Incense issues? Possibly toxic?

[Yadokari.Nation]

I have been having a mysterious problem with one (possibly 2) of my crabs the past 2 days. My crab, Broc, is usually very active. I came home two nights ago (August 19) and found him in the main tank on his back, slightly covered with substrate, and not very responsive. I flipped him back over and sprayed him with a little water, but he barely moved. I immediately isolated him in a tank (same conditions as main tank - coconut fiber substrate, bowl of salt and fresh water, same food, hiding places, multiple shells, etc). He has been in ISO since, and while he is still alive, does not show any improvement.

His current symptoms:
(1) Lethargy - he has been sitting in the same spot for 48 hours.
(2) Lack of appetite - not interested in the bowl of food, fresh fruit (banana), or walnut piece which I put right in front of him, or salmon.
(3) Not very responsive - when a light is shone on him, he will react slightly and move his feelers, but not his limbs. I haven't touched him since day 1, at which point he was moving his limbs.

Possible causes: The environment has remained consistent. I've had this crab for 6 years. I can think of a few things that have changed recently that may have caused the problem.
(1) We recently moved, so the main tank (30 gallon tall) does not have 6-8 inches of substrate yet. It has about 4 inches. He may be surface molting because of inability to bury, but I don't recall him having a fat sack ready on his side.
(2) Strawberry toxins - I fed the crabs strawberry tops the day before my crab's strange behavior. I did wash the strawberries, and I've given them this brand of strawberry in the past. It is possible there were still chemicals on/in the strawberry tops that the one crab ate. However, I believe multiple crabs ate the strawberry tops, and no others are exhibiting symptoms to the extent of this crab.*
(3) Incense/burning oils - the day before my crab's symptoms began, I burned some new fragrant oils in the apartment. I got these oils from Walmart. I burned them in an apartment with multiple open windows, including the one right next to the crab tank. The label of the oils does not contain a full list of its ingredients, but it says it contains Benzyl Benzoate and is harmful is swallowed. I'm not sure if this could affect the crabs, or if this would poison the crabs? Perhaps poison their drinking water?**

What are your thoughts on the situations? Does this sound like a surface molt, or a poisoning?

Thank you!!

*I have another crab acting lethargic, but she is normally lazy. I'm continuing to monitor her.
** Again, if this were true, I would expect more crabs to show symptoms. I'm continuing to monitor everyone.

[TazandBruce3]

I have been having a mysterious problem with one (possibly 2) of my crabs the past 2 days. My crab, Broc, is usually very active. I came home two nights ago (August 19) and found him in the main tank on his back, slightly covered with substrate, and not very responsive. I flipped him back over and sprayed him with a little water, but he barely moved. I immediately isolated him in a tank (same conditions as main tank - coconut fiber substrate, bowl of salt and fresh water, same food, hiding places, multiple shells, etc). He has been in ISO since, and while he is still alive, does not show any improvement.

His current symptoms:
(1) Lethargy - he has been sitting in the same spot for 48 hours.
(2) Lack of appetite - not interested in the bowl of food, fresh fruit (banana), or walnut piece which I put right in front of him, or salmon.
(3) Not very responsive - when a light is shone on him, he will react slightly and move his feelers, but not his limbs. I haven't touched him since day 1, at which point he was moving his limbs.

Possible causes: The environment has remained consistent. I've had this crab for 6 years. I can think of a few things that have changed recently that may have caused the problem.
(1) We recently moved, so the main tank (30 gallon tall) does not have 6-8 inches of substrate yet. It has about 4 inches. He may be surface molting because of inability to bury, but I don't recall him having a fat sack ready on his side.
(2) Strawberry toxins - I fed the crabs strawberry tops the day before my crab's strange behavior. I did wash the strawberries, and I've given them this brand of strawberry in the past. It is possible there were still chemicals on/in the strawberry tops that the one crab ate. However, I believe multiple crabs ate the strawberry tops, and no others are exhibiting symptoms to the extent of this crab.*
(3) Incense/burning oils - the day before my crab's symptoms began, I burned some new fragrant oils in the apartment. I got these oils from Walmart. I burned them in an apartment with multiple open windows, including the one right next to the crab tank. The label of the oils does not contain a full list of its ingredients, but it says it contains Benzyl Benzoate and is harmful is swallowed. I'm not sure if this could affect the crabs, or if this would poison the crabs? Perhaps poison their drinking water?**

What are your thoughts on the situations? Does this sound like a surface molt, or a poisoning?

Thank you!!

*I have another crab acting lethargic, but she is normally lazy. I'm continuing to monitor her.
** Again, if this were true, I would expect more crabs to show symptoms. I'm continuing to monitor everyone.

Hi,

I found my crab a day ago after he was missing for days out of his tank. My crab has been showing very similar symptoms to yours. My crab, Gatsby, has also been lethargic and not interested in eating fresh food I give him. I assumed this was out of stress, maybe your crab is going through the same?

***I am not an expert, I'm just thinking of the possibilities!


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[soilentgringa]

Would you mind filling this out?

It is possible that the crab is just in a pre molt phase. Could also be stress from moving.

Was the substrate completely changed?

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=46102

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[Yadokari.Nation]

Would you mind filling this out?

It is possible that the crab is just in a pre molt phase. Could also be stress from moving.

Was the substrate completely changed?

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=46102

Sent from my LGLS665 using Tapatalk

Yes here are all the details:

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Coconut fiber substrate. Usually keep 6-10 inches (around 8 is the norm), but have only had about 4 inches for almost a month due to moving. Tank is 30 gallons. Substrate was not changed - the tank was just partially emptied to move. Last change was in the spring around April. Substrate is not over-saturated right now. I did add some new substrate after I moved in, maybe an inch or so is fresh.

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?
Humidity between 75%-80%, sometimes a little higher if it is raining (it is summer here now, lots of humid weather outside the tank as well). Temperature kept around 75-80 degrees with under tank heaters attached to the sides of the tank. Recently it has been insanely hot here, so the temperature may have been closer to 90 degrees on some days, as the air conditioning does not run all day.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Under tank heaters attached to the side of the tank. It's a 30 gallon tank, but I have 35 gallons worth of heaters on it because otherwise the temperature is too low in the winter.

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 available in pools that around about 1/3 gallon each. I use API Stress Coat+ Water Dechlorinator for the water. I forgot the brand of salt water mix I use because I always throw away the box, but it is the brand sold at PetSmart with the white/purple labels. The kind used for setting up saltwater tanks. Water changed every 2-3 days, 4 at most.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Large variety of food changed every 2-3 days, with treats. I have many Omega One products, like freeze dried krill, shrimp, and brine shrimp. I also feed dried meal worms and crickets. Plant food includes coconut, dried fruit like apricot and raisins, walnuts, fresh fruit like bananas, strawberries, apples, and fresh fish (salmon most of the time) which is cooked, honey as a treat. I provide cuddle bone shavings/pieces/dust over all meals (ground from solid cuddle bone I purchase at PetSmart) for calcium. Nothing in their diet recently has changed.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I have had this crab, Broc, for 6 years. He is my longest-lived crab, part of my original crab purchase before I knew anything about crabbing. He is a Caribbean Crab purchased from PetSmart.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
He has multiple dozens of times in the past six years. I believe his most recent molt was this past winter. It has definitely not been within the last 4 months, as I was carefully monitoring my molting crabs as I prepared to move the entire tank.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
Glass 30 gallon tall aquarium. Lid is mesh, but I've sealed it with plastic bags for 2/3 of the lid and keep a towel on the whole lid to keep in moisture while allowing for some air flow. This seems to keep the humidity consistent and at a good level. During the summer when it is very warm and very humid, I will keep the towel off.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Currently 8 crabs in the 30 gallon tank (they were separated into a 20 gallon and the 30 gallon in my old apartment, but for the move have been consolidated). Two are almost jumbos. I'd say two more, including Broc, are about the size of a golf ball. The other four are quarter-sized or less.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
8-10 extras at all times. Crabs change regularly. No observed shell fights.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
I burned new fragrant oils in my apartment for the first time the day before symptoms started. The oils don't list their ingredients, only that they contain Benzyl Benzoate, which the bottle says is harmful if swallowed. I did burn these oils in front of an open window, with an additional open window across the room. Burned for maybe an hour. None of my other crabs are showing the same lethargic behavior thus far (I bathed the others today, everyone in good shape!).

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I clean the substrate out every 4-6 months, depending on how quickly it becomes saturated and how many crabs are living in the tank at a time. Most recent deep clean was this past spring, I believe in April.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No sponges.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
Nope. Same supplies I've been using for years. I changed to different plastic water dishes 3 or so months ago, but they show no signs of being eaten. They are cat water dishes.

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
This crab is normally extremely active and is an avid digger. Indeed, he cannibalized multiple crabs of mine in the past because of his constant digging. It would surprise me if this was a surface molt, as he showed no signs of trying to bury himself at all. The current tank only has 4 inches of substrate, but this crab is about the size of a golf ball and could bury himself under 4 inches. Also, he has been clinging to a hemp net since I moved him. I checked to see if he was trapped by the net, but he does not seem to be (I've seen each of his limbs detach). He has been sitting in the same spot, clutched to the net, for 72 hours now, in ISO. He reacts if I take off the lid of the ISO (he reacts to light), and he reacts by withdrawing into his shell if I spray him with water (which he has never done - he's always come right out when sprayed). All of his behavior is just bizarre.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
Described in first paragraph of original post.

Let me know if you need more info!

[soilentgringa]

The only thing that jumps out at me is the frequent deep cleans. If the sub is good and you have no floods or bacteria bloom, you shouldn't need to change it.
The beneficial bacteria and microbes help break down waste.

The oils shouldn't have harmed the crabs, especially with all the windows open.

It really sounds like you have a good setup and know what you're doing.

It may also just be that this crab is ill



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[Yadokari.Nation]

The only thing that jumps out at me is the frequent deep cleans. If the sub is good and you have no floods or bacteria bloom, you shouldn't need to change it.
The beneficial bacteria and microbes help break down waste.

The oils shouldn't have harmed the crabs, especially with all the windows open.

It really sounds like you have a good setup and know what you're doing.

It may also just be that this crab is ill



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Thank you for looking over my problem! It really is a bizarre situation. As of now he is still alive, still hasn't moved, and is uninterested in food. I believe his exoskeleton looks sort of ashy. The longer he lives the more I'm thinking this is a surface molt. I've dealt with surface molters before, but none have acted like this. I'll update this thread with whatever conclusion ultimately occurs.

Thank you again!