HCA: Hermit Crab Association

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?
All natural premium sand substrate and coconut fiber substrate mixed

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?
Humidity at between 80 and 90 no thermostats for temp.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes under tank heat mat

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)?
Salt and spring water with sponge and using zoo med treatment for salt water

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I give a large variety of food they have two bowls one for fresh fruit mixtures apples, grapes, blueberries and another for hermit mix, bloodworms, leafy greens spinach and lettuce

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
About two weeks and purple pinched


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Not while in my care

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

10 gallon tank and mesh lid covered in plastic wrap
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

2 medium crabs
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

3 and all natural
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Just did a tank switch from a 5 gallon to the 10 gallon about 3 days ago

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

One sponge just replaced with new sponge
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.)?
He’s always been a more shy crab but yesterday he became inactive and actually lost a leg in his freshwater bowl

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

I want to know how to help my crab he does not move he came out halfway out of his shell and lost a leg
.

Update I moved him to isolation he fell halfway out of his shell during the move other limbs are still intact and no smell is being emitted please help this so our first crab and I do not know what to do other than what I have read through the forums

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
All natural premium sand substrate and coconut fiber substrate mixed
Curly - Is it moistened so it holds it's shape? Is it at least 2 to 3 times as deep as your 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?
Humidity at between 80 and 90 no thermostats for temp.
Curly - You will need to get a thermometer to check the temperature. Too cold or too hot can be harmful/ deadly.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes under tank heat mat
Curly - It should be on the back or side of the tank, not underneath where it would be a fire hazard.

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)?
Salt and spring water with sponge and using zoo med treatment for salt water
Curly - Unfortunately, zoo med isn't appropriate salt - it won't harm them but won't provide all the minerals that crabs need for long term health. You will want to use tap water with a dechlorinator for the fresh water (SeaChem Prime is a commonly used brand), then add a marine salt for the salt water (Instant Ocean is a popular brand).

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I give a large variety of food they have two bowls one for fresh fruit mixtures apples, grapes, blueberries and another for hermit mix, bloodworms, leafy greens spinach and lettuce
Curly - Ensure that you are offering protein and calcium daily.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
About two weeks and purple pinched


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Not while in my care

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

10 gallon tank and mesh lid covered in plastic wrap
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

2 medium crabs
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

3 and all natural
Curly - HCA recommends 3 to 5 extra shells 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?
Just did a tank switch from a 5 gallon to the 10 gallon about 3 days ago

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

One sponge just replaced with new sponge
Curly - Sponges aren't needed, they just harbor bacteria. You can use something like craft mesh or a plastic ladder for crabs to be able to crawl out, if your pools are deeper than your crabs.

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.)?
He’s always been a more shy crab but yesterday he became inactive and actually lost a leg in his freshwater bowl

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

I want to know how to help my crab he does not move he came out halfway out of his shell and lost a leg

Update I moved him to isolation he fell halfway out of his shell during the move other limbs are still intact and no smell is being emitted please help this so our first crab and I do not know what to do other than what I have read through the forums
Curly - Crabs start losing limbs when they are weak, in a last ditch effort to conserve energy. They go through so much before we get them, that sometimes they are not able to overcome it and survive. There are a couple of things that you can do to improve their tank and give them the best chance at survival. You can also try feeding some high energy foods, like peanut butter and honey.

Update both ended up dying

I am sorry to hear that. Crabs go through so much before we get them, that they are often unable to recover.
If you are going to get more crabs, try adopting from someone who has looked after them well but who is unable to care for them anymore - there is a higher chance of survival that way.

Thank you I bought two new ones I wish I would’ve found someone but unfortunately could not so adopted from the pet store I got a big hermit and small hermit I added a digita thermometer and temp is reading 78 humidity between 75 and 80 big hermit is thriving climbing and eating but small one is taking time to adjust