Help! First time hermit crab owners!!!

[clgarner92]

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? Mix 5:1 play sand and coconut fiber.
4 inches or so.

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? yes. Back of the tank hanging. Temp usually around 72-75 degrees. Humidity has fluctuated between 75-90.


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? yes heating pad on side of the tank


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)? two reptile pools. One fresh. One salt. Salt water was purchased from petsmart. I don’t have the bottle anymore as we need to buy more. It was in the hermit crab section. API tap water conditioner has been used to treat our tap water.


5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? pellet food purchased from shop in Hilton Head South Carolina. Also the “treats”. Replaced daily.


6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? we have had the crabs (3 total) for three weeks. We purchased them from a beach shop in South Carolina. They arrived to that shop from Florida the day we purchased them. Then we took them home to Ohio to following day. Very stressful for the little guys. We didn’t know.


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? no molting


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? 29 gallon tank. Glass lid.


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 3 crabs. About 1/4 palm size.


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


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


12. How often do you clean the tank and how? we have not yet.


13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? we used a sponge for a short period of time. Maybe a week but removed it.


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.)? this crab was missing his large pincer. We didn’t notice this until we got home. He has always been less active than the other crabs. He was in a painted shell. (We did not know how bad this was). Yesterday he sat in the same spot all day long. Didn’t move. Half out of his shell. We thought that was odd but let him go. Last night he was completely out of his shell. We attempted to rinse him with fresh water and rinse a new shell. We slowly and carefully backed him into this shell and he seemed to accept it. He was moving slightly. We placed him back in the tank under a small bowl we had cut to mimic a coconut husk. The other two crabs use a log for shelter so we tried to isolate him in something else. We left him food in with him. This morning he is completely out of the new shell and limp. I’m pretty sure he is dead. But hoping there is something else we can do to help this guy out. Our picked him out on vacation. He is 6 and he has loved learning about hermit crabs this summer and proper care for them.


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.


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[curlysister]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? Mix 5:1 play sand and coconut fiber.
4 inches or so.

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? yes. Back of the tank hanging. Temp usually around 72-75 degrees. Humidity has fluctuated between 75-90.


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? yes heating pad on side of the tank


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)? two reptile pools. One fresh. One salt. Salt water was purchased from petsmart. I don’t have the bottle anymore as we need to buy more. It was in the hermit crab section. API tap water conditioner has been used to treat our tap water.
Curly - You will need a marine salt to make the salt water, Instant Ocean is a popular brand. The pre-mixed salt water does not have all the minerals needed for long term health.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced? pellet food purchased from shop in Hilton Head South Carolina. Also the “treats”. Replaced daily.
Curly - Crabs need a varied diet that includes animal protein and calcium daily. They can eat much of the same foods that we do. Meats, veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, grains, greens, leaves, eggs and shells, flowers, etc. Pellets often have preservatives that can be harmful long term.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known? we have had the crabs (3 total) for three weeks. We purchased them from a beach shop in South Carolina. They arrived to that shop from Florida the day we purchased them. Then we took them home to Ohio to following day. Very stressful for the little guys. We didn’t know.


7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? no molting


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? 29 gallon tank. Glass lid.


9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 3 crabs. About 1/4 palm size.


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? 5
Curly - HCA recommends 3-5 extra shells per crab, so for 3 crabs you should have 9-15 shells. Be sure to read the 'shell's care sheet to ensure you are offering the correct types for your crabs.

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


12. How often do you clean the tank and how? we have not yet.


13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? we used a sponge for a short period of time. Maybe a week but removed it.


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.)? this crab was missing his large pincer. We didn’t notice this until we got home. He has always been less active than the other crabs. He was in a painted shell. (We did not know how bad this was). Yesterday he sat in the same spot all day long. Didn’t move. Half out of his shell. We thought that was odd but let him go. Last night he was completely out of his shell. We attempted to rinse him with fresh water and rinse a new shell. We slowly and carefully backed him into this shell and he seemed to accept it. He was moving slightly. We placed him back in the tank under a small bowl we had cut to mimic a coconut husk. The other two crabs use a log for shelter so we tried to isolate him in something else. We left him food in with him. This morning he is completely out of the new shell and limp. I’m pretty sure he is dead. But hoping there is something else we can do to help this guy out. Our picked him out on vacation. He is 6 and he has loved learning about hermit crabs this summer and proper care for them.
Curly - Crabs go through so much before we get them, that even with ideal conditions in our tanks, they are often not able to over come everything they have been through. You can try to get him back into a shell, but if he is totally limp this may not work. You can isolate him for a couple of days, and if he starts to smell then for sure he is dead, I am sorry.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

[hermitsssss]

sounds like you are doing ok, with a few changes to what curlysister suggested, and dont move them against their will or dig them up if buried, unless dead or emergency,(babterial bloom or flood) but dont be too hard on yourself, pet stores can doalot to hermit crabs thaatcant change and can cause death quickly and suddeenly.

btw please dont mind my bad spelling