Naked crab with Black Lump on Side
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2022 8:06 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?
Eco earth three times as deep as my largest crab.
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 one outside and one I move around inside to gauge humidity/temp across the tank. It's between usually 93% and 97% humidity with temps between 24C and 26C during the day and as low as 20C at night (in winter)
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I have a two heat cords along the back and sides of the tank.
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)?
Fresh water with Nutrafin Aqua Plus. Salt water with the same dechlorinator and Instant Ocean with whatever the box ratio is (I forget offhand)
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
A variety of fresh fruits and veggies, depending on what I"m eating. Often includes berries, lettuce, carrots, peppers. Meats are beef, pork. chicken, and fish. They have a couple clam shells that they like to much on as well as a piece of cuttlebone.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I've had one for about eight or nine years now and the other for seven or eight years. They are both purple pinchers.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Three or fourth 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?
30g aquarium with a plastic covered mesh lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2. One is a large and one is between medium and large.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Somewhere around 10.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I have isopods so I never empty it but it gets a good cleaning once a week and a deep clean once a month.
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.)?
The crab in question fell twice within the last few days.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Both my crabs are currently underground. Before going underground, Grape had been shell shopping and recently fell twice climbing into the moss pit. He seemed to fall shell first so I wasn't super worried. But, this morning as I was running out the door for church, I saw a little window underground by the glass. There he was but he was naked! I was already late so I couldn't do anything until I got home. When I got home, he had moved so I couldn't see him. I took some time but I finally managed to dig him out and isolate him. He's still naked last I check but he has 3 freshly washed (in salt water) shells in there with him. I got a good look at him and it looks like he has some sort of bump on his side, inside where his shell would go. I had a hard time getting a pic but it was a circular black lump about the size of a pencil eraser. I'm not sure what it is. I've had crabs for nearly 10 years and never seen anything like it. I've looked on the forum but the old posts have broken picture links. At first, I thought it was a tumor or fungus or bacteria but now I'm wondering if he got hurt climbing and falling. I couldn't force him into a shell so I'm hoping he'll get into a new one but I'm also concerned that he'll die if he is injured.
It's hard to see but this is what I'm talking about.
.
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Eco earth three times as deep as my largest crab.
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 one outside and one I move around inside to gauge humidity/temp across the tank. It's between usually 93% and 97% humidity with temps between 24C and 26C during the day and as low as 20C at night (in winter)
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I have a two heat cords along the back and sides of the tank.
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)?
Fresh water with Nutrafin Aqua Plus. Salt water with the same dechlorinator and Instant Ocean with whatever the box ratio is (I forget offhand)
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
A variety of fresh fruits and veggies, depending on what I"m eating. Often includes berries, lettuce, carrots, peppers. Meats are beef, pork. chicken, and fish. They have a couple clam shells that they like to much on as well as a piece of cuttlebone.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I've had one for about eight or nine years now and the other for seven or eight years. They are both purple pinchers.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Three or fourth 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?
30g aquarium with a plastic covered mesh lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2. One is a large and one is between medium and large.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Somewhere around 10.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I have isopods so I never empty it but it gets a good cleaning once a week and a deep clean once a month.
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.)?
The crab in question fell twice within the last few days.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Both my crabs are currently underground. Before going underground, Grape had been shell shopping and recently fell twice climbing into the moss pit. He seemed to fall shell first so I wasn't super worried. But, this morning as I was running out the door for church, I saw a little window underground by the glass. There he was but he was naked! I was already late so I couldn't do anything until I got home. When I got home, he had moved so I couldn't see him. I took some time but I finally managed to dig him out and isolate him. He's still naked last I check but he has 3 freshly washed (in salt water) shells in there with him. I got a good look at him and it looks like he has some sort of bump on his side, inside where his shell would go. I had a hard time getting a pic but it was a circular black lump about the size of a pencil eraser. I'm not sure what it is. I've had crabs for nearly 10 years and never seen anything like it. I've looked on the forum but the old posts have broken picture links. At first, I thought it was a tumor or fungus or bacteria but now I'm wondering if he got hurt climbing and falling. I couldn't force him into a shell so I'm hoping he'll get into a new one but I'm also concerned that he'll die if he is injured.
It's hard to see but this is what I'm talking about.
.
If he's not seeming as active as normal and is eating a lot, he might be preparing to molt?