HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I was heading to bed, and Bump was still over chilling by the salt water dish so I thought I'd pick her up and say hey. She retreated into her shell, so when I put her back in, I placed her in the salt water for a little dip. I was standing there watching her and she dropped her shell. So I rushed to go grab a spoon and a tupperware to put her and her shell in. I scooped her out, and within seconds of placing her in the tupperware, she died.

I killed her.

What happened?!

<3 Gladys, Pico, Zeus, Bump, Tango, Tidas! <3

Oh, no! I can't even imagine, hope somebody has an idea... Hugs!

Picking her up would not have killed her. Are you sure she is dead? Put her in that Tupperware with wet moss or something to keep her moist. Poke holes in the lid and close her up. Put it in the main tank. Check in the morning. Don't give up until the dead fish smell. I'm sorry.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Put the shell in there too. When molting they are paralyzed. She could still be alive and you interrupted a surface molt.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I second what Kelly said. Place her in ISO until you're sure.

Just in case, how is your salt water mixed? Do you use a dechlorinator? Was the dish of water very cold or very warm? When was it changed last?

I really don't think any of that or anything you did would have caused such a sudden death though. :grouphug:

Wow, I am really sorry about the crabby. I don't that she is dead and don't give up on her until you smell the fishy smell. But your crab is certainly sick, crabs will rather be pulled apart then abandon their shell. Please keep us updated and I am sorry about you little crabby. Maybe you could fill out the care template to maybe give us more information about the tragedy.

Is it an E? They are really quick to ditch when they get startled.

I agree with the others that you should be sure it's not a molt. Was she moving slowly when you picked her up or when she was in the water?

Just to run through a list of things:
Has she been acting weird at all lately? Es like to return to saltwater when they are dying.
When was the last time you changed the water?
Do anything different with the water this time?
Which salt product do you use?
Could you have hit her tail with the spoon? They're like water balloons back there and it doesn't take much to cause organ damage. Bare handed is safer when they're naked, though they might pinch.

I further investigated her last night and she was still alive. I placed her in her shell in an ISO with peanut butter and some water and placed that in the tat and left her for the night. When I woke up she hadn't moved at all and I'm sure she is gone.

I posted in Pictures yesterday of her sleeping all weird against the salt water dish and that's where she was all day.

I use Instant Ocean. 1/4 cup per gallon of treated water. She's a PP.

I sure when scooping her to be very gentle.

She just have already been sick or something. I got her a couple weeks ago. Perhaps PPS?

<3 Gladys, Pico, Zeus, Bump, Tango, Tidas! <3

I smelled her up close. Fish smell. She's gone.

<3 Gladys, Pico, Zeus, Bump, Tango, Tidas! <3

I'm so sorry.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

It does sound like possible PPS with her being new and her behavior lately. I'm sorry for your loss.

Not that it would have caused the problem but instant ocean should be mixed 1/2 cup per gallon of dechlor water.

Oh, okay. Thanks, Calla.

<3 Gladys, Pico, Zeus, Bump, Tango, Tidas! <3

Really sorry for your loss but what does PPS mean?

viewtopic.php?t=93837

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk