This is not really an emergency, because the crab is dead. So I decided it was better here.
So today I found a dead crab under the water dish. He was one of 2 crabs I have who are on the larger side of medium. I am very upset because this is the first crab death in our main tank (our 1 death before was a craigslist save that only lived a few weeks in iso). Strange thing is that he was not in a shell. In fact we still have not found the shell he was in. Tonight when the crabs come out I will see if anyone is wearing it, but I doubt it, because no one comes near fitting in it except 2 other crabs. 1 of them is molting on the other side of the tank and would be coming up in 5-6 days at the soonest and the other one I saw walking around this morning in the shell she has been in for a month or so.
I saw this crab out and eating 2 days ago, happy and acting normal.
Next possibly related strange thing is that we found an alive naked crab this morning as well. We searched around for his shell and he had gotten it stuck into a log. He re-shelled immediately and seems fine. I have trouble believing that my first 2 ever streakers are not related, but the 2nd guy's shell was really wedged into this log. Took us force to get it out, and he had dug a dent into the sand under the shell where he was clawing to get out.
I will fill out the emergency template in the next post just so you have an idea, but nothing at all has changed in the last month. The only thing we changed recently was adding a humidifier (the DIY ball jar one) 6 weeks ago.
Any ideas? I don't believe in freak accidents, and I have had these crabs for 5 months now. I am convinced there is a cause of some sort.
First naked crab ever - found dead
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1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Playsand and EE mix- 5-6 inches throughout.
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. Temp is 78, humidity is 75-80 on the side of the tank with the humidifier and 70-75 on the other side. Both at substrate level
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Not during summer. My house is about 80 and the tank hovers around 78,
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)?
Both fresh and salt, I use spring water because of the large amount of stuff in our tap water, and instant ocean salt water mix. My largest crab can fully submerge in both pools.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed a variety, but they always have- peanut butter, honey, worm castings, freeze dried or fresh shrimp, fresh (usually) or freeze dried fruit, seaweed, bloodworms, cuttle bone and egg shell. I take fresh things in and out daily, the dry food dish stays a little longer, maybe a few days.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
4 months, PP, medium
7. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
Tank, 55 gallon, screen lid partially (mostly) covered
8. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
10 all small/medium. This crab was one of the biggest.
9. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Lots. They have been slowly "disappearing" by being drug around buried, but above ground I have about 25 right now. There are 40 total in the tank. I have a deep clean due in a few weeks where I hope to unearth the rest of the shells and make a better shell shop.
10. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
no
11. How often do you clean the tank and how?
deep clean every 6 months. Daily I clean out food and poop and things like that. Water change every 3 days.
12. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
no
13. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Just the humidifier 6 weeks ago.
Playsand and EE mix- 5-6 inches throughout.
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. Temp is 78, humidity is 75-80 on the side of the tank with the humidifier and 70-75 on the other side. Both at substrate level
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Not during summer. My house is about 80 and the tank hovers around 78,
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)?
Both fresh and salt, I use spring water because of the large amount of stuff in our tap water, and instant ocean salt water mix. My largest crab can fully submerge in both pools.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
I feed a variety, but they always have- peanut butter, honey, worm castings, freeze dried or fresh shrimp, fresh (usually) or freeze dried fruit, seaweed, bloodworms, cuttle bone and egg shell. I take fresh things in and out daily, the dry food dish stays a little longer, maybe a few days.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
4 months, PP, medium
7. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
Tank, 55 gallon, screen lid partially (mostly) covered
8. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
10 all small/medium. This crab was one of the biggest.
9. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Lots. They have been slowly "disappearing" by being drug around buried, but above ground I have about 25 right now. There are 40 total in the tank. I have a deep clean due in a few weeks where I hope to unearth the rest of the shells and make a better shell shop.
10. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
no
11. How often do you clean the tank and how?
deep clean every 6 months. Daily I clean out food and poop and things like that. Water change every 3 days.
12. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
no
13. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Just the humidifier 6 weeks ago.
Are you sure this is a dead crab and not an exo? (have to ask) Sounds like the only problem with the first crab was getting the shell stuck. If the other crab is indeed a dead streaker than I can't find anything in your care that may have caused it. It looks to me that you are doing everything right.
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Topic author
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I just wanted to update a little.
The streaker that was alive has been acting just fine. He resumed sitting on his favorite spot immediately, has been eating, climbing, everything totally normal.
I found the dead crabs shell. It actually was not far from where the crab died, and in a somewhat connected tunnel. I now believe that it may have been a bad molt, with the crab going naked for some reason, walking a short distance down the tunnel (2 or so inches to the water dish) and dying. This was this crabs first molt with me, all of my other crabs have molted at least once.
Thanks for the advise and condolences everyone. I am so upset about loosing this guy, I wish I could know for sure what happened to him.
The streaker that was alive has been acting just fine. He resumed sitting on his favorite spot immediately, has been eating, climbing, everything totally normal.
I found the dead crabs shell. It actually was not far from where the crab died, and in a somewhat connected tunnel. I now believe that it may have been a bad molt, with the crab going naked for some reason, walking a short distance down the tunnel (2 or so inches to the water dish) and dying. This was this crabs first molt with me, all of my other crabs have molted at least once.
Thanks for the advise and condolences everyone. I am so upset about loosing this guy, I wish I could know for sure what happened to him.
That's virtually identical to an experience I had, only it was the crab's second molt with me. The first molt went very badly - his exo was thin and his big pincher broke off. I think he hadn't been fed properly prior to my buying himaclightingdesigner wrote:I just wanted to update a little.
The streaker that was alive has been acting just fine. He resumed sitting on his favorite spot immediately, has been eating, climbing, everything totally normal.
I found the dead crabs shell. It actually was not far from where the crab died, and in a somewhat connected tunnel. I now believe that it may have been a bad molt, with the crab going naked for some reason, walking a short distance down the tunnel (2 or so inches to the water dish) and dying. This was this crabs first molt with me, all of my other crabs have molted at least once.
Thanks for the advise and condolences everyone. I am so upset about loosing this guy, I wish I could know for sure what happened to him.
He molted again immediately but it was all too much for him - he came up naked, a few inches from a hole where I later found his shell and he died a day or two later.I guess than when they get weak, the shell is just an added burden, so they ditch it.
From what I've read here, PPS is a risk up til the first molt. If they've been badly treated before you get them, that can have an effect on their first molt with you, so I highly doubt it was something you did.
Even when we give the little guys our best care, we can't always undo the damage done to them before we get them.
