new owner with 2 new crabs! would like some help

Please post here if you are a new crab owner and someone will be along shortly to welcome you to the HCA! This is also the place to welcome new crabbies to your clan!
Post Reply
User avatar

Topic author
mylittlecrabs
Posts: 15
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2022 11:29 am

new owner with 2 new crabs! would like some help

Post by mylittlecrabs » Fri Jul 29, 2022 10:46 am

:crabbigsmile: i am a new owner with 2 crabs named crunchwrap supreme (crunchy) and crispy chicken sandwich (crispy).i have a 10 gal tank with a tikaton uth on the back (i think its like the zoomed ones). to start out i had sand in the tank planning to change it out to a sand and coco fiber mix but i found out it was fine sand instead of the all purpose. so put them into a little temporary bin with coco fiber and they LOVED it. they immediately buried down which they couldnt do in the other sand. i put a play sand coco fiber mixture in there last night and transferred them in. crunchy immediately went into one of the coconut hides like he did when it was just sand in there. and crispy buried somewhere i havent seen him. i know that can be normal for molting or hes just stressed. but crunchy didnt bury, he was in his shell when i went to sleep but i woke up a few times and checked on him and he was out roaming the tank. but ever since 5am when i woke up hes been in his hide. but hes not in his shell he has been just standing there. ive seen his antennae moving but im still worried. before today the temp was at a steady 75, i couldnt get it to heat up any more but i have put a blanker over it (not on the heater as i read that i shouldnt). now the tank is at 80! do you think that may help or does anyone know what else could be happening with little crunchy? i got them from petco, they were labeled as the small ones, i havent gotten a chance to measure them tho. i also bought some of the destress water conditioner, but i already put them into some regular conditioned water to try and clean their shells out a little but they immediately got out. i dont want to mess with them any more but if the destress will help i will do it. sorry if this isnt supposed to be in this category, i wasnt sure where to put it but i figured here bc my crabs and i are new. :crabbigsmile: Image
this is what hes doing currently and every time ive checked since about 5am, just standing there
i love you! - crunchwrap supreme and crispy chicken sandwich

User avatar

curlysister
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4584
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
Location: Manitoba, Canada

Re: new owner with 2 new crabs! would like some help

Post by curlysister » Fri Jul 29, 2022 10:48 pm

To clarify, is he naked? A crab without a shell will die, it is an emergency. There is a care sheet that says what to do.

If your crab is not naked, then staying in the hide is safe for him. Be sure to have a look at the 'basics' care sheet, for info on setting up a tank. You don't want to bathe crabs, they will take a mix of salt and fresh waters in a ratio they need. You will need dechlorinated fresh water, and then salt water made with the dechlorinated fresh water with marine salt added.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers

User avatar

Topic author
mylittlecrabs
Posts: 15
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2022 11:29 am

Re: new owner with 2 new crabs! would like some help

Post by mylittlecrabs » Sat Jul 30, 2022 10:29 am

thank you! he is not naked and i do have both dechlorinated water and salt water. i actually caught him last night roaming around and it finally looks like the food has been touched so im really happy. i looked it up and i think hes in a sleeping position lol
i love you! - crunchwrap supreme and crispy chicken sandwich

User avatar

curlysister
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4584
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
Location: Manitoba, Canada

Re: new owner with 2 new crabs! would like some help

Post by curlysister » Sat Jul 30, 2022 12:32 pm

Okay, good he's not naked.
Crabs can take a while to get comfortable. Also they eat very small amounts when they are small - the only way I knew mine were eating for the first couple of years is that they were still alive LOL, it seemed like I put in and took out the same amount of food!
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers

Post Reply