should I do here?

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