Crab recently molted, out of shell, weak and not moving much
Jul 30, 2013 9:03:06 GMT -5
Ookami-Meggle likes this
Post by Sandee for Josh on Jul 30, 2013 9:03:06 GMT -5
HOW MANY CRABS DO YOU HAVE,WHAT SIZES ARE THEY & HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD THEM?- we have six crabbies in our crabitat varying from two years in the tank to one week. Sizes vary from small to medium ping-pong size, not very different in size from each other (no jumbos or really littles).
WHAT SPECIES OF CRABS DO YOU HAVE- I don't know the name, but they are the ones with purplish-reddish claws.
TANK # AND SIZE(S))- I have one main tank, a long 20-gal, and a smaller travel tank that is really a portable reptile cage that we converted to being a way to take crabbies with us on our vacations to the beach each summer.
LID TYPE- main tank: mesh that we keep covered with a cloth and travel tank is vented (no crabs in there currently)
SUBSTRATE USED- play sand
SUBSTRATE DEPTH- about 3" (I've read here that that's not enough - we will be adding more ASAP, although it is deep enough that the crabbies have been burying and molting)
HUMIDITY SOURCE- we mist daily and give weekly baths in a separate container
HEAT SOURCE- none, house temp is maintained at 78 for summer
Where are they located?
WHAT IS YOUR TEMP/HUMIDITY ON AVERAGE?-avg temp is 78, not sure of humidity level
HOW DO YOU TREAT YOUR WATER?- well water treated with a salt-based softening system; we treat the hermie water with aquarium drops prior to using on hermies
HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR SALT WATER?- I was unaware of this need until today reading in the forums. Will be getting salt water into tank ASAP.
WHAT DO YOU FEED YOUR CRABS?- commercially-prepared food mostly, "Hermit Crab Food" from All Living Things, 53% crude protein, 12% crude fat, 4% crude fiber, 10% moisture, according to the label. Will be adding more table scraps based on reading that advice on the forum (although in a separate problem, I've been having problems with tiny red bugs showing up a day after the food is put in the tank - is this from the commercial food?)
WHAT TYPES OF HIDES/CLIMBS DO YOU HAVE?- one small coco hut and one large hut; climbing sticks of dried wild grapevines
DO YOU HAVE AN ISOLATION TANK?- travel tank is used as ISO tank
HOW MANY EXTRA SHELLS AND WHAT SIZES DO YOU HAVE?- probably about 8 or 9 shells of various sizes and shapes
DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM & ANY OTHER INFO YOU THINK APPLIES-
This is the second crab we've had molt this summer. The first started to molt underground, came out, finished overnight in a large clam shell we have in the tank. In spite of carefully moving him with his exoskeleton to the isolation tank and keeping him moist, he died.
This crab molted and came out last week, changed shells, went back underground, came out again and started streaking. We have plenty of shells, including his old one, available in various shapes and sizes. He hid in a coco hut for a couple of days then came out and has just continued to streak. We've encouraged him to eat with food nearby and mist him often so he doesn't dry out but this morning, he's barely moving and I'm afraid we're going to lose him, too. Please help! My 10-year-old is devastated.
Also, we have two more crabs underground, probably molting and want to make sure we adjust conditions to keep them alive this time. We've had other successful molts over the last few years so I don't know what has changed to give us these problems.
Thanks for your help!
Read more: sachscrabpage.proboards.com/thread/1884/emergency-help-template#ixzz2aXJu7TiP
WHAT SPECIES OF CRABS DO YOU HAVE- I don't know the name, but they are the ones with purplish-reddish claws.
TANK # AND SIZE(S))- I have one main tank, a long 20-gal, and a smaller travel tank that is really a portable reptile cage that we converted to being a way to take crabbies with us on our vacations to the beach each summer.
LID TYPE- main tank: mesh that we keep covered with a cloth and travel tank is vented (no crabs in there currently)
SUBSTRATE USED- play sand
SUBSTRATE DEPTH- about 3" (I've read here that that's not enough - we will be adding more ASAP, although it is deep enough that the crabbies have been burying and molting)
HUMIDITY SOURCE- we mist daily and give weekly baths in a separate container
HEAT SOURCE- none, house temp is maintained at 78 for summer
Where are they located?
WHAT IS YOUR TEMP/HUMIDITY ON AVERAGE?-avg temp is 78, not sure of humidity level
HOW DO YOU TREAT YOUR WATER?- well water treated with a salt-based softening system; we treat the hermie water with aquarium drops prior to using on hermies
HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR SALT WATER?- I was unaware of this need until today reading in the forums. Will be getting salt water into tank ASAP.
WHAT DO YOU FEED YOUR CRABS?- commercially-prepared food mostly, "Hermit Crab Food" from All Living Things, 53% crude protein, 12% crude fat, 4% crude fiber, 10% moisture, according to the label. Will be adding more table scraps based on reading that advice on the forum (although in a separate problem, I've been having problems with tiny red bugs showing up a day after the food is put in the tank - is this from the commercial food?)
WHAT TYPES OF HIDES/CLIMBS DO YOU HAVE?- one small coco hut and one large hut; climbing sticks of dried wild grapevines
DO YOU HAVE AN ISOLATION TANK?- travel tank is used as ISO tank
HOW MANY EXTRA SHELLS AND WHAT SIZES DO YOU HAVE?- probably about 8 or 9 shells of various sizes and shapes
DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM & ANY OTHER INFO YOU THINK APPLIES-
This is the second crab we've had molt this summer. The first started to molt underground, came out, finished overnight in a large clam shell we have in the tank. In spite of carefully moving him with his exoskeleton to the isolation tank and keeping him moist, he died.
This crab molted and came out last week, changed shells, went back underground, came out again and started streaking. We have plenty of shells, including his old one, available in various shapes and sizes. He hid in a coco hut for a couple of days then came out and has just continued to streak. We've encouraged him to eat with food nearby and mist him often so he doesn't dry out but this morning, he's barely moving and I'm afraid we're going to lose him, too. Please help! My 10-year-old is devastated.
Also, we have two more crabs underground, probably molting and want to make sure we adjust conditions to keep them alive this time. We've had other successful molts over the last few years so I don't know what has changed to give us these problems.
Thanks for your help!
Read more: sachscrabpage.proboards.com/thread/1884/emergency-help-template#ixzz2aXJu7TiP