possible dead surface molter, need help
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2023 10:42 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?
a mix of beach sand, aragalive and coco coir, dont remember the exact ratio but mostly beach sand. 6 inches on the short side, an inch or two more in a few places
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, i have two thermometers on opposite ends of the tank and one hygrometer. heaters are hooked up to a thermostat. most of the time temp and humidity both read 82.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
external heat pads
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)?
they have both fresh and salt pools. i use aquaeon dechlorinator or just use spring water
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
i feed a balanced diet with plenty of protien and calcium, mostly dry food. i change it every 3 days or as needed
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
approximately a year, a purple pincher
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
she came back from a molt at the beginning of september
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
a 40 gallon tank, a modified screen lid with seran wrap to keep humidity in
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 purple pinchers, one small one mediumish.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
7 or so per crab, all turbos in various colors.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
no
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
i spot clean as neccissary. theyve only been in the tanka month so no deep cleans yet
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
no sponges
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
they entire setup is new, got it set up in late august.
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 has been buried most of the time ive had her, has wildly outgrown her current shell and has refused to even look at any of the other ones i put in there.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
the crab that i think is dead went into the shell shop 4 days ago, pulled all the way out of her shell and went limp. theres a nasty fishy smell coming fromt hat part of the tank now. i picked her up as gently as i could and shes completely limp but she didnt fall out of the shell so i set her back down carefully. she came up from a molt at the beginning of september right as i got the new tank finished so i moved her over. to my knowledge the conditions are ideal so i dont know why she would surface molt. we had a heat wave about a week ago and it got to be 92 degrees in the tank, im worried it might have been too much for her. shes been acting lethargic since then, and went into the shell shop and started hanging out of her shell about 4 days ago. for the last 3 days shes looked pale and her eyes are touching, ive never seen this before and i dont know what to do. the other crabs in iso and i dont want to leave him there forever. please tell me how long i have to wait before i know for sure, i dont want to disturb her if shes molting but the nasty smell would indicate shes not.
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
a mix of beach sand, aragalive and coco coir, dont remember the exact ratio but mostly beach sand. 6 inches on the short side, an inch or two more in a few places
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, i have two thermometers on opposite ends of the tank and one hygrometer. heaters are hooked up to a thermostat. most of the time temp and humidity both read 82.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
external heat pads
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)?
they have both fresh and salt pools. i use aquaeon dechlorinator or just use spring water
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
i feed a balanced diet with plenty of protien and calcium, mostly dry food. i change it every 3 days or as needed
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
approximately a year, a purple pincher
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
she came back from a molt at the beginning of september
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
a 40 gallon tank, a modified screen lid with seran wrap to keep humidity in
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 purple pinchers, one small one mediumish.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
7 or so per crab, all turbos in various colors.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
no
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
i spot clean as neccissary. theyve only been in the tanka month so no deep cleans yet
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
no sponges
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
they entire setup is new, got it set up in late august.
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 has been buried most of the time ive had her, has wildly outgrown her current shell and has refused to even look at any of the other ones i put in there.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
the crab that i think is dead went into the shell shop 4 days ago, pulled all the way out of her shell and went limp. theres a nasty fishy smell coming fromt hat part of the tank now. i picked her up as gently as i could and shes completely limp but she didnt fall out of the shell so i set her back down carefully. she came up from a molt at the beginning of september right as i got the new tank finished so i moved her over. to my knowledge the conditions are ideal so i dont know why she would surface molt. we had a heat wave about a week ago and it got to be 92 degrees in the tank, im worried it might have been too much for her. shes been acting lethargic since then, and went into the shell shop and started hanging out of her shell about 4 days ago. for the last 3 days shes looked pale and her eyes are touching, ive never seen this before and i dont know what to do. the other crabs in iso and i dont want to leave him there forever. please tell me how long i have to wait before i know for sure, i dont want to disturb her if shes molting but the nasty smell would indicate shes not.