Crab very weak and out of shell
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2022 3:27 am
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Coco fibre and beach sand mix, about 8cm 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?
It broke a couple of weeks ago, but up till then reading 25-30ºC depending on which end of the tank it was placed and 80%+ humidity. I haven't changed anything since it broke, so no reason to suspect things have changed. (waiting for new one to arrive)
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, a ceramic heat lamp (200W), which came with the tank. I had a UT mat stuck on the side of my first tank, but found it wasn't really up to the job. The lamp is suspended through a hole in lid at one end of tank, so there is a temperature gradient in the tank. I have found the crabs tend to prefer the warmer end. It is winter here, so we have the heat lamp on from about May-Oct. No heating needed Nov-April.
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 fresh and salt water available. Water is boiled beforehand to dechlorinate. Use 'Crab Salt" bought from pet shop for salt water. (I've looked for 'Instant Ocean' here, but can't find it.)
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Variety of fresh (apple, watermelon, lettuce, salmon, chicken, eggshell etc) and dried organic mixes bought from crab shops on Etsy Australia. Fresh is removed each day, dried is changed approx every 3 days.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
18 months. It is an Aussie hermit crab.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes, I assume he has molted in the time I've had him. He has certainly disappeared under substate for weeks at a time. I think he may have just molted now as is pale and weak. I've never seen an exo, however, I don't know if this is normal for Aussies.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20 galloon tank with plastic (perspex?) lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Two others besides this one. This one and one other are large and the third is medium. Both have been dug down for the past couple of months. I am certain they are not part of the problem - no signs of them having resurfaced and then gone back down.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
About 6 of suitable sizes.
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 clean it. Just remove poo when I see 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?
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.)?
I also had a fourth crab (Max) who died nine days ago. Don't know why but followed a very similar path to what it happening with current sick crab (Murray).
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
About a month ago, Max resurfaced, having been under for several weeks. Not his usual self, low energy, just stayed in one spot for hours staring out of tank. We then went away on holiday for a week, friends looking after crabs. Returned to find Max out of shell (friends didn't know this was an issue, so hadn't done anything about it). Shell was correct size and he had been wearing it several months. It was nearby, but he showed no interest in putting it back on. I assume too weak. No interest in food, drink. Died the next day.
Four days later, Murray resurfaced, having been under for about 6-7 weeks. Again not his usual self, low energy, etc. He must have come up without his shell, because I can't see it anywhere, but he put on Max's old shell even though it's too small for him and there are several other more suitable ones available. A day later he was out of his shell and clearly weak, although I was able to get him back in it. For the past three days he has been getting progressively weaker, dropped his shell several times, although I have been able to get him back in each time so far. Not interested in any food.
Grateful for any advice on what to do for Murray and also any suggestions to prevent this happening to my other crabs.
Thank you.
.
Coco fibre and beach sand mix, about 8cm 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?
It broke a couple of weeks ago, but up till then reading 25-30ºC depending on which end of the tank it was placed and 80%+ humidity. I haven't changed anything since it broke, so no reason to suspect things have changed. (waiting for new one to arrive)
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, a ceramic heat lamp (200W), which came with the tank. I had a UT mat stuck on the side of my first tank, but found it wasn't really up to the job. The lamp is suspended through a hole in lid at one end of tank, so there is a temperature gradient in the tank. I have found the crabs tend to prefer the warmer end. It is winter here, so we have the heat lamp on from about May-Oct. No heating needed Nov-April.
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 fresh and salt water available. Water is boiled beforehand to dechlorinate. Use 'Crab Salt" bought from pet shop for salt water. (I've looked for 'Instant Ocean' here, but can't find it.)
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Variety of fresh (apple, watermelon, lettuce, salmon, chicken, eggshell etc) and dried organic mixes bought from crab shops on Etsy Australia. Fresh is removed each day, dried is changed approx every 3 days.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
18 months. It is an Aussie hermit crab.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes, I assume he has molted in the time I've had him. He has certainly disappeared under substate for weeks at a time. I think he may have just molted now as is pale and weak. I've never seen an exo, however, I don't know if this is normal for Aussies.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20 galloon tank with plastic (perspex?) lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Two others besides this one. This one and one other are large and the third is medium. Both have been dug down for the past couple of months. I am certain they are not part of the problem - no signs of them having resurfaced and then gone back down.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
About 6 of suitable sizes.
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 clean it. Just remove poo when I see 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?
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.)?
I also had a fourth crab (Max) who died nine days ago. Don't know why but followed a very similar path to what it happening with current sick crab (Murray).
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
About a month ago, Max resurfaced, having been under for several weeks. Not his usual self, low energy, just stayed in one spot for hours staring out of tank. We then went away on holiday for a week, friends looking after crabs. Returned to find Max out of shell (friends didn't know this was an issue, so hadn't done anything about it). Shell was correct size and he had been wearing it several months. It was nearby, but he showed no interest in putting it back on. I assume too weak. No interest in food, drink. Died the next day.
Four days later, Murray resurfaced, having been under for about 6-7 weeks. Again not his usual self, low energy, etc. He must have come up without his shell, because I can't see it anywhere, but he put on Max's old shell even though it's too small for him and there are several other more suitable ones available. A day later he was out of his shell and clearly weak, although I was able to get him back in it. For the past three days he has been getting progressively weaker, dropped his shell several times, although I have been able to get him back in each time so far. Not interested in any food.
Grateful for any advice on what to do for Murray and also any suggestions to prevent this happening to my other crabs.
Thank you.
.
