Crackling gills?

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Sun May 08, 2005 3:06 pm

I keep meaning to ask if you guys have experienced this. Right before my new ruggie died a couple of weeks ago (combo PPS/molt death) I had the opportunity to hear something really strange. She was sitting in the large freshwater dish, drinking, when I heard a noise that sounded like her gills were crackling. I can't really explain the noise, but that's what it sounded like. A couple of days later she was dead. Bear in mind I heard this noise after a molt, which I thought would repair any gill damage (the petstore conditions were terrible!). Could this noise have been a sign of gill damage? Or did it mean something else entirely? I still feel as if I could have prevented her death; her molt went perfectly but she never really "came back" from it. Will a molt completely repair damaged gills?Has anyone ever heard this before? I've had some bad PPS cases but I've never heard this crackling noise.

CrabbyJ · Post by **CrabbyJ** » Mon May 09, 2005 4:41 am

HI Nicole,I'm very sorry to hear about this crab. This type of death is so frustrating because I think it's the most common type of problem a crab can have to due bad petstore conditions.I can't say that I've ever experienced this myself, but I just wanted to share my thoughts. Sometimes crabs are exposed to low humidity for very long periods of time. I would think that poor conditions such as this could cause irreversible damage. If only the exo part of the gills become damaged, a molt would regenerate that part and the crab could be normal again. If the lack of humidity was severe and occurred over a long period of time, I would think that the *lungs* could also become damaged along with the gills because they are supposed to be breathing in air that is high in humidity. If I'm not mistaken, the gills are on the exterior but the air does go into lungs or lung-like organs.Again, this is just my theory and thoughts.

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Mon May 09, 2005 11:25 am

Thank you for your reply. She was such a sweet crab, the little I got to know of her. It just never fails to amaze me what these animals have to go through just to get to our houses. I was really under the impression that a molt would have corrected any gill problems; your theory makes sense though. I don't know how long removed she was from the beach; however, being a ruggie she also had no saltwater in the store and there was some sort of heat lamp on in the petstore tank. I guess it's possible that there was just too much wrong with her after all that. I feel horrible when I think about it.Thanks again.

Aviate · Post by **Aviate** » Tue May 10, 2005 12:18 pm

I just lost a crab to what I think was chronic dehydration. Got him at Xmas at petco, bad conditions, and he just died after basically not moving except to drink for FOUR entire months. I didnt think to listen to him tho, but wow....

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Tue May 10, 2005 3:35 pm

Aviate, I'm sorry about your poor hermie. It's just so sad that they have to suffer like that! I've heard clicking coming from my crabs before (and chirping LOL) but this crackling was unlike anything I've ever heard. Almost like the sound of dry, crumpling paper, or maybe Alka-Seltzer being dropped into a glass of water. And I only heard it when she was in the water dish. I know it's so hard to explain, but I really don't want to hear the noise again. I still hear it in my head. Thanks all for your input.