It seems my newly molted crab has made his special water dish his shell!!
Any ideas on how to get him into an actual shell??? I have placed him in a separate small tank with a few shells but he ain't budging!!! Stubborn little bugger he us!!
Crab making water dish it's shell!!
-
Mim
- Zoea I
- Posts: 102
- Joined: 18 Oct 2010, 23:36
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 5
- Total gallons: 0
- Total tanks: 1
- Location: Queensland
-
Wai
- Administrator
- Posts: 2893
- Joined: 01 Nov 2004, 14:12
- Gender: Male
- Hermit crabs: 2
- Total gallons: 45
- Total tanks: 1
- Location: Victoria, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Crab making water dish it's shell!!
Try slipping him into a shell with some salt water manually. Keep the air very humid.
Wai
-
Mim
- Zoea I
- Posts: 102
- Joined: 18 Oct 2010, 23:36
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 5
- Total gallons: 0
- Total tanks: 1
- Location: Queensland
Re: Crab making water dish it's shell!!
Thanks... Just found instructions on how to do it... Hope it wont stress him too much!!
-
Mim
- Zoea I
- Posts: 102
- Joined: 18 Oct 2010, 23:36
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 5
- Total gallons: 0
- Total tanks: 1
- Location: Queensland
Re: Crab making water dish it's shell!!
I have popped him into a shell but he seems really stressed... Have put him in iso.. Will keep you posted...
-
Mim
- Zoea I
- Posts: 102
- Joined: 18 Oct 2010, 23:36
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 5
- Total gallons: 0
- Total tanks: 1
- Location: Queensland
Re: Crab making water dish it's shell!!
Naked again this morning... He's sitting in his water dish...
-
ladybug15057
- Coenobita
- Posts: 3098
- Joined: 03 Mar 2008, 04:12
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 82
- Total gallons: 305
- Total tanks: 7
- Location: Southwestern Pa., U.S.
Re: Crab making water dish it's shell!!
Sometimes trying to put them into a shell will stress them further. I have done a reply on another post you have done...
Marie (aka ladybug15057)
If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.
If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.
-
Mim
- Zoea I
- Posts: 102
- Joined: 18 Oct 2010, 23:36
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 5
- Total gallons: 0
- Total tanks: 1
- Location: Queensland
Re: Crab making water dish it's shell!!
That's what I thought.. Wai suggested it.. Tried.. Unfortunately he just died...
-
Mim
- Zoea I
- Posts: 102
- Joined: 18 Oct 2010, 23:36
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 5
- Total gallons: 0
- Total tanks: 1
- Location: Queensland
Re: Crab making water dish it's shell!!
Oops... He didn't... Left him alone & he has moved!! Wow!! Not getting my hopes up, but it's a start!!
-
Wai
- Administrator
- Posts: 2893
- Joined: 01 Nov 2004, 14:12
- Gender: Male
- Hermit crabs: 2
- Total gallons: 45
- Total tanks: 1
- Location: Victoria, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Crab making water dish it's shell!!
Don't try putting him in a shell again if he insists crawling out. If your temperature and humidity are fine, it's possible that he feels too lethargic and unwell to carry the shell with him. At this stage, as you said, I wouldn't put my hopes up either, but anything is worth trying to make him recover.
Do you have some spirulina powder? It is rich in protein, so he can break it down into amino acids and then make new proteins/enzymes out of them to improve his bodily functions. Honey can be used to slow down the growth of harmful bacteria. It also contains some glucose, which he may be able to use as energy.
I wish there were medicines out there for hermit crabs. Unfortunately there has been no formal research in this area, so if there is a chance that he will die at any moment now, anything is worth a try. I doubt he will be able to recover fully without intervention. Even if he recovers now, there is still a chance that he will drop his shell again months later and end up in the same state he is in now.
Do you have some spirulina powder? It is rich in protein, so he can break it down into amino acids and then make new proteins/enzymes out of them to improve his bodily functions. Honey can be used to slow down the growth of harmful bacteria. It also contains some glucose, which he may be able to use as energy.
I wish there were medicines out there for hermit crabs. Unfortunately there has been no formal research in this area, so if there is a chance that he will die at any moment now, anything is worth a try. I doubt he will be able to recover fully without intervention. Even if he recovers now, there is still a chance that he will drop his shell again months later and end up in the same state he is in now.
Wai
-
ladybug15057
- Coenobita
- Posts: 3098
- Joined: 03 Mar 2008, 04:12
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 82
- Total gallons: 305
- Total tanks: 7
- Location: Southwestern Pa., U.S.
Re: Crab making water dish it's shell!!
I'm happy I woke to a new day to read that he is still with you! Pure 100% natural honey is a very good suggestion! This has been known to help others in the past. (won't get into long story)
Mim, as suggested on the other forum, please do ditch the human grade
ocean/sea mix you are using for one that is sold specifically for salt water tanks. (Wai being from Aus. would know more about this salt...)
http://www.saltworks.us/pure-ocean-natu ... -salt.html
Please also try to make a lower substrate temp as well as keeping the 26* C temp. Being cold blooded creatures they do need the variable to regulate their body temp.
Mim, as suggested on the other forum, please do ditch the human grade
ocean/sea mix you are using for one that is sold specifically for salt water tanks. (Wai being from Aus. would know more about this salt...)http://www.saltworks.us/pure-ocean-natu ... -salt.html
Please also try to make a lower substrate temp as well as keeping the 26* C temp. Being cold blooded creatures they do need the variable to regulate their body temp.
Marie (aka ladybug15057)
If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.
If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.