Merchant of Hermie Death

Kryorke · Post by **Kryorke** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 5:50 am

I have 3 crabs, all buried. Mr Krabs, who has been buried for about 5 weeks, was accidentally dug up, mistaken for dead, AND THROWN AWAY. Needless to say I feel sick about this. I got him out of trash, gave him a stress coat bath, dug a hole, put him amd his exo in hole and covered him partially with a shell. I can here him digging now. My question- is digging him up a death sentence? Since my other two are buried (3 and 1 week, respectively), do I need to cover him up with a 2 liter?

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:00 am

Digging up a burrowed crab isn't necessarily a death sentence as you would have to time it right and dig the crab up while it's still soft which would cause all sorts of internal and external injuries to the crab most certianly ending with death which is why we recommned not digging up burrowed crabs as low as the chances are of finding them soft are they are still too high.I'd recommend checking on the crab by lifting up the covering you have provided and if he has finished all of the old exo except the leg tips and pinchers he's good to go and can be realeased.I wouldn't disturb him uncessarily though as he's already been dug up thrown away and then retieved from the trash he's already undergone severe stress and because he was disturbed during his molt he wont harden up as nicely and his color will be faded.This will likely prompt him to molt again in a few weeks to repair the faded color and any damage you might have done to him.I've accidentally discovered and moved molted hermits in the past and with proper isolation and time they would always come around and in two or three weeks would go back down to fix the coloring issues and damage that I caused and would re-emerge looking better than new.Just make sure to have plenty of calicum in the form of cuttlebone or white calci sand ready and available for him and a good severing of protien like whole raw shrimp with the shell still on smothered with raw or oganic honey for his first feed back from molt and he should recover rather quickly.

Kryorke · Post by **Kryorke** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:48 am

Thank you so much for the advice! Truly appreciated.

Kryorke · Post by **Kryorke** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 6:23 pm

I just checked on Mr Krabs and the exo i tucked in his hole is gone

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:06 am

Thats a good sign.You should be okay uncovering the hole and letting him out, he'll climb out on his own when he feels up to it.

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 7:08 am

quote:Originally posted by Crabber85:Just make sure to have plenty of calicum in the form of cuttlebone or white calci sand ready and available for him and a good severing of protien like whole raw shrimp with the shell still on smothered with raw or oganic honey for his first feed back from molt and he should recover rather quickly. You make it sound so scrumptious/tasty!

Kryorke · Post by **Kryorke** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:00 am

Well I uncovered Mr Krabs, and he has to choose from: shrimp covered in honey, scrambled eggs, raspberry leaves, bee pollen, crushed egg shell, coconut milk and shavings, and dried blue malva flowers in an acorn top. If he leaves his hole I'll know it!!Mr Krabs' before picture, he's on the left. I'll try to get a nice 'after' pic tonight.

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:32 am

Sounds like a good mix of choices and don't be surprised if he turns into a little piggy and goes after all of it as hermitcrabs freshly back from a molt have a veracious appetite and will consume double the normal level of food and water in 24 to 48hrs.