Something is wrong...I am so worried!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:13 am

As some of you know, I am a novice crabber, rescuing my first crab just about 10 days ago, and adopting a friend for him from Petco, who, BTW, had an exceptional set up for the crabs! All of you pro crabbers would be very pleased and wish all pet stores kept their crabbies this nice.

Ok heres what is going on:

I saw how some of you use moss and put it in those plastic shelves that stick to the wall using suction cups. Well I bought the moss (the kind for reptiles, not the stuff from a craft store, as per some of you suggested to do) I had a nice retangle container so I dug a rectangle hole, sunk the container in the hole and filled the container with nice moist moss.

Well guess who is in there, totally covered up with the moss?

Hermie! The PETCO crab!

He likes to dig , and has always dug from day one...but never has he buried himself totally. I heard him in his shell so he is alive, I know that much.

darn...could he be molting? His eyes were not cloudy like I read that their eyes get cloudy before they molt. Is this a "given" that their eyes cloud first?

So I take it that I am not supposed to disturb him.....can he molt ihat way, under the moss?

Man I hope he will be ok.

Advice please!

1. Substrate used? Clean play sand and eco earth

2. Humidity % level in crabitat? about 78% most of the time

3. Temperature of substrate in crabitat? not sure (didnt know I had to monitor that)

4. Temperature of crabitat? 76

5. Location of gauges? mid way down and another set down lower toward the substrate

6. What is your heat source? natural but do have heat lamp never need to use it

7. Types of water available? both salt and fresh

8. Dechlorinator used? yes

9. What do you feed? store crab food, some baby food, fruits

10. How long have you had the crab in question? 1 week

11. Do you know the species? 2 PPs

12. Do you bath them, if so how often and with what? Never

13. What type of housing are they in? Tank? Plastic box? tank

14. What size is your tank? 20 gal.

15. How many crabs are in the tank? What size are they? 2 med

16. How deep is the substrate? 5 inches

17. If you take your hermies out daily to exercise, do you mist their gill area first? yes

18. Has there been any cleaners, paints, perfumes, air fresheners, candles, or smoking near the crabitat? no never

19. How often do you clean/sterilize and how? clean their poohs daily but they are only here for first week so never had to clean entire habitat yet

20. Any unusual odors? no

21. Do you use sponges? Are they rinsed daily with dechlor water? Are they exchanged every 2 days for a sterile one? no sponges

22. Do you feed fresh food? When do you remove it? fresh food daily and remove it after about 8 hours or less

23. Are your hands clean before handling? yes

24. Has there been anything new added to your crabitat recently? moss (reptile kind)
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Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:21 am

No Bug is under there with him!!

What the heck?

I know they like to dig, especially Hermie....could they just be using this as sleeping quarters/hidey area? They have their coco hut for that and they dig a hole when they are in there too but never bury in it.

Anyhow, now they are both under the moss!! If they come up, should I get rid of the moss or is this totally normal and OK to do?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:25 am

My oldest crab went under the moss the day I got it. He is still in there. But no stench, and a lot of people told me they could molt down there, and its perfectly acceptable. Also, my new crab who just molted didn't look like she needed to molt either, but she did. So yes, they could be molting, or just hanging around down there.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:44 am

They have been stressed, I can tell, especially Bug, since he was so neglected....and I just bought Hermie last weekend and both of them do not come out til night. Last night, I taped up some computer paper around the front of the tank etc....and they came out and spent hours out, eating, drinking, nosing around, climbing the special climbing fence.

I am going to sit here and worry now till I hear from you all.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:49 am

Well crabs comonly destress. They will most likely be fine.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:10 am

Ok I am wrong....Bug isnt under the moss...he is under the dirt (sand and that eco stuff) I heard him behind the coco hut where I last saw him and I touched the top of the dirt and felt his shell. I hope I didnt screw things up. I really thought he joined Hermie in the moss.

I hope they arent dying under there. I already decided that if these two dont make it, I will try again with others since I already spent a few hundred bucks making this right (about $180 or so) but I want Bug and Hermie, dang it. I like these little critters.

Hopefully I am worried for nothing.

Why are they stressed though? I dont handle them and force them to be held, or scare them....other than perhaps with Bug, all of a sudden he is living in a new place with proper tropical conditions with a new crab for a roomie, and of course Hermie, who has to adjust to a new enviroment as well since I bought him from the pet store last weekend.

Pfffffft. I want this to work out so badly with these guys. Sorry to sound so freaked. I am a professional rat handler/consultant...who would think I would panic now? BLAH!!

BAB · Post by **BAB** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:14 am

Most likely they are both just enjoying the nice moss. I have lots of crabbies that have destressed in moss.

I've also had a few crabbies molt in the moss. Some of them make it out just fine, but when the moss pit is really busy (I can have up to 5 crabs in one pit) I've only noticed a leg missing. That's only happened a few times though and I doubt that's what will happen with your two new little buddies.

What probably happened was your Petco hermie went into the pit and your adopted hermie was wondering who was in there.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:17 am

I was wrong.....Bug, the rescued crab, is under the sand/eco dirt, right behind the coco hut. He isnt deep I could almost see his shell.

Oh, temps are fine, moisture, fine.

:::sighs::

I love these guys......I hope they are ok.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:13 am

UPDATE

Bug came out and ate and drank....he is still out and sitting in the moss pit where Hermie is down at.

I feel better though....they are simply stressed out, I guess.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:50 pm

all of my guys really like moss. some of my PPs are always in there
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n157 ... CF0021.jpg

they'll even shove it in front of the opening so i can't peak in. so rude.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:25 pm

I don't think there is anything wrong with him. Some hermit crabs just like moss a lot. Some even dig in sand for fun.

starmaiden · Post by **starmaiden** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:29 pm

My crabs really like the moss pits too. Sometimes they'll stay buried in it for days without coming out. Crabs are sometimes pretty noninteresting. They like to chill in one place for a few days, or even a few weeks! So don't panic unless you think there's a possibility they could be stuck (like inside a cholla log) or you smell a really bad fish smell (that means they're dead!

) Crabs will go through periods of high activity and periods of nonactivity. They are funny little critters to make us worry so!