Hermit Crab Lethargy

jgfceit · Post by **jgfceit** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 2:00 pm

Fawkes has been acting weird the past two weeks. Both of my other hermit crabs are buried, and he just sits in a corner all day. He's eating at night, but he's always back in that same spot. I can pick him up and he'll stay tucked in his shell. If I put my nose close to him, I smell something fishy. Is this normal?

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 3:58 pm

The fishy smell actually be coming from where the hermitcrab has been in contact with the food as I know this is common with my group.The rotten fish smell associated with dying or dead hermits is caused by the relase or expulsion of bowel and the bacteria responsible for decomp.There are only two ways a hermitcrab will release bowl one if the gills are dried and damaged the hermitcrab will litterally regergitate bowl and force this through the gills in an effort to soothe them(this is known and blowing bubbles or foaming and the foam is typically black or brown), or when the hermitcrab actually passes and all the bodily fluids are released.I've not seen or heard of a hermitcrab who has foamed actually survive as this only happens when the hermitcrab has sustained too much damage to it's gills and nothing more can be done.It's safe to assume that if your crab hasn't foamed or blown brown bubbles that your not smelling bowl.It is normal for hermits to sit in the same spot for a few days and not move so I would say the fact that yours is still moving to eat and drink is a good sign and that you have nothing to worry about.I myself have a couple hermits who wont move for several days then all of the sudden they are going like crazy and then they'll go back in the not moving phase just as quickly.I believe it has something to do with the hermits energy level as some are much more energetic than others.What have you been feeding in the last couple of months?Have you changed anything in the tank recently or when was the last time?Have you noticed this behavior befor or is this the first time?

jgfceit · Post by **jgfceit** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 11:43 pm

Thanks for your quick response!Nothing's really changed, and I've been giving them popcorn for the last month. And I haven't seen any brown bubbles, either...

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 12:16 am

Ginny has been the same for the last couple weeks. I finally moved her up with the calcium-worm casting dish next to the heater. She is still very quiet for her but not in that same spot any more. I think she is considering going down to molt. Either that or she misses Fred, he already went to molt. Not that she is alone, there are 5 others who are up and about. This behavior still worries me though. Glad you asked the question so I could worry a bit less.

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Sun Oct 20, 2013 5:32 am

Hermitcrabs will exhibit this behavior for several reasons such as key nutrients missing, temp too low constantly, low natural energy level or when they are conserving energy to begin the molt cycle.@jgfceit, what has your diet plan been like, have you been alternating out foods on a daily basis to insure that your hermitcrabs are receiving proteins, cellulose, calcium, chitin, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals?If just one thing is missing for a period of time it can throw a hermitcrab off and cause it to become inactive.Hows your temps been, have they been stable?

jgfceit · Post by **jgfceit** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 9:29 am

Temperatures between 70-80 degrees.I should be alternating their diet, but they seemed fine on popcorn. I'll give them something else tonight.

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 7:24 am

Mine love popcorn too, but I try to only give it once or twice a week with all kinds of other stuff in between. If you don't have time to give fresh try getting dried either make your own or buy from Hermit crab patch or addiction stores. If you need help figure out what to give look in the archives or start another topic.

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 4:23 am

I agree with jenok, I don't think popcorn is enough for them. Mine would eat it all day every day which is why I only give it a few times a month. They need a lot of protein. People think of them as little herbivores but they are omnivorous trashivores! I've heard you should give them protein almost every day - like 6 days/wk. Plus everything Crabber85 said!

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:11 am

Unfortunately only providing pop corn on a daily basis is doing your hermitcrabs a disservice because they are only getting the cellulose from the pop corn and not much else which has led to a nutritional deficiency which most hermitcrabs will resolve on their own by eating their tank mates.Hermitcrabs who aren't getting enough protein will begin to slow down and will exhibit odd or cannibalistic behavior after a period of time.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 24, 2013 2:10 pm

Don't you worry! it's simpley tired

jgfceit · Post by **jgfceit** » Mon Nov 25, 2013 1:19 pm

Thanks guys