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?
My substrate is 6 and a half inches and I use play sand.
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 gauge for heat and humidity and they usually read 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 80% humidity.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I use a small heat source in the back 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)?
I have two bowls for fresh and saltwater and I use a mixture of 1 cup bottled water to a teaspoon of ocean salt and the fresh water is just bottled water.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed it a mixture of an amphibian mix and fruits, mealworms, and oats. I replace it every other day unless i have fruit in it then I replace it the next day.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I’ve had him for a little less than a month now and he’s a purple pincher
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He hasn’t molted yet.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
I use a 20 gallon tank with Saran Wrap on top as a temporary solution until I get a glass lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have 2 crabs and one was active for a while then buried itself 4 days ago and the other stays on the surface and just recently started to move a lot less and I just found out his big claw was gone and I found it in the spot he likes to sit in.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I keep 3 natural shells for each and I want them to move into them because they both have painted shells but neither have actually moved yet.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
There haven’t been any chemicals or fumes near the tank.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I exchange water every two days and do a basic maintenance like really checking for mold every 4 or 5 days.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
There are no sponges in the tank.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
I added a coconut hut that they seemed to like for a while a week ago.
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 got him at the mall not knowing anything about hermit crabs then did a lot of research and started providing the things he needs and then got another crab for him and he was active for about 2 days before going going underground.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
The real problem is when a couple days ago he stopped moving entirely and he was always in the same spot. I keep checking on him every other day to make sure he hasn’t died and just today when I moved him to check he was missing his big claw and it was laying where he was sitting and now I don’t know what to do.
.
My crabs big claw fell off!
-
curlysister
- Administrator
- Posts: 4421
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: My crabs big claw fell off!
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
My substrate is 6 and a half inches and I use play sand.
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 gauge for heat and humidity and they usually read 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 80% humidity.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I use a small heat source in the back 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)?
I have two bowls for fresh and saltwater and I use a mixture of 1 cup bottled water to a teaspoon of ocean salt and the fresh water is just bottled water.
Curly - Bottled water is a bit of a crap shoot, it really isn't regulated. To be safe, we recommend using a dechlorinator with it (but cheaper would be to just use your tap water and treat with the dechlorinator). Be sure you are using marine salt. This won't be the cause of your current problem, but for future health. Be sure to read the 'water' care sheet for full info.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed it a mixture of an amphibian mix and fruits, mealworms, and oats. I replace it every other day unless i have fruit in it then I replace it the next day.
Curly - Crabs need a variety of foods, including animal protein and calcium daily. You can feel them much of what you eat, or buy foods. Fruits, veggies, greens, leaves, flowers, grains, nuts, seeds, eggs, eggshells, etc.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I’ve had him for a little less than a month now and he’s a purple pincher
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He hasn’t molted yet.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
I use a 20 gallon tank with Saran Wrap on top as a temporary solution until I get a glass lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have 2 crabs and one was active for a while then buried itself 4 days ago and the other stays on the surface and just recently started to move a lot less and I just found out his big claw was gone and I found it in the spot he likes to sit in.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I keep 3 natural shells for each and I want them to move into them because they both have painted shells but neither have actually moved yet.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
There haven’t been any chemicals or fumes near the tank.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I exchange water every two days and do a basic maintenance like really checking for mold every 4 or 5 days.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
There are no sponges in the tank.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
I added a coconut hut that they seemed to like for a while a week ago.
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 got him at the mall not knowing anything about hermit crabs then did a lot of research and started providing the things he needs and then got another crab for him and he was active for about 2 days before going going underground.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
The real problem is when a couple days ago he stopped moving entirely and he was always in the same spot. I keep checking on him every other day to make sure he hasn’t died and just today when I moved him to check he was missing his big claw and it was laying where he was sitting and now I don’t know what to do.
Curly - Your conditions are pretty good, but crabs go through so much before we get them that they are often really stressed and sometimes don't make it no matter what we do for them. They start dropping limbs and pinchers as a last ditch effort to conserve energy. Try offering some high energy foods, like peanut butter and honey.
My substrate is 6 and a half inches and I use play sand.
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 gauge for heat and humidity and they usually read 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 80% humidity.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
I use a small heat source in the back 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)?
I have two bowls for fresh and saltwater and I use a mixture of 1 cup bottled water to a teaspoon of ocean salt and the fresh water is just bottled water.
Curly - Bottled water is a bit of a crap shoot, it really isn't regulated. To be safe, we recommend using a dechlorinator with it (but cheaper would be to just use your tap water and treat with the dechlorinator). Be sure you are using marine salt. This won't be the cause of your current problem, but for future health. Be sure to read the 'water' care sheet for full info.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed it a mixture of an amphibian mix and fruits, mealworms, and oats. I replace it every other day unless i have fruit in it then I replace it the next day.
Curly - Crabs need a variety of foods, including animal protein and calcium daily. You can feel them much of what you eat, or buy foods. Fruits, veggies, greens, leaves, flowers, grains, nuts, seeds, eggs, eggshells, etc.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I’ve had him for a little less than a month now and he’s a purple pincher
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He hasn’t molted yet.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
I use a 20 gallon tank with Saran Wrap on top as a temporary solution until I get a glass lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
I have 2 crabs and one was active for a while then buried itself 4 days ago and the other stays on the surface and just recently started to move a lot less and I just found out his big claw was gone and I found it in the spot he likes to sit in.
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I keep 3 natural shells for each and I want them to move into them because they both have painted shells but neither have actually moved yet.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
There haven’t been any chemicals or fumes near the tank.
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I exchange water every two days and do a basic maintenance like really checking for mold every 4 or 5 days.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
There are no sponges in the tank.
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
I added a coconut hut that they seemed to like for a while a week ago.
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 got him at the mall not knowing anything about hermit crabs then did a lot of research and started providing the things he needs and then got another crab for him and he was active for about 2 days before going going underground.
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
The real problem is when a couple days ago he stopped moving entirely and he was always in the same spot. I keep checking on him every other day to make sure he hasn’t died and just today when I moved him to check he was missing his big claw and it was laying where he was sitting and now I don’t know what to do.
Curly - Your conditions are pretty good, but crabs go through so much before we get them that they are often really stressed and sometimes don't make it no matter what we do for them. They start dropping limbs and pinchers as a last ditch effort to conserve energy. Try offering some high energy foods, like peanut butter and honey.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers