Elderly crab won't get into shell; other won't come up

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mahkamp
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Elderly crab won't get into shell; other won't come up

Post by mahkamp » Wed Jun 12, 2024 11:30 pm

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? Sand, 4" 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? No gauges


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? Yes--two heat mats adhered on two sides in the back corner


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 salt and fresh are available; I use Reptisafe dechlorinator as directed


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? hermit crab pellets, dried meal worms, coconut for HCs, hard-boiled egg whites


6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? They're the purple kind of crab, and I've had them for 10 years


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? I can't recall their last molting, but it's been within the last six months (one is still under and has been for weeks)


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? They're in a 20-gal tank with a lid


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? Two crabs, with shells about the size of a golf ball (the one that's unshelled is about 2" with legs spread)


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? There have been three shells in there for some time now--one had tried the new shells, but gone back to the previous shell; the other has never tried the larger shells


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


12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I scoop regularly; the sand is relatively new


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


14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? Just the honey trap for mites, which has been in there for a few weeks and has been working. The crabs can't get in there with their shells on


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.)? They're pretty solitary--they've never really warmed up to my holding them, so I don't bother them. But I see them often, especially at misting time every night.


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

My two elderly crabs are acting out of character. The first one, Brian, has been leaving his shell on and off for the last few days; he's now been unshelled for 24 hours. I noticed a few weeks ago that he was rather sluggish and staying very still after moving around the tank. He would get over to the food dish, then just sit there. He had been eating the h-b egg whites, but hasn't the last two days. He's still getting himself over to the water dishes. One day when he got out of the shell, I found him lying all spread eagle in the salt water dish. I got him out of there (he wasn't there for more than a few minutes, since I've been obsessively checking on him). He's got his latest shell in there, as well as a larger shell that he would get into after a molt, but then go back to the previous shell.

I also thought the little food mites might have been bothering him--I gave him a larger salt bath container and I got rid of a lot of the mites with the honey in a jar trick (haven't seen any in about a week). Brian did crawl in there last night while unshelled...I got him out right away and gently bathed him in his salt bath, then gave him a fresh water rinse.

Brian still reacts if I touch his leg...I'm careful not to touch his abdomen, but I did have to touch it when he got into the honey trap and when he was first getting out of his shell. Today is the first time he hasn't gotten back into a shell.

The other crab, Stewie, has been underground for weeks now, which has never been unusual for him, but I'm concerned since Brian is acting weird that maybe he's feeling weird as well. I know where he is in the tank, and I thought of unearthing him. (I had a crab years ago who died underground, but when that happened, I noticed the smell, which I don't notice now.)

I realize that these little guys don't live forever, but being that they're my first crabs, and I've had them for so long, I'm freaking out a bit.

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JoeHermits
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Re: Elderly crab won't get into shell; other won't come up

Post by JoeHermits » Fri Jun 14, 2024 11:36 am

If they’re still unshelled follow the guide to get them back in: viewtopic.php?t=122302

Leaving the shell is a sign of weakness in older crabs, which could indicate they’re reaching the end of their life. Best thing you can do is make them comfortable

I would also leave the buried crab be, there’s no real benefit for them to disturbed while underground


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Re: Elderly crab won't get into shell; other won't come up

Post by curlysister » Fri Jun 14, 2024 11:21 pm

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Sand, 4" deep
Curly - Be sure that your sand is at least 2-3 times as deep as your largest crab.

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? No gauges
Curly - I would recommend that you get a hygrometer/ thermometer asap. Without one, you have no way of knowing if your crab tank is an appropriate temp or humidity. Crabs need humid air to breathe, as they have modified gills.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? Yes--two heat mats adhered on two sides in the back corner


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 salt and fresh are available; I use Reptisafe dechlorinator as directed
Curly - That dechlorinator won't remove heavy metals, if your tap water has them. What brand of salt do you use?

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? hermit crab pellets, dried meal worms, coconut for HCs, hard-boiled egg whites
Curly - Crabs need a varied diet, including animal protein and calcium daily. Read through the 'nutrition' care sheet for a ton of info. Many hermit crab pellets contain preservatives that can be harmful long term. There is a care sheet about commercial foods, to check if the brand you are using has preservatives.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? They're the purple kind of crab, and I've had them for 10 years


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? I can't recall their last molting, but it's been within the last six months (one is still under and has been for weeks)


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? They're in a 20-gal tank with a lid
Curly - This may be too small for two 10 year old crabs. There is a care sheet that explains the size of tank and space per crab, depending on the size of the crabs.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? Two crabs, with shells about the size of a golf ball (the one that's unshelled is about 2" with legs spread)


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? There have been three shells in there for some time now--one had tried the new shells, but gone back to the previous shell; the other has never tried the larger shells
Curly - HCA recommends 3-5 extra shells per crab. Be sure to read the 'shells' care sheet to be sure that you are offering types of shells your crabs prefer.

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


12. How often do you clean the tank and how? I scoop regularly; the sand is relatively new


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


14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? Just the honey trap for mites, which has been in there for a few weeks and has been working. The crabs can't get in there with their shells on


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.)? They're pretty solitary--they've never really warmed up to my holding them, so I don't bother them. But I see them often, especially at misting time every night.


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

My two elderly crabs are acting out of character. The first one, Brian, has been leaving his shell on and off for the last few days; he's now been unshelled for 24 hours. I noticed a few weeks ago that he was rather sluggish and staying very still after moving around the tank. He would get over to the food dish, then just sit there. He had been eating the h-b egg whites, but hasn't the last two days. He's still getting himself over to the water dishes. One day when he got out of the shell, I found him lying all spread eagle in the salt water dish. I got him out of there (he wasn't there for more than a few minutes, since I've been obsessively checking on him). He's got his latest shell in there, as well as a larger shell that he would get into after a molt, but then go back to the previous shell.

I also thought the little food mites might have been bothering him--I gave him a larger salt bath container and I got rid of a lot of the mites with the honey in a jar trick (haven't seen any in about a week). Brian did crawl in there last night while unshelled...I got him out right away and gently bathed him in his salt bath, then gave him a fresh water rinse.
Curly - Food mites won't bother the crabs.

Brian still reacts if I touch his leg...I'm careful not to touch his abdomen, but I did have to touch it when he got into the honey trap and when he was first getting out of his shell. Today is the first time he hasn't gotten back into a shell.
Curly - JoeHermits linked the care sheet about getting crabs into a shell. Be sure to offer some shells that are lighter than what he is currently using. You do have a few things that could be improved in your tank, to ensure long term health.

The other crab, Stewie, has been underground for weeks now, which has never been unusual for him, but I'm concerned since Brian is acting weird that maybe he's feeling weird as well. I know where he is in the tank, and I thought of unearthing him. (I had a crab years ago who died underground, but when that happened, I noticed the smell, which I don't notice now.)
Curly - I agree with JoeHermits, leave the one underground alone.

I realize that these little guys don't live forever, but being that they're my first crabs, and I've had them for so long, I'm freaking out a bit.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers


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mahkamp
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Re: Elderly crab won't get into shell; other won't come up

Post by mahkamp » Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:29 pm

Thank you so much, curlysister and Joehermit...I really appreciate all of the advice.

Dear Brian left me the morning after I wrote this to you all. If someone had told me years ago I'd cry like a baby when a hermit crab died--actually I'd've agreed with them. I made sure to tell him how much I loved him and that I'll be fine, in case he was hanging on for my sake. I hope he wasn't suffering.

I did try to help him into a shell, but he was out of it when I checked back a little while later. As for salt, I use a brand called Thrive that I get at Petsmart. I've also used prebottled salt water for crabs. I'll check out the diet for them, but they were very picky eaters. Anything beyond what I mentioned went uneaten. I actually don't know if they ever ate the pellets I put in there...I think they went for the coconut fiber rather than the pellets. But I'll make sure to do better for Stewie and any of their successors.

I really wish Stewie would come back up--it's been a long time and now that Brian is gone, I'm really missing seeing my guys going about their hermit crab duties :D And even though he's down below, I've been misting the tank regularly so it stays humid in there. Plus, it's summer in Maryland, so humidity is plentiful :lol:

Thanks again, and I'll be in touch! Mary

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Re: Elderly crab won't get into shell; other won't come up

Post by curlysister » Sat Jun 15, 2024 11:56 pm

I am sorry your crab passed away.

Be sure to read through the 'water' care sheet. The Thrive and pre-bottled salt waters don't contain all the minerals that crabs need for long term health.

Crabs sometimes eat such small amounts that we don't notice. I have never paid attention to what my crabs eat or don't eat. I put in a varied diet, and they can take what they want/ need.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers


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Re: Elderly crab won't get into shell; other won't come up

Post by mahkamp » Mon Jun 17, 2024 4:49 am

I've made a list of what I need to get for the proper water care. I have some of the products--just need to get the right salt.

Thanks again--you all have put my mind at ease, and I really appreciate all the info you have on this site!

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