Hermit Crab out of shell one year after other hermit crab died

[Silas0526_]

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Coco Fiber 3 inches deep


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? Temp not humidity. The hydrometer ran out of batteries


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? Two heaters on the sides


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)?
Distilled water, and salt water bottles


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Fed flukers medly treat for aquatic turtles replaced wvery week with capcium on top

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I have had him for 1½ years, he is a purple pincher.


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Molted a few 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?
10 gallon tank

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
He is the only crab. The other crab died a few months ago and the first crab died a few years ago

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
5-10

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I have only jad to clean once. I replaced the substrate.

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?
No

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.)?
It has been a year since one of my bermit crabs died.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
He took off his shell, but seems to be active. It is the day after my sisters birthday, so it could be stress.

.

[CrabbyLover77]

I'll put my suggestions under your answers. Hope this helps!

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Coco Fiber 3 inches deep

CL77-Sub should be 3x the height of your largest crab. Is it moistened to sand castle consistency using dechlor water?

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? Temp not humidity. The hydrometer ran out of batteries

CL77-A hygrometer is essential. You'll want to grab one asap. Crabs have modified gills and need moisture in the air to breathe. If the humidity isn't at least 70% (shoot for 80%+), it can cause stress and/or death. What is the temp in the tank?

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? Two heaters on the sides


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)?
Distilled water, and salt water bottles

CL77- You'll want to use a dechlorinator with tap (or spring) water for your fresh water. This will ensure your crab gets the minerals from fresh water that it needs (distilled doesn't have these). For salt water, you want to use a dechlorinator with tap (or spring) with a marine salt. A popular option is Instant Ocean. Just mix according to the directions on the bag/box. A good dechlorinator is Seachem Prime.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Fed flukers medly treat for aquatic turtles replaced wvery week with capcium on top

CL77- Pellets with preservatives aren't a great option long term. Variety is key. Hermits can eat many of the things we eat. Check out the safe food list for options. Be sure to offer a daily source of protein and calcium too. I keep cuttlebone and a dish of calcium powder in my enclosures at all times. I also offer crab/lobster exo at every feeding.

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92557

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I have had him for 1½ years, he is a purple pincher.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Molted a few 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?
10 gallon tank

CL77- what kind of lid do you have? If it's a mesh lid, you'll want to cover it completely in saran wrap to keep the moisture in.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
He is the only crab. The other crab died a few months ago and the first crab died a few years ago

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
5-10

CL77-Are they the correct type of shells for PPs? PPs prefer shells with round openings, like turbos. Check out the shell care sheet for more info.

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=92552

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I have only jad to clean once. I replaced the substrate.

CL77-No need to do a deep clean like that unless there is an emergency like a bacterial bloom or flood.

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?
No

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.)?
It has been a year since one of my bermit crabs died.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
He took off his shell, but seems to be active. It is the day after my sisters birthday, so it could be stress.

CL77-A crab drops its shell because it is too weak to carry it. You need to re-shell him asap. Here is the care sheet on how to do that:
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=122302

Then make sure you have enough moistened substrate, change up your salt and fresh water, and most importantly, grab a hygrometer. It may not be humid enough in the enclosure, which could be causing your crabs to stress and pass away.

.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

[GotButterflies]

Hello! I answered your questions with GB for GotButterflies

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Coco Fiber 3 inches deep

GB: Great! IMO, for purple pinchers substrate, (playsand mixed with eco earth 5:1 ratio), should be 6 inches or 3 times the height of your largest crab (whichever is deeper). If you have Es substrate should be at least 10-12”. Substrate should be mixed with dechlorinated marine saltwater or dechlorinated freshwater to make the substrate sandcastle consistency. I personally mix mine with dechlorinated marine saltwater.

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? Temp not humidity. The hydrometer ran out of batteries

GB: This is important. You need to know what the humidity and the temperature is for your crabs. IMO, minimum heat and humidity should be 80/80. Hermit crabs have modified gills and need the humidity to breathe.
Also IMO analog gauges can be a little wonky and unreliable. If you are interested, you can buy an Acurite guage from Amazon, digital, runs on batteries, tells you temp and humidity currently as well as low and high for last 24 hours: https://smile.amazon.com/AcuRite-00325- ... 184&sr=8-2


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? Two heaters on the sides


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)?
Distilled water, and salt water bottles

GB: Unfortunately most products marketed for hermit crabs are not safe. (Bottled hermit crab saltwater and Zoomed hermit crab saltwater are not sufficient products for them). A lot of us use a product called Instant Ocean which is what aquarium hobbyists use to make saltwater aquariums. It has the essential trace elements that hermit crabs need. You need a dechlorinator that removes chlorine, and chloramine as well as neutralizes ammonia and heavy metals. A lot of us use a product called Prime. As far as salt, you need marine salt, to mimic the ocean. You have to use the dechlorinator for both freshwater and marine saltwater. Also, please refrain from using distilled water. Both pools should be deep enough for them to fully submerge in and safe enough for them to get out of.
Double dish water pools:
https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/p ... 7&t=113691


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Fed flukers medly treat for aquatic turtles replaced wvery week with capcium on top

GB: Hermit crabs can eat a lot of the same things that we eat. Just check to make sure the item is on the safe list. Foods should be organic when possible. Hermit crabs are sensitive to pesticides and fertilizers.
You also want to provide one or more calcium sources at all times. Examples would be Cuttlebone, Organic Eggshell, Oyster Shell, Lobster Exo, Shrimp Exo.
Make sure you cover all aspects of food pyramid
Safe food list:
https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/p ... 25&t=92557
Unsafe food list:
https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/p ... 25&t=92556
Food pyramid: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92554


6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
I have had him for 1½ years, he is a purple pincher.


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Molted a few 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?
10 gallon tank

GB: With mesh lids you can always cover them with Press-N-Seal, or tape Ziploc bags on them to help keep the humidty in. I personally love glass tops. Please note that with glass tops you cannot set heat lamps on them – it will cause the glass to crack


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
He is the only crab. The other crab died a few months ago and the first crab died a few years ago

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
5-10

GB: There are incorrect shells to buy. Here is the shell guide:
https://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/p ... 24&t=92552


11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I have only jad to clean once. I replaced the substrate.


GB: It is only necessary to clean out the poop, food and water. You only need to clean the sand if you have mold growing on it or if you have a bacteria bloom. I have never changed my sand.


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?
No

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.)?
It has been a year since one of my bermit crabs died.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
He took off his shell, but seems to be active. It is the day after my sisters birthday, so it could be stress.

GB: Please try to correct what I suggested as you can. In the meantime, place your little guy/gal in a cup the shell that it was currently in to see if that helps the crab go back into it.
.

[Silas0526_]

He keeps going in and out of his shell. He is not lethargic.

[GotButterflies]

He keeps going in and out of his shell. He is not lethargic.

Do you have the correct sized shells for your hermit?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Silas0526_]

He ended up living like a month outside of his shell