New Hermit Crab Owner
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 7:36 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?
play sand and coco fiber 5/1 ratio, 5in 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?
yes, in the middle of the tank, usually 77 degrees and the humidity is at 80%.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
yes, heating pad on the back and small round one underneath
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 use hermit crab saltwater pre mixed and the hermit crab water treatment from the pet store.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
i replace food daily, i feed a variety of foods like plankton, red shrimp, kale, chia seeds, carrots, apples, grapes, coconut flakes, hermit meal, worm castings, oyster shells, mealworms, silkworms.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
unsure of species, i’m pretty sure purple pincher, i’ve had them for about a month.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
i have two crabs, one i believe is currently molting and the other has not.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
a 20 gallon aquarium with a glass lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2, medium
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
7
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
no
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
i haven’t cleaned it yet due to the possibly molting crab, but i spot clean with a scooper.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
no the humidity is solid.
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.)?
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Hi there! i’m a new hermit crab owner, i’ve had two of them for about a month now. one of them, Grimace, switched shells immediately and then ate a lot, and now has been buried (and i believe is molting) for over a week and a half now. my other crab, Mayor McCheese, was very active but now hasn’t been for about a week and sits in the corner of his cage. i’m unsure of what i’m doing wrong, as he seemed happy and was eating before. i haven’t seen him eat or move much, but all of the temperatures of the enclosure are perfect. is there something i’m doing wrong?
.
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
play sand and coco fiber 5/1 ratio, 5in 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?
yes, in the middle of the tank, usually 77 degrees and the humidity is at 80%.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
yes, heating pad on the back and small round one underneath
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 use hermit crab saltwater pre mixed and the hermit crab water treatment from the pet store.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
i replace food daily, i feed a variety of foods like plankton, red shrimp, kale, chia seeds, carrots, apples, grapes, coconut flakes, hermit meal, worm castings, oyster shells, mealworms, silkworms.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
unsure of species, i’m pretty sure purple pincher, i’ve had them for about a month.
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
i have two crabs, one i believe is currently molting and the other has not.
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
a 20 gallon aquarium with a glass lid.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2, medium
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
7
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
no
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
i haven’t cleaned it yet due to the possibly molting crab, but i spot clean with a scooper.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
no the humidity is solid.
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.)?
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Hi there! i’m a new hermit crab owner, i’ve had two of them for about a month now. one of them, Grimace, switched shells immediately and then ate a lot, and now has been buried (and i believe is molting) for over a week and a half now. my other crab, Mayor McCheese, was very active but now hasn’t been for about a week and sits in the corner of his cage. i’m unsure of what i’m doing wrong, as he seemed happy and was eating before. i haven’t seen him eat or move much, but all of the temperatures of the enclosure are perfect. is there something i’m doing wrong?
.