Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
I have a 10 gallon and I say 3 inches
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
Temp reads 78 and humidity fluctuate between 60-80
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes a heating mat located on backside of tank
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)? fresh drinking water and salt
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Hermit crab meal , eggshells, fresh fruit, dried coconut,crackers replace daily
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
1 crab I had since December and the newest since march
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes I believe 1 has
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? 10 gallon tank grate too with plexi glass over it
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 1 smaller 1 medium sized
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
4 extra shells
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every 3 months complete deep clean replace all substrate and every couple days spot clean and remove bathroom droppings
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No
15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. so I feel terrible I didn’t realize how much substrate was needed for these guys they were actually my daughter who lost interest so here we are basically my 1 crab hermy was down under the water dish molting I assumed for about 6 weeks I noticed the other morning she had come up I decided to move the water dish to clean it and fill it since
I have moved it or disturb it since she was down molting I assumed Picasso my other hermy
Was in his house in the corner were he usually hangs out well when I lifted the water dish I was in shock to see that Picasso was now under there only I seen the little claws coming and seen his shell was right close to him but he wasn’t in it I panicked and put the dish back I decided yesterday wich was the next day I needed to check to see if he had gotten back to his shell and he has only he is litterly under the water dish but not like burrowed or anything there is sand around him I have recently bout a 20 gallon long tank and I going to get the crabitate up to standards I feel horrible
I done so much research and I had not realized that I don’t have enough substrate I don’t know what to do should I leave him be or what should I do I worried I sorry if this sounds confusing I just need help I gotten really attached to these crabs I be devastated if anything happens
.
New crab mom molting crisis
-
curlysister
- Administrator
- Posts: 4422
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: New crab mom molting crisis
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
I have a 10 gallon and I say 3 inches
Curly - As you stated below, you realize this may not be enough. It should be at least twice as deep as your largest crab, and moistened with dechlorinated water so that it holds it's shape.
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
Temp reads 78 and humidity fluctuate between 60-80
Curly - Temp is great, but 60 is too low for humidity - it should be up near the 80%. Is your substrate moistened? Do you have moss in the tank? Where is the hygrometer located, and have you calibrated it to be sure it's accurate.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes a heating mat located on backside of tank
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)? fresh drinking water and salt
Curly - Be sure that the fresh water is tap water treated with an appropriate dechlorinator. And that the salt water is that dechlorinated water, with a marine salt added. The 'water' care sheet has all the info you need to know, including which brand names are appropriate.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Hermit crab meal , eggshells, fresh fruit, dried coconut,crackers replace daily
Curly - Most commercial foods (not sure whether that is what your 'hermit crab meal' is) contain preservatives that aren't safe long term. Crabs need a varied diet, which includes protein and calcium daily. Check out the 'nutrition' care sheet for all the info you need to know about what to feed them.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
1 crab I had since December and the newest since march
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes I believe 1 has
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? 10 gallon tank grate too with plexi glass over it
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 1 smaller 1 medium sized
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
4 extra shells
Curly - HCA recommends 3 to 5 extra shells per crab. The 'shells' care sheet gives lots of info about what types of shells are appropriate.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every 3 months complete deep clean replace all substrate and every couple days spot clean and remove bathroom droppings
Curly - You don't need to deep clean that often, unless there is an emergency like a bacterial bloom or flood. Some people do a deep clean every year or two, but some of us just add substrate as we need to (I have never thrown out and replaced all the sub in over 11 years of having crabs LOL.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No
15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. so I feel terrible I didn’t realize how much substrate was needed for these guys they were actually my daughter who lost interest so here we are basically my 1 crab hermy was down under the water dish molting I assumed for about 6 weeks I noticed the other morning she had come up I decided to move the water dish to clean it and fill it since
I have moved it or disturb it since she was down molting I assumed Picasso my other hermy
Was in his house in the corner were he usually hangs out well when I lifted the water dish I was in shock to see that Picasso was now under there only I seen the little claws coming and seen his shell was right close to him but he wasn’t in it I panicked and put the dish back I decided yesterday wich was the next day I needed to check to see if he had gotten back to his shell and he has only he is litterly under the water dish but not like burrowed or anything there is sand around him I have recently bout a 20 gallon long tank and I going to get the crabitate up to standards I feel horrible
I done so much research and I had not realized that I don’t have enough substrate I don’t know what to do should I leave him be or what should I do I worried I sorry if this sounds confusing I just need help I gotten really attached to these crabs I be devastated if anything happens
Curly - If your one crab is up above ground, then you can isolate the molter in place. Use a 2 liter pop bottle, cut it like half way, and take the lid off. Press it into the substrate so that the molting crab is under it, and protected from the other crab in the tank, but still has the proper conditions of the tank. If you have a green pop bottle (like 7-up here in Canada) vs a clear one, that will provide a bit of darkness.
I have a 10 gallon and I say 3 inches
Curly - As you stated below, you realize this may not be enough. It should be at least twice as deep as your largest crab, and moistened with dechlorinated water so that it holds it's shape.
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
Temp reads 78 and humidity fluctuate between 60-80
Curly - Temp is great, but 60 is too low for humidity - it should be up near the 80%. Is your substrate moistened? Do you have moss in the tank? Where is the hygrometer located, and have you calibrated it to be sure it's accurate.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes a heating mat located on backside of tank
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)? fresh drinking water and salt
Curly - Be sure that the fresh water is tap water treated with an appropriate dechlorinator. And that the salt water is that dechlorinated water, with a marine salt added. The 'water' care sheet has all the info you need to know, including which brand names are appropriate.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Hermit crab meal , eggshells, fresh fruit, dried coconut,crackers replace daily
Curly - Most commercial foods (not sure whether that is what your 'hermit crab meal' is) contain preservatives that aren't safe long term. Crabs need a varied diet, which includes protein and calcium daily. Check out the 'nutrition' care sheet for all the info you need to know about what to feed them.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
1 crab I had since December and the newest since march
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Yes I believe 1 has
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing? 10 gallon tank grate too with plexi glass over it
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 1 smaller 1 medium sized
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
4 extra shells
Curly - HCA recommends 3 to 5 extra shells per crab. The 'shells' care sheet gives lots of info about what types of shells are appropriate.
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every 3 months complete deep clean replace all substrate and every couple days spot clean and remove bathroom droppings
Curly - You don't need to deep clean that often, unless there is an emergency like a bacterial bloom or flood. Some people do a deep clean every year or two, but some of us just add substrate as we need to (I have never thrown out and replaced all the sub in over 11 years of having crabs LOL.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No
15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail. so I feel terrible I didn’t realize how much substrate was needed for these guys they were actually my daughter who lost interest so here we are basically my 1 crab hermy was down under the water dish molting I assumed for about 6 weeks I noticed the other morning she had come up I decided to move the water dish to clean it and fill it since
I have moved it or disturb it since she was down molting I assumed Picasso my other hermy
Was in his house in the corner were he usually hangs out well when I lifted the water dish I was in shock to see that Picasso was now under there only I seen the little claws coming and seen his shell was right close to him but he wasn’t in it I panicked and put the dish back I decided yesterday wich was the next day I needed to check to see if he had gotten back to his shell and he has only he is litterly under the water dish but not like burrowed or anything there is sand around him I have recently bout a 20 gallon long tank and I going to get the crabitate up to standards I feel horrible
I done so much research and I had not realized that I don’t have enough substrate I don’t know what to do should I leave him be or what should I do I worried I sorry if this sounds confusing I just need help I gotten really attached to these crabs I be devastated if anything happens
Curly - If your one crab is up above ground, then you can isolate the molter in place. Use a 2 liter pop bottle, cut it like half way, and take the lid off. Press it into the substrate so that the molting crab is under it, and protected from the other crab in the tank, but still has the proper conditions of the tank. If you have a green pop bottle (like 7-up here in Canada) vs a clear one, that will provide a bit of darkness.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers