Unresponsive Mall rescue...

[LadyJinglyJones]

I didn't notice any mention of providing a dark space, like a coconut or plastic plant pot cut down to size to provide your crab with a safe place - apologies if it was mentioned and I missed it.

Good luck with your new crabs!!

[CrabMother]

LadyJinglyJones - there's a plastic coffee mug on its side, in the ISO for him, as well as a craigy rock to hide in and climb on, if he moves at all, and one plant, but I didn't want to overfill the ISO. The food/water/salt water was hard to find room for, but the idea of soda bottle caps worked. Gonna leave him alone and try not to even eye the tank too much, til tomorrow. Hopefully he'll get better, but the pet store might have just been too hard on him.

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[LadyJinglyJones]

Sounds like a plan! Good luck!

[KayedeeLove<3]

I know everybody covered the substrate issue but I'd like to reiterate that it is recommended that E's have a minimum of 12" because they are known to dig up molters. Some people (not you personally) think it won't happen or you can keep an eye out... That's impossible! A looong time crabber on here got completely wiped out of 22 crabs due to an E. Again not trying to be harsh but it can cause allot of heart ache!

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[CrabMother]

I know everybody covered the substrate issue but I'd like to reiterate that it is recommended that E's have a minimum of 12" because they are known to dig up molters. Some people (not you personally) think it won't happen or you can keep an eye out... That's impossible! A looong time crabber on here got completely wiped out of 22 crabs due to an E. Again not trying to be harsh but it can cause allot of heart ache!

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I do plan on putting my 3 Es in their own 30+ gallon tank, as soon as I can get one. Right now, just trying to do as good as I can with what I have, and a sweet young man on the Autism spectrum who thinks we can rescue every crab in town.

I have a 1gallon ISO tank (Which the ailing crab is inside, which is also placed inside my 50 gallon to regulate heat and humidity, as per an earlier suggestion) and a 10Gal which today I prepped as an 'extra tank' for 2-4 of the smallest PPs I have, that are about marble sized (5 inches of sub, hides, plants, climbs - just needs a shell shop, moss, waters, and time to heat/get humid enough) OR as a temporary tank for my 3 E's. Either way, I know I need least least one, if not two more 30+ gallon tanks.

It's just a matter of fandangling space, money, kiddo, and time to get it all set up as good as it should be. For now, they're all in much better conditions than they were, and except for the rescue we brought home today, they seem to be thriving.

Still crossing my fingers the new one makes it.

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[Hermiearth]

I know you are planning on upgrading but I just wanted to bring another topic to light. Molting aggression most happens when crabs are overcrowded, the worry is that when the crabs are making tunnels one may run into another who is potentially mid molt- crabs smell good to other crabs at this point and no crab is above getting a free meal. I just wanted to let you know, I went through the same thing and was overcrowded without knowing this downside.


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[CrabMother]

I know you are planning on upgrading but I just wanted to bring another topic to light. Molting aggression most happens when crabs are overcrowded, the worry is that when the crabs are making tunnels one may run into another who is potentially mid molt- crabs smell good to other crabs at this point and no crab is above getting a free meal. I just wanted to let you know, I went through the same thing and was overcrowded without knowing this downside.


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I know you're all trying to help. I didn't mean to sound defensive.

Will keep you all posted about Whopper. (Figured he needed a name - kiddo has names for all the other PPs, I just have a difficult time telling some of them apart, lol) And out Es are (from biggest to smallest) Hoss, Ranger, and The Colonel.

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[GotButterflies]

Hmm...I wouldn't recommend the 10 for your 3 e's. However, you are definitely in a tight predicament here. Have you looked at Craigslist, letgo, OfferUp, bookoo for other tanks? A lot of times you can find great deals on there, and most everything you need is included. Search aquarium, tank, reptile, terrarium. On some of them you can tell how long they have been listed. Make them an offer. I understand saving them, but...you have no idea what is going on underground. You could have less than you think with those e's. I don't recommend digging, just try to get more Aquarium space asap.


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[CrabMother]

I'm trying, tho most of those online offer sites have nothing at all in my area, as it's in the middle of small town Nebraska. Also, no one is currently molting. Tho a few pop up and down every couple of days, I know I've got 14 PPs (Mostly marble sized) and 3 Es, but yes. I'm doing my best.

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[KayedeeLove<3]

Good luck seems like you will be busy busy busy. Also, just an idea... you don't haaaave to buy a traditional tank right away. Better to save up until you have enough to buy a tank you want (one upgrade is better financially than buying one and having to upgrade later). I've seen a number of beautiful tote set ups. You can buy the largest locking lid (clear) containers Wal-Mart has and build a crabitat!


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[CrabMother]

An update on our unresponsive crab - he's still all in his shell, but still unresponsive, limp-ish except for staying in his shell. I sniffed him, and tho he smells like the dried shrimp I feed the crabs, he does not smell foul. Unfortunately, I don't think it looks good for him.

I added a bubbler to my fresh water pool in the main tank, and ordered a heater for my spare ten gallon so I can at least use that to have a temporary crabitat if needed, for my littlest PPs or my 3 Es. I've also reached out to a friend that has a tank of as yet unknown size he could sell me, and am otherwise keeping my eyes peeled.

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[GotButterflies]

I've never used a tote, but Kayedee is right, many crabbers do use them! Cheaper than aquariums! Great temporary fix until you can get an aquarium if that is what you prefer.

I really would recommend not handling the unresponsive crab. Every time you do that just makes it more stressful for him/her. I hope he/she does make it. Thanks for keeping us updated!


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[LadyJinglyJones]

Re: totes...

I've got a temporary 29 gal clear plastic tote set up for five crabs. Here's an idea of what you can do with them. The tote came to a little over $23 CAD with taxes. It has locking handles, but I used sticky velcro around one half of the rim because the plastic didn't seem rigid enough to keep a determined crab from pushing the unfastened areas of the lid up.


This is the tote... the lid is open & you can see the black plastic htgrometer/thermometer hanging from a hole in the lid.

There are air holes along the sides to facilitate air flow, hopefully keeping mould at reasonable levels. Humidity in my room averages 25%, in the tote it's 87%. The tubing for the bubbler in the fw pool feeds in through a convenient hole above the pool.



The heater is an ultratherm, an can be insulated if need be. The light iz an old aquarium hood light.

Hope that helps.

[GotButterflies]

That looks so beautiful LJJ!

[daws409]

@LadyJinglyJones ... Do those suction cups hold well on plastic? Like the idea of a tote. Could be an ISO if needed.

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