Hulk strikes AGAIN! =( bad news

hulk · Post by **hulk** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 5:26 pm

Rouge is dead

I haven't seen her for two weeks. I figured she was stressed from me gone for a week during vacation...there were afew things I thought she would be upset about like the food was a bit molding from a level calapse in the food wetting it..but thee were other foods to eat that was safe from the clapse.

Today I saw HULK wearing her shell!!!! I freaked out! I tood Hulk out in her jail as she has come to know from attacking and killing Elektra and Hellboy..both and all straws. So I started looking for Rouge. I got lucky and found right away where she was...but she was dead. It looks as if she was trying to molt again? BUT the horrible thing was her abdomen was missing? Did Hulk eat her? Did it decay in afew weeks? I looked around and dug around the area (not to disturb Spidergilr molting hopefully safe and sound) I didn't not find any abdomen. She was missing legs also. I igure Hulk found her and attacked her, but maybe she was gone longer then today? The other crazy thing is Hulks shell she was wearing beofre putting on Rouges shell was under the EE right above Rouge's body.

I am just so disgusted with HULK! I could do something terrible....but of course I wont. I will not get anymire straws after this....unless I try smaller ones cause Hulk doesn't bother the smaller crabs. it is one of two things: the crabs Hulk's size or the species of the straws that Hulk seems to attack.

I feel horrible for Rouge! She will be missed.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:06 pm

It could be canibilism, or it may not be. the fact the abdomen was gone probobly means someone ate her. That is NOT to say this was an act of killing, Rouge could of died many waays and hulk found her dead and, well, took the oppertunity to have some meat, and a new shell.

Another possibility is Rouge was molting and hulk smelled the molting smell and instinctivelly attacked Rouge. This is why some of us ISO our molters.

Some ways to prevent this are putting Hulk in an ISO for a while. The cannibilism is almost always a result of a protien deficency. What food are your crabs getting? Try adding more protien in their diet. I'd personally ISO hulk while feeding him a LOT of protien filled foods and, after a month or 2, introdce him back to the main tank.

I hope this helped and I'm so sorry for your loss.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:45 pm

Wow, Hulk has been in a few headlines from you over the past 6 or so months. Sorry you are going through this. I know how you feel, as virtually all the crab deaths I have had have been from attacks. The only thing I can think of is maybe there is not enough protein in their diet? I have increased the amount of meat I feed my crabs and I have not had any trouble since. I would love to get a new one, but at the moment my 4 seem like a really close family. Is there enough shells for Hulk as well? I hope you dont have to face these events again.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:06 pm

This is a dumb question, but the last time I found a "dead" crab with no abdomen it was the exo from a surface molt. Is it possible that Rouge shell-swapped, and then molted and is dug down somewhere else? I had a Rug who dumped his shell right before going underground, and all I saw was the unmoving shell for three days and I thought he was dead...

I'm so sorry you are going through all this

bksbuddha · Post by **bksbuddha** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:24 pm

[smilie=comfort.gif] [smilie=hug.gif] Awww, honey, I'm truly sorry that this happened yet again. I would definately not keep Hulk in w/the ones that are his size...only smaller than him.

As you know Vise has been alone now for the longest time & when she does get some family, I'm going to put them in there for at least a week or 2 & then add her. Her abdomen could have decayed in that amount of time, I think, so I wouldn't blame cannibalism on Hulk. Again, my heart goes out to you sweetie!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 12:40 am

I'm so sorry this happened! Unfortunatly I think you're probably right, Hulk may only be able to be housed with smaller crabs.

hulk · Post by **hulk** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:54 am

well, firstly..I will say Hulk has about 16 shells her size and bigger to choose from..Hulk is always changing and seems to want what the MOLTED straws have...or just doing it for dominance. I do put meats in almost everyday. I put in crab legs, shrimp, fish, and even brine shrimp and baby gamma shrimp and sometimes chicken and things. I don't usually see the crabs eating it..but Hulk was lately so I don't see why Hulk would go cannabil when this was in the food dish. BUT knowing Hulk then she probably saw the opportunity to kill Rouge and went for it...like the other times before. I had no idea she was going for another molt. She just came up. I figure Hulk attacked her while I was gone like Elektra and she went to molt and recover. I am sure she was not just exo. I saw her body under what looked to be her molted body lifted from her face. She was missing afew legs which may have been from an attack or Hulk ate her. I am sure she is not in the other shell cause it was over her body, but empty and Hulk was in it the day before.

I just can't believe it.

hermiefanatic · Post by **hermiefanatic** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:09 pm

i havent had this happen b4 although last nite somebody attcked magic- still a live and reshelled. i would put hulk in a private cage with lots of meats protein, and vitamins, and minerals. i would keep him in there fort maybe 2 or 3 wks. then out him in with the smaller crabs. also how long ago did hulk molt? i know that some crabs get agressive b4 they molt. so sorry about hulk

brad873 · Post by **brad873** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:29 am

her body isnt exo?? there have been a few very very very rare cases of shell sharing, or she went so far back hulk and were it. but that is unlikely. it sound like hulk is a lot of trouble, and i dont think your other crabs are safe, maybe you should make a new tat for him and add biger crabs with him so he can attack the,m

hulk · Post by **hulk** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:30 am

sigh!

Hulk molted the same time as Rouge and Hellboy and came up a day or two after Rouge and Poor Hellboy was found or something and came up early but didn't look ATTACKED just Hulk was sorta guarding his shell in the hut..so it was too stressful for poor Hellboy. then Ihave no clue what happened with Rouge and Hulk...maybe the same thing with Elektra?

Spidergirl a slightly smaller pp then Hulk just came up from her molt and pranced around and Hulk did nothing...so maybe things will calm down. I still worry. Last night Hulk Spidergirl Plankton-Violet and Batman were all together in the top level hanging out? I am so confused with Hulk's behavior..I feel panicked whenever Hulk gets near any other crab.

I put in some flax and wheatgrass seed in a pot to grow and hulk dug them up and ate them? I wonder if she needs more seeds in her diet?

I have so much room now in the tank..a 55 gallon with:

4 female PP's~ 2 really small and a lg/small; then Hulk a lg/med.
2 male rugs~ 1 tiny and 1 really small.

I am getting 4 E's soon probally smalls...so they are not overcrowded...and I can think of any normal reasons for Hulk to behave so badly. I have very deed EE/sand so 6 inches should be plenty for their sizes (even for the medium and large straws who were attacked) I really love straws too. My babe were so sweet and gentle...they were not afraid of me and were so pretty. I miss them! I was going to try to get some really small straws, but I am so afraid to risk it...cause Hulk is either attacking the species or the size from what I can assume.

I am so sad for loosing Elektra, Hellboy and Rouge all my beautiful straws...all becasue of Hulk. They were so happy and healthy even after their molt( excluding Hellboy who never even had the chance to finish) I just don't understand what is going on.

I had Hulk and Elektra and Hellboy together for at least a month or longer with NO PROBLEMS until Elektra molts (and she molted perfectly) and then all of a sudden Hulk changed into a killer!

bksbuddha · Post by **bksbuddha** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 12:20 pm

[smilie=comfort.gif] hulk, you've done everything you can think of & it's not your fault. Please don't think that you could've done better.

Certainly give Hulk more seeds, but don't feel badly for setting Hulk up by herself & giving her little family members to play with.

My heart goes out to you because I do understand how on one hand ya wanna punish Hulk for her behaviour, but at the same time ya love her to pieces & just want her to be happy! I feel the same way about Vise.

I now have another one who keeps stealing others shells...Zircon! My thoughts at times are to put Vise & Zircon together & let them beat on each other, but I can't do that as I love them & don't want them to get hurt! :roll: Definately a dilemma! So, trust me that I do know how much it's hurting you & bothering you. [smilie=hug.gif] Don't despair honey. Just put Hulk in w/the littler ones & watch her w/them. Please keep us posted! We do care & are here for ya if ya need us! [smilie=grouphug.gif]

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 1:00 pm

Hulk,

I've been following your trials and tribulations. I feel like I'm watching a soap opera, and I really feel for you. It must be so difficult for you to even see Hulk in the tank.

You said you really miss your straws. Any chance you could get another tank just for the straws? Or, since the one you're using now is so large, maybe you could get a smaller one for Hulk and your little ones.

Please keep us posted on how you're doing.

hulk · Post by **hulk** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:19 am

yeah, I thought about putting the crabbies now in the 30 gallon (and move the newt to the 10 again) and get some straws in the 55...but with space issues and sorta sharing a house for now it is too much. I already have a 20 L for my leo, a 20 for fish, a 10 for baby fish, a betta who eventually will go back in the 20 or the 10..long story =0) and then my newt in the 30. I do have an extra 10 and 55 not used, but no room really.....so eventually I will be able to do what I want for once...but for now I am no able to add more tanks.

I think I am luckyto get a room just for my bunnies though lol..they are so adorable =) and actually geting along really well, so maybe they will be bonded soon!!! not holding my breath ha ha. Plus, Ihave a cat who was not anted also and I got him anyways, but not he is loved and accepted~to a point~...so I guess I really pushed my luck too far and have to stop....I will get my chance.