How long will my new PP take to de-stress? *edit*

[GudaHermitCrab]

So I recently got a new PP (purple pincher) hermit crab, as a friend for my first PP. The conditions that the pet store had held this new PP in were unfavorable. The substrate was MAYBE an inch, and was very dry. In fact, I don't even recall seeing a water bowl in there! Out of the dozen shells that were in there, there were only two actual live crabs in the tank. Not only were there just a bunch of empty shells and hardly any live crabs, but the shells were ALL for tiny hermit crabs, yet one of the two live crabs was a medium-sized. Neither crab was active. The employee roughly handled these crabs (throwing them down). He showed me the medium-sized one (didn't even let me hold it!) and simply asked, "this good?" I was about to disagree and go to another store, but I just felt so bad for the guy! I brought him home.

It has been five days and he has barely moved. How long will it take him to de-stress, do you think? (he is alive.)

Edit: I would bathe him again but he doesnt come out of his shell underwater or in my hand.

[beccaviolett]

anywhere from a day to a month maybe. i dont think theres really any set time.

[wolfnipplechips]

Not until after the first molt assuming all conditions in your tank are correct. Good luck. Try feeding sugary foods like fruit, and honey (still in addition to proteins and other). That will help keep up his strength.

[Happy Crabber]

Yikes, that's rough. I recently adopted a crab from CL with very dry conditions who was not moving at all. I gave her a bath when she got home, and tons of dry calci sand came out of her shell. I gave her a bath for the next 3 days, and each day she gained mobility. Then after a week in the tank, she clammed up. So now she's back in iso under a hut.

I'm not at all an expert, only crabbing a few months, but I think the baths were helpful to rehydrate her. I gave her lots of honey, protein and calcium.

Good luck and let us know how he does.

[GudaHermitCrab]

Oh, yes. I bathed him and a TON of dirt/ substrate came out. I am hesitant to bathe him again, however, because I don't want to stress him out more by constantly moving him. We're also moving into a hotel for a few weeks soon (remodeling our house), so I fear that'll stress him out, too. Luckily, that's in several weeks so hopefully he'll regain his strength by then!

[GudaHermitCrab]

Not until after the first molt assuming all conditions in your tank are correct. Good luck. Try feeding sugary foods like fruit, and honey (still in addition to proteins and other). That will help keep up his strength.

Yes, I've been putting sugary fruits in as well. It's just that I can't tell if he's eating it. But hopefully he is and it's helping.

[CrabbyMom33]

I'd make sure he has water to bathe in himself, lots of food, good conditions, then let leave him alone. Sometimes that is the best thing we can do for them.