What are the temperature and humidity readings? Please be specific and include high low fluctuations if you're aware of them.The temperature is 79 degrees, but it went as high as 84 in the past few days. The humidity is usually at 80%, but now it's 50%.My crab looks dead!
My crab looks dead!
My crab looks dead! It doesn't move at all, and it's on its side and still won't move. This is my fourth crab to die...what am I doing wrong?1) How long have you had your crabs and how long have you been caring for this particular crab in distress?I've had crabs since October, but I've had his one for about a month.2) What size is your tank and what kind of lid do you have? About 10 gallons and a framed lid with screen inside (hard to describe). Half flips out at a time. 3) What are you using for heat? Please be specific and include fixture type, watt or mat size and where the heat source is mounted.An UTH on half the aquarium, but it's so hot I turned it off. 4) What kind of substrate do you use in your tank and at what depth? Is it dry or damp and sand castle consistency?It's play sand, kind of dry at the moment, at about 3 inches in he main tank, 6 in the ISO. 5) Do you dechlorinate your fresh water and if so, with what product? Do you offer aquarium salt water in addition to fresh water? Again, what product?I've been using treated tap water, and it's API. The salt is Mediterranean Sea Salt, Kirkland brand.6) What do you normally feed your crabs?A variety of fruits, and some commercial foods every now and then. 7) Do you bathe, mist or handle your crabs at all?I pick them up once or twice a day. I'm a bit paranoid ever since three of my crabs died. What are the temperature and humidity readings? Please be specific and include high low fluctuations if you're aware of them.The temperature is 79 degrees, but it went as high as 84 in the past few days. The humidity is usually at 80%, but now it's 50%.
What are the temperature and humidity readings? Please be specific and include high low fluctuations if you're aware of them.The temperature is 79 degrees, but it went as high as 84 in the past few days. The humidity is usually at 80%, but now it's 50%.My crab looks dead!
It sounds like it could be PPS.(post purchase stress) There is little you can do about it except provide optimal conditions. Then it is up to the crab to fight through. The humidity really shouldn't be in the 50's. PPS can withstand mid sixties for awhile but fifty is pretty low. When you purchase a new crab i would recommend giving it organic honey. This provides a little boost of energy to help the crab along and it has natural healing properties. If you are allowing the crabs to molt in the main tank the sand level should be at least twice as tall as your biggest crab. I'm not for sure if the salt you are using is safe or not so i'd wait for answer from someone who knows on that. I'm sorry about you losing your crab and I hope you have better luck in the future.
6 Purple Pinchers: Two E's.
Demon, Cabela's Gimli
San Fransisco Gandalf
Coconut, Stitch
King Kong Junior
Demon, Cabela's Gimli
San Fransisco Gandalf
Coconut, Stitch
King Kong Junior
My crab looks dead!
Thank you so much for your help. I'm going to get two new crabs today for Fawkes to play with. I've solved the humidity problem with more plastic wrap covering the top, and I've already disposed of Cupid. I'd still like to know what else I'm doing wrong...
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JediMasterThrash
- Jedi Tech Support
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- Location: Nerima district of Tokyo, Japan
My crab looks dead!
Definitely keping the lid mostly covered will help maintain higher humidity. Whenever the substrate seems too dry finger a hole into a couple corners and dump 1/2 cup conditioned water down each hole.heat seems OK. I would add a bubbler (or DIY humidifier). Basically just get a cheap air pump (even from a thrift store), some tubing and a 49c airstone and put it into a fairly deep water bowl (make sure there are rocks/sponges so crabs can't get stuck). This will keep the humidify up, and provide for more airflow. I think that increase airflow in the tank is a key factor in improving tank conditions. Stale air isn't good.They may be missing some essential proteins in the diet if their food is primarily fruits. Fruits should be just a treat and foods high in several sources of protein should be the staple, as well as some dried shrimp or similar, and some seaweed/spirulina (often an ingredient within staple foods).I think a one-up on the food and adding a bubbler will be the biggest bang for your buck right now.
JMT.
Stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking crab-herder since '92.
Stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking crab-herder since '92.
My crab looks dead!
Unless i have misunderstood, Kirkland brand sea salt is not aquarium salt. One is for human consumption, the other to make salt water for fish and in our case hermit crabs. You want aquarium salt.Peg
My crab looks dead!
Another thought here. While PPS is very likely consider where your crabs live in relation to your kitchen. I have two tanks, one in the eat in kitchen and one on the attached living room. I had a series of deaths in the one in the kitchen until I stopped using the non stick pans. I did not cook their food in it ever but I did cook the family food in it. I'm thinking that, like birds, hermit crabs may be sensitive to the fumes put out by the coated pans. Granted it could be coincidence but nothing else has changed.Peg