Crab fell about 8 inches

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Topic author
Emmystar
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Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2017 6:13 pm

Crab fell about 8 inches

Post by Emmystar » Sat Jul 08, 2017 6:23 pm

New here and I know there is a form I need to fill out but I wanted to post this quickly.
My purple pincher just fell from the screen I have over their tank to the bottom of the tank which is about 8 in. I have no idea how worried I should be or if there's anything I can do to help him. After he fell he flipped himself back over and started moving around again. I'm concerned he might have injured himself because my substrate isn't near thick enough and he fell at the shallowest part which is about an inch and a half.


Topic author
Emmystar
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2017 6:13 pm

Re: Crab fell about 8 inches

Post by Emmystar » Sat Jul 08, 2017 6:58 pm

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
50% sand, 30% coconut bedding, 20% bark chips. Slopes from 4" to about an inch and a half.

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?

Top left corner of tank, reads 80 for humidity and 85 for temperature.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Not currently, heating pad has been used in the past.

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)?
Fresh and salt water. Fresh water is filtered tap water treated with dechlorinator.
Salt water is fresh Water mix and
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Pelt food and meal worms replaced every three days
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Four years, I think purple pinchers.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes most recent time was about four weeks ago
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20 gallon tank with metal screen lid
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
One right now, not sure on size.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Four

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Once a week with sifter, once a month entire substrate replacement/baking

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

No

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

Coconut bedding

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.)?

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

My crab was climbing on the metal screen over the tank, which he's done in the past and I've been able to get him down rearrange some things so he can't climb back up as easily. This time though I didn't notice until he fell from the screen about 8 inches down. He landed in the shallowest section of substrate which is sand that is about an inch and a half. He flipped himself and continued walking around. I'm worried he's injured himself.


joe84
Posts: 45
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2016 6:24 pm

Re: Crab fell about 8 inches

Post by joe84 » Sat Jul 08, 2017 8:57 pm

I wouldn't worry about it. These guys fall off trees in the wild and are usually fine.


Giner13
Posts: 1218
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 3:09 pm

Re: Crab fell about 8 inches

Post by Giner13 » Sat Jul 08, 2017 9:03 pm

But definitely add more sub. It's recommended upwards of 6-10" for molting & tunneling space

But it sounds like your guy is fine!!


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Topic author
Emmystar
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2017 6:13 pm

Re: Crab fell about 8 inches

Post by Emmystar » Sat Jul 08, 2017 11:59 pm

Thanks guys! I figured I might be overreacting but somewhere I heard a drop from six inches was enough to kill them haha. I plan to get more sub asap I just got the 20 gallon and didn't realize how much it needed.

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wodesorel
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Re: Crab fell about 8 inches

Post by wodesorel » Sun Jul 09, 2017 12:33 am

My display case is three feet high and mine were always taking headers from the very top! Loud enough thumps to make me jump when they landed on something hard, and they were never hurt by it.
Want to see all my crazy pets? @waywardwaifs on Instagram

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