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?
Calcium sand and coir
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?
80F humidity 70
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heating pad on bottom and lamp up top
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 water
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Pre bought food pellet like also with meal worms and coconut and nuts
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Unknown species about 2 years
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
It’s molting this morning and now laying in water dish!
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 , mesh top/lid
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 crabs one larger than the other
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
About 5
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every few months
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Yes 3 and washed with water
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.
Hermit crab has molted and left old exoskeleton in corner, found him naked in his water dish with another crab on top of him, I isolated the other crab temporarily I didn’t want to move molting crab. The molted crab doesn’t look injured or like it lost limbs but the bigger crab seemed like he wanted to eat him or something, should I leave the crab in the dish? Should I put him in sand? Should I leave the lamp on? Thanks
.
Hermit crab molted but is naked laying in water dish! Other crab was on top of him
-
Likewhohaha
Topic author - Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:29 pm
- Location: Virginia
-
curlysister
- Administrator
- Posts: 4292
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: Hermit crab molted but is naked laying in water dish! Other crab was on top of him
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Calcium sand and coir
Curly - Calcium sand is known to turn hard like cement when wet, which could be why your crab did not bury to molt. Play sand and coco fiber are considered safer.
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?
80F humidity 70
Curly - 80 is a good temp, but 70% humidity is too low, and will affect health. Crabs need higher humidity (aim for 80%) in order to breathe through their modified gills.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heating pad on bottom and lamp up top
Curly - The heating pad must be mounted on the side or back of the tank, not the bottom as it becomes a fire hazard. You want to heat the air, not the sub.
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 water
Curly - Crabs should have both fresh water made with dechlorinated tap water, as well as salt water made by adding marine salt to the dechlor water.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Pre bought food pellet like also with meal worms and coconut and nuts
Curly - Most pellet food is not considered safe or appropriate for long term health.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Unknown species about 2 years
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
It’s molting this morning and now laying in water dish!
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 , mesh top/lid
Curly - You will need to cover the mesh with something solid to hold in humidity, even something like plastic wrap.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 crabs one larger than the other
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
About 5
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every few months
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Yes 3 and washed with water
Curly - Sponges just harbor bacteria and are not needed.
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.
Hermit crab has molted and left old exoskeleton in corner, found him naked in his water dish with another crab on top of him, I isolated the other crab temporarily I didn’t want to move molting crab. The molted crab doesn’t look injured or like it lost limbs but the bigger crab seemed like he wanted to eat him or something, should I leave the crab in the dish? Should I put him in sand? Should I leave the lamp on? Thanks
Curly - You have a number of things that need to be changed in your tank for long term crab health. Start with reading through our 'basics' care sheet, then read other care sheets on nutrition, water, humidity, etc.
If your crab has molted and is out of it's shell under the water, it may in fact be dead. You need to get it out of the water to see if it's alive, then it needs to get back in a shell or it will die. Put it in a small container with no sub, just a mm or two or water so it doesn't dry out, and see if it is moving.
Calcium sand and coir
Curly - Calcium sand is known to turn hard like cement when wet, which could be why your crab did not bury to molt. Play sand and coco fiber are considered safer.
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?
80F humidity 70
Curly - 80 is a good temp, but 70% humidity is too low, and will affect health. Crabs need higher humidity (aim for 80%) in order to breathe through their modified gills.
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heating pad on bottom and lamp up top
Curly - The heating pad must be mounted on the side or back of the tank, not the bottom as it becomes a fire hazard. You want to heat the air, not the sub.
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 water
Curly - Crabs should have both fresh water made with dechlorinated tap water, as well as salt water made by adding marine salt to the dechlor water.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Pre bought food pellet like also with meal worms and coconut and nuts
Curly - Most pellet food is not considered safe or appropriate for long term health.
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Unknown species about 2 years
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
It’s molting this morning and now laying in water dish!
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 , mesh top/lid
Curly - You will need to cover the mesh with something solid to hold in humidity, even something like plastic wrap.
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
2 crabs one larger than the other
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
About 5
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Every few months
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
Yes 3 and washed with water
Curly - Sponges just harbor bacteria and are not needed.
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.
Hermit crab has molted and left old exoskeleton in corner, found him naked in his water dish with another crab on top of him, I isolated the other crab temporarily I didn’t want to move molting crab. The molted crab doesn’t look injured or like it lost limbs but the bigger crab seemed like he wanted to eat him or something, should I leave the crab in the dish? Should I put him in sand? Should I leave the lamp on? Thanks
Curly - You have a number of things that need to be changed in your tank for long term crab health. Start with reading through our 'basics' care sheet, then read other care sheets on nutrition, water, humidity, etc.
If your crab has molted and is out of it's shell under the water, it may in fact be dead. You need to get it out of the water to see if it's alive, then it needs to get back in a shell or it will die. Put it in a small container with no sub, just a mm or two or water so it doesn't dry out, and see if it is moving.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers