Transfer gone wrong, molting hermit crab disturbed!!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:57 pm

hi! I'm new to the HCA, but not new to crabbing. The other day, I just went to check on my hermies and found that I had a mite outbreak in my tank!!!

So I had sterilize EVERYTHING!!!!! wow it was alot of work.
But here's the problem, as I was sterilizing the sand, I had to transfer my hermie, Rosie into an ISO, but as I was carefully taking her area (sand blob and herself around it) it crumbled!!!!

and her "body parts" fell off. I didn't see if she was in there or in her shell because I was so worried!!! Right after that I quickly tried to move 'her' into the ISO with the parts right by her, then I covered her up with sand again in good hopes.
I'm really worried. I have no clue what to do now. Do I just wait until the end of july? or cover her up with plastic wrapping to make sure no bugs will intrude or what?!? please help. Thank you.

P.S. this would be her third molt if she comes through. :crybaby:

brad873 · Post by **brad873** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:31 pm

dont put sand over her, she could suffercate. it sounds like it was only her exo that fell off

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:09 pm

we've all done something along these lines. don't be so worried - i know easier said then done- just kinda breath but yea just set her under a hidie dont put anything on top of her

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:47 pm

Oh thank you so much. but unfortunately, all my Cocohuts are in the trash now because of the mite infestation. I mean I know I could have sterilized them by putting them in the oven or microwave, but the risk of them catching on fire was breaking me down on top of everything else. I was trying to get my hands on a ceramic hut, but still unsure. I'm pretty sure the climate down here is causing all this because I have had those huts for over a year now and I think the weather is part of the cause. In a form of proof to myself that it might have been the weather and not really my tank, I found that all my huts were covered in mites, despite the fact that one was in stored area, one in my tank, and the other in a carry box.

Are there any ideas on what else I could use for now?

P.S, there are a LOT of bugs in this area, so covering her I thought was best. What Can I use.

P.P.S This is my first mortifying and vital experience, everything else has pretty much gone smoothly, but we all know that it's not perfect for anyone, everyone experiences challenges now and then. I'm sorry to have worried anyone.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:35 pm

oh yeah a few more questions...

Ok, why does my hermie (Rosie) need to be uncovered from the sand if hermit crabs are usually fine when they dig underground to molt, I mean, she was already fully covered before, so isn't uncovering her going to make the process even more stressful?
I'm really relunctanant on what to do next!!

What could be a good cocohut (artificial) EMERGENCY replacement that could be an average household item?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:24 am

you could buy hypoaspis mites, they are preditory and will kill off any of the bad mites. =) Then you really don't have to get rid of things in the tank.

I personally don't see anything wrong with putting sand over them, as long as you face the opening of the shell down and don't put a lot--- but you could also use moss. It's very light, but would still provide cover

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:18 am

The difference between a crab molting underground on their own and you covering them is the air pocket. Crabs dig a little cave when they molt. When you cover them, they do not have this cave and air pocket. For the future, I would highly recommend putting a hand full of moist moss and a container over top of them. A washed out margarine container can even work in a pinch.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:22 pm

oh thank you guys so much for your help and I just found out that everything is going fine for now (I guess) since I took your advice (of coarse) and relieved her of some of the layered sand and made sure that her shell was facing down (and it was) yay!

. I also found out ( this part made me feel so much better) she was busy eating her exo! So I quickly put her back in and added a thin layer of sand over her (enough for shade, peace, and quiet)

Now I just have to wait.

Again, thank you for helping me out here.

P.S. here is a picture of her as we were moving!!!

click the link below.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk44 ... -1.jpg[img]

or I guess just look at this!...
[/img]http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk44 ... s117-1.jpg

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:31 pm

ARRRGGGGHHHH!!! here I don't think the last pic/link helped try this one!!!

Hope it works!

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk44 ... s117-1.jpg

If it doesn't, just let me know.

I'll keep you updated here one last time if the mot is successful (or not)
I just have to keep waiting and be patient.

Until then!!!