He doesn't smell but...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:59 am

I don't think he's alive

My little E, Edwin disappeared a really really long time ago (don't remember exactly when he went down, but it's been at least a couple of months). For a while I figured he was just taking his time. So I waited and waited... and waited some more. It came time for a deep clean and I held off for a bit still hoping that he was just taking it slow. Finally about 3 weeks ago I gave up and went ahead with the cleaning. I wanted to be really sure he was gone (and give him a proper burial) so after all the other crabs were out I gently dug through the sand to find his little body. I found him on top of his exoskeleton... he was still as a stone but he didn't fall out of the shell when I picked him up and he didn't smell at all! Not exactly what I had expected. I immediately set up an iso tank and put him with his exo under a hut. I've been playing the waiting game for 3 weeks now. A few days ago I couldn't take it anymore and very gently lifted the hut for a peek, and he hadn't moved a bit.

Now I don't know what to do... am I keeping a dead crab? I'm reluctant to give up because there's no smell at all, but I would think if he was alive he definitely should have eaten his exo and hardened by now. He's just a little one. I don't have a lot of experience with molters... 2 PPs, both successful thankfully, but never an E. Does it normally take that long just to harden, or do you think he's a goner? I'm going to feel really stupid

and sad

if I find out he's been dead all along.

Ellinj0206 · Post by **Ellinj0206** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:45 am

When a crab has passed they STINK!! I think you should continue to keep the little one in ISO, take care of it just as you normally would when they are a molter. Like I said, if the little one has passed they will let off quite a stench. It smells like fishy, rotten, just gross!! It's pretty strong, too and lasts quite a while.

Continue to take care of the little one. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!!

Tetracolor · Post by **Tetracolor** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:53 pm

Well, none of my crabs that died stunk at all, but they fell out of there shell.

But, I would think after as long as you've kept him if he really was deadhe would STINK by now. So... you should be fine. Just stay optimistic.

Kilimanjaro · Post by **Kilimanjaro** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:55 pm

That's the best idea is to stay optimistic and hopeful. The death smell is usually VERY strong and on a few occasions I was actually able to smell a dead crab from outside of the tank with the lid still on.

Good luck!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:00 pm

dont worry, my crab recently molted, then came up then went back down for a month or 2 again! and he came up healthy as everr!!! he has beautiful nails and awesome color, just stay positive. they are strange critters lol best of luck

annopia · Post by **annopia** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:40 pm

sometimes, if the crab has already been passed for some time before you find it, the death smell simply isn't present. i have experienced this before with molts gone wrong, especially with the smaller crabs. youve waited a goodly amount of time, so i would pick him up and check for any type of response at all, and if you get none gently see if you can pull the body out. that way you can tell if the abdomen is still attached. sad and not fun, i know

. i had to do this just last week with my teenie E Zeus.

Caroline

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 5:55 pm

Thanks everyone for the support and optimism. [smilie=grouphug.gif] I really appreciate all of your advice. Thanks for rooting for my poor little guy... even though it appears hopeless.

annopia: That's what I thought too, that maybe he had been gone for so long before I found him that the smell might have worn off. But it's usually SO strong that I thought there would still be at least a hint of it. I'll check on him tonight and see if he's still hanging on to his shell or not. It is a sad thing to have to do, but at least I'll finally know for sure. I'll give you guys an update later. *fingers crossed*

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:15 am

He's gone

I think he probably was all along. My poor Edwin

I feel kind of silly for not realizing it sooner... but I guess it's better to wait and be sure than to assume and be wrong.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:32 am

~*hugs*~ I'm so sorry. And don't feel silly. I would have waited, too.

bksbuddha · Post by **bksbuddha** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:19 pm

[smilie=comfort.gif] I'm so very sorry that you lost your precious baby. It's never easy to lose one. And as for feeling silly, don't. I actually bought a couple that I realized days later that they were dead.

So, if you're silly, I guess I'd have to be a moron.

I had a teeny that remained hidden for about 3 months & thought surely he was long gone. Dug him up & discovered that he was very much alive & well. Little buggers do so love to scare us witless, don't they? [smilie=hug.gif]