crusty white crab came up

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 10:46 am

have u tried rinsing him off with water? maybe the stuff will just fall off or flake off with rinsing. or, use a wet quetip and try to wipe some of it off, if it can.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:09 pm

I was afraid to rinse off a freshly molted crab. One more thing that I just noticed about him is that his eye stalks are orange-brown which I think is a new feature. Anyone knows what that means?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:30 pm

He really is a nice looking crab! Does he also have a lot of sand on him in the picture? I just want to be sure what I am looking at. I do see some white on the legs... (I still wouldn't know what it is but just in case it ever happens to me, I have 3 new Es)

I was wondering the same about washing him off or taking a Qtip and seeing if it will come off like that BUT I really don't have the experience to even suggest it is ok to do.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:32 pm

Ok, I rinsed him in the saltwater, but now I am really scared because one of his "feet" has turned black and looks rotten! Should I iso him?

HERMEZ · Post by **HERMEZ** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:02 pm

ISO and buy the medicinal bath......

http://cgi.ebay.com/Medicinal-Herb-Bath ... dZViewItem

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:07 pm

I know this sounds crazy. . . but has anyone ever amputated a bad leg?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:08 pm

Jedi ... you saw the other post that Chestersmom was offering free vet help for this issue, right?

Just wanted to make sure. I can't remember if I saw your post there or not when I was reading ... if not look for the link in Emergency.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:14 pm

Yes, I scanned through it, but it sounded like I need photos to go that route. I don't have my camera here today. Maybe I'll take a closer look at that thread.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:17 pm

I think you need to have really good photos to get the help. I can't remember... are your crabs at work or at home?

I hope everything turns out ok for you. I'll keep watching this post to see how things are going.

Good luck.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:32 pm

Keep crabs at work. I did contact Chestersmom. Hopefully I can post her some new photos tomorrow and she can tell me what is going on.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 2:39 pm

you may try some melafix, it is for fish to help them repair fins and such, but folks here have recommended it for crabs too. Majorly weaken the melafix by pouring a little bit into a cup of water, if he won't out stretch his leg so you can dip it, take a quetip and rub a little on that bad leg a few times. i had a thread in here about one of my crabs big P appearing to be partially crushed after he molted and folks recommended melafix and the medicinal bath. he really hasn't changed. i hope he molts soon and fixes it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:54 pm

Well, I just read a thread on another forum stating that there are clinical trials being conducted by a vet on this problem and that I need to get photos of the bad leg to Sue at once. There was also a warning about using melafix or tea tree oil on crabs w/out this vet in order to gather better info to help develope an established proceedure for treating this ailment that will benefit the whole crab community.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 22, 2006 10:21 am

How is your crabbie now? Are you sure that its not some sort of deficiency? When crabbies shed, if they have a deficiency it will cause them to have a really light and pasty complexion. Just an idea...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 22, 2006 4:53 pm

Well, they think it is some sort of bacterial infection and the bottom segment has pretty much crumbled away and there may be developing another spot on the next segment, but he's darkening up all over so it is hard to say. I'm going to keep close watch. I'm trying to gather the herbs for the medicinal bath, but have only found loose chamomile. This morning I made a bath of chamomile and salt, but still need to acquire the other herbs. His activity is still normal and he remains friendly. Hopefully I can save the rest of his leg. Some have said that his peach color could be a deficiency of sunlight. Our office has big windows, but it might not be enough natural light. I know my fish vase gets algae, so it gets enough natural light. . . the crab's diet is varied and I think I understand their nutritional needs, basically. I think I have at least one other molter, so I'm anxious to see how the others look when they come up. One of my E's makes an appearance once a day and I check him over thoroughly (which is probably why he burries himself again).

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 22, 2006 5:58 pm

Do they think it can be sucessfully treated? When will he be out of the danger period?

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

crusty white crab came up

rinse molter? eyestalks

rinsed him

I know this sounds crazy

vet

keep at work

melafix

update on rotten foot