Crab Leg Fell Off
Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2023 3:45 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?
Sand, ~6-6.5 inches
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, near top of the tank. H: ~77-80%, T: ~75°
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
No.
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, Prime dechlorinator and instant ocean sea salt. I use the dechlorinator ratio and I use 1.5 tsp sea salt per 1 cup of water.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Mainly vegetables like lettuce, bell pepper, cucumber, bean sprouts. Then i add a small portion of either fruit or meat (for fruits it’s typically raspberries or blue berries).
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I’ve had mine for a few weeks, the one in concern is Ecuadorian.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes it just molted, part of my current concern.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
It’s a 20 gallon tank with a mostly glass, partially plastic lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
4, two medium sized and two small crabs.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I would say upwards of 3-4 per crab.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Once a week I take everything out, scrub it, soak it, and rinse it. I also add water to the sand to keep it sand castle texture.
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 used to bathe them before i could maintain proper humidity, but that hasn’t been for a while. One of the smaller crabs, a PP, went from his original shell to a shell that was too big for him. He recently went back to his original, but too small shell. So I bathed him in some warm water and put his newer shell options in so he could find a better fit.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
After I took the small PP for a bath, I knew my small Ecuadorian had mooted before but couldn’t find a match (when i didn’t have a lot of shell variation). I decided to refill the warm water and let him do his thing. By the end of it he was crawling back to his old shell (at this point i assumed he wasn’t ready and I’d just give him time). But my emergency is one of his legs was in the bottom of the bath. I don’t know if it just “casually” fell off (if that’s even possible) or if it someone how pinched or pulled off. I’m worried that if i take him out of the water, something might dry out and kill him.
.
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Sand, ~6-6.5 inches
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, near top of the tank. H: ~77-80%, T: ~75°
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
No.
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, Prime dechlorinator and instant ocean sea salt. I use the dechlorinator ratio and I use 1.5 tsp sea salt per 1 cup of water.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Mainly vegetables like lettuce, bell pepper, cucumber, bean sprouts. Then i add a small portion of either fruit or meat (for fruits it’s typically raspberries or blue berries).
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I’ve had mine for a few weeks, the one in concern is Ecuadorian.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes it just molted, part of my current concern.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
It’s a 20 gallon tank with a mostly glass, partially plastic lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
4, two medium sized and two small crabs.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I would say upwards of 3-4 per crab.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Once a week I take everything out, scrub it, soak it, and rinse it. I also add water to the sand to keep it sand castle texture.
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 used to bathe them before i could maintain proper humidity, but that hasn’t been for a while. One of the smaller crabs, a PP, went from his original shell to a shell that was too big for him. He recently went back to his original, but too small shell. So I bathed him in some warm water and put his newer shell options in so he could find a better fit.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
After I took the small PP for a bath, I knew my small Ecuadorian had mooted before but couldn’t find a match (when i didn’t have a lot of shell variation). I decided to refill the warm water and let him do his thing. By the end of it he was crawling back to his old shell (at this point i assumed he wasn’t ready and I’d just give him time). But my emergency is one of his legs was in the bottom of the bath. I don’t know if it just “casually” fell off (if that’s even possible) or if it someone how pinched or pulled off. I’m worried that if i take him out of the water, something might dry out and kill him.
.