Unresponsive Mall rescue...

[CrabMother]

A little bit of info - we have an established 'colony' of 11 PPs and 3 Ecuadorians. The biggest (crab, not shell) is about 1/3rd of a computer mouse. The smallest is smaller than a marble. All in a 50 gallon tank, with a 1/5 EE&Sand mixture, about five to six inches deep for substrate. We have a moist sphagnum moss pit with cat grass growing in it, dechlorinated fresh water, and dechlorinated salt water. There is a climbing hammock, several hides and plants, enough room to dig and no issues between crabs. The temp is consistent at 80F, humidity ranges between 75-85%. I have begun prepping a separate tank for the Eccies, and am planning on getting at least another 30 gallon tank soon, as we rescued 3 small PPs from a mall kiosk today.

Unfortunately, one seems unresponsive - I isolated him in a 1 gallon tank, with 3 inches of substrate, a fresh water dish, and a cup to hide in. Temperature and humidity are a mild issue, but silver by tinfoiling the openings in the tank top and a small, under tank betta heater under one side of the ISO tank. I did not add a salt water dish, as there is little room in ISO... But we also loosely draped a cloth around the tank, to keep it dark. But he's all inside his shell, not smelly, but utterly unresponsive to everything.

Since he's so new, and we got him just today, should I leave him in ISO and wait and see if he smells? Or there anything else you guys would recommend I do?

[CrabMother]

I meant to say, solved by tinfoiling the tank lid. XD

[meawcat1989]

so keep him in the iso for a while add some food make sure to spray the tank maybe try giving your crab a bath with stress coat i know there is a way to force feed them but im not sure you are open to that it may stress him out more.watch him at night try giving him a bigger tank after a while if hes still not moving try taking one of your crabs to meet him i hope for the best.P.S try honey.

[Hermiearth]

You can move the ISO into the Main tank to maintain temp and humidity. You need to provide both salt and fresh water- you can use bottle caps. Provide lots of protein, calcium, and raw organic honey. If the crab is unresponsive, he could either be dead or molting. Just a few things with your current setup, sub needs to be a minimum of 6 inches or 3x deeper than your biggest crab, whichever is deeper. You can add 1" of sub every 24 hours without pressing it down. Humidity needs to be an absolute minimum of 80%, you can use bubblers in your pools to raise humidity, it works wonders. Good luck with the crabbie, I hope he makes it.


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[Hermiearth]

Definitely do not give him a bath. The only time crabs should be bathed is before introducing them to the general pop.


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[CrabMother]

You can move the ISO into the Main tank to maintain temp and humidity. You need to provide both salt and fresh water- you can use bottle caps. Provide lots of protein, calcium, and raw organic honey. If the crab is unresponsive, he could either be dead or molting. Just a few things with your current setup, sub needs to be a minimum of 6 inches or 3x deeper than your biggest crab, whichever is deeper. You can add 1" of sub every 24 hours without pressing it down. Humidity needs to be an absolute minimum of 80%, you can use bubblers in your pools to raise humidity, it works wonders. Good luck with the crabbie, I hope he makes it.


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Hermiearth: There's not enough space to put the ISO inside the main tank unless I remove the shell shop. There's already substrate to at least 4x as tall as my biggest crab's shell. I'm planning on adding a bubbler to the fresh water.

As far as this new, unresponsive rescue, I'll use bottlecaps for fresh and salt water, I hadn't thought of that. I'll feed him dried shrimp, boiled egg, baked (unseasoned) chicken, crushed eggshell, raw honey, apple, banana, coconut, raisin, carrot, a little oatmeal, a variety of jarred human baby foods. Basically what my other crabs get, plus honey and more protein. Are meal worms, blood worms, and crickets a good idea?

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[GotButterflies]

I haven't finished reading the first post yet, but you are extremely overcrowded....especially with e's. 1 crab per 5 would put you at needing a 70 gallon tank and you are in a 50. E's are VERY territorial. They need more than just the 5 gallon rule in my opinion. I own 2.

I'll edit this when I finish reading...

Edit..okay, still reading but not sure how long you have had your e's but to thrive...e's need mid range 85/86 temp. They also love to dig, and I would recommend a deeper substrate than your 5-6". The HCA guide is a wee outdated, but minimum temp and humidity recommended is 80/80. Is there anyway to get your temp up?

[CrabMother]

I haven't finished reading the first post yet, but you are extremely overcrowded....especially with e's. 1 crab per 5 would put you at needing a 70 gallon tank and you are in a 50. E's are VERY territorial. They need more than just the 5 gallon rule in my opinion. I own 2.

I'll edit this when I finish reading...

I did mention that I will be getting another tank for the PPs, and am already setting up one I have for the Es.

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[GotButterflies]

I haven't finished reading the first post yet, but you are extremely overcrowded....especially with e's. 1 crab per 5 would put you at needing a 70 gallon tank and you are in a 50. E's are VERY territorial. They need more than just the 5 gallon rule in my opinion. I own 2.

I'll edit this when I finish reading...

I did mention that I will be getting another tank for the PPs, and am already setting up one I have for the Es.

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Yes I saw that, that is good! That still leaves your other tank really overcrowded though..My math was based on before I saw the 3 other you purchased today...lol I think the 30 gallon would be great for just the e's!

[GotButterflies]

I agree with EVERYTHING Hermiearth stated. Bathing is an old practice. You only do with with new ones you are adding to the tank, and with this one already being unresponsive, I would not do it.

[Hermiearth]

Meal worms, blood worms, and crickets, sound good for protein. And if you can put the ISO in the current tank, I would, proper temp and humidity are essential for him right now.


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[CrabMother]

Meal worms, blood worms, and crickets, sound good for protein. And if you can put the ISO in the current tank, I would, proper temp and humidity are essential for him right now.


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Ok. We'll remove the shell shop, for now, then, and uncover the vents in the ISO top. Thank you, so much, for the advice. My son is a bit upset (12, and on the Autism spectrum) so I think having some advice and a plan makes us both feel better about trying to save the poor crabbie. If he was limp, or smelled, I'd feel sure he was dead, you know?

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[GotButterflies]

I'm so sorry that you are going through this. It's always even tougher when there is a child involved. Please remember that crabs go through a lot before they get to us. they are taken from the wild, held in cages, sometimes forced into painted shells (by having their natural shell either broken or heated), and then they are shipped to the pet stores. All of this is done in deplorable conditions, below recommended humidity / temperature recommendations, and without properly treated water. Sometimes without water. Sometimes they just don't make it. I hope the little guy pulls through. The only way he will though, is if you can leave him alone. I know it will be hard not to check on him, but try to resist the urge. Best of luck!

[Hermiearth]

We're routing for your little guy. Keep in mind her would of probably already been dead in the petstore. So you are doing everything you can.


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[CrabMother]

Removed the shell shop for now, placed the ISO tank with the new, unresponsive PP in it with (all appropriately treated/mixed) salt and fresh water, a food dish with egg shell, boiled egg, honey, apple baby food, and a raisin. Uncovered the vents in the ISO tank, and later this evening will add a bubbler to my fresh water. (I was called in to work, and will have to get another length of tubing on my way home, so I can set it up. I'll see what they have for blood/meal worms then, too.)

Kiddo has been given instructions not to disturb any of the tank, ISO and all, for the newbie's sake. I'll just have to hope for the best, and see if he gets stinky.

Thank you all for the advice - as small as most of my PPs are, currently, and as well as they get along, I've never thought overcrowding was an issue. This is the first crabmergency we've had, and it wasn't even our fault.

I am getting a 30Gal for the 3 E's, and might perhaps put the smallest 3 PPs in a 10gal temporarily. We'll see. Thank you all, again!

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