I think my hermie is dying or already dead

Questions about unexpected problems.
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jsanqunetti
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I think my hermie is dying or already dead

Post by jsanqunetti »

My hermie has been very quiet for the last several days, just staying in one place or where ever I put him. He did seem to drink a bit before but that was about it. Before this he was fairly active.

This morning I picked him up and held a little bit of peanut butter on my finger, he seemed to want to come out, and he was feeling a little limp so I decided to ISO him inside of his tank with a plastic container and a little water milkcap and foodmilk cap.

Earlier today, when I picked him up he completly came out of his shell and seemed very lifeless, so I put him in a saltwater dish to clean him off, blotted him dry and carefully put him in a new shell. But I dont really see any movement from him

SPECS>>>>

What is the volume of your main tank?
10 gallon

How many hermit crabs do you currently have? How big are they?
Three
2 1/2 inches
1 inch (the one in question)
1 inch or a tad bigger

How long have you had the hermit crab(s) that you are concerned about?
TYPE HERE
Since mid -end of June 2012?

What substrate or combination of substrates are you using? How deep is it?
TYPE HERE (If you use Eco Earth, what do you expand it with?)
Quickrete play sand and Eco Earth mixture, with bottled spring water added

What do you feed your hermit crabs?
TYPE HERE (Please include the brands of commercial foods you might use, and other fresh food products in detail)
main diet - zoo med hermit crab food
others - assortment of fruits and veggies, banana, strawberry, romaine lettuce, carrots, etc
peanut butter as a treat, tropical trail mix, goldfish flakes
meat- pieces of chicken, turkey, tuna, fish,

Do you use distilled, bottled, tap or other types of water?
bottled spring water, and I also use zoo med hermit crab salt water

If you are using a dechlorinator, what brand is it? Does it state to remove all heavy metals, chlorine and chloramines?
no just drops of the zoo med salt water

What brand of sea salt are you using to supply your hermit crabs with salt water?
Zoo Med

What heat source are you using and where is it positioned?
zoo med repti therm under tank heater. Placed underthe tank oppsite side of food and water dishes.

Have you calibrated your thermometer(s) and hygrometer so that you can interpret accurate readings?
no, do not know how that is done

What is the air temperature range and humidity inside the tank?
Temp: 72 - 73
Humidity: usually upper 80's sometimes it goes as low as 70

What is the highest temperature that the substrate near the heat source reaches?
Not sure, my gage is at the top of the tank, heat sourse is under tank.

Do you have any photos of your tank or hermit crab(s) of concern? If yes, please attach them to your post.
yes, they are attached.
Hermie 1 is him in his orginail shell
Hermie 2 is the shell i put him in after he fell out
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Wai
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Re: I think my hermie is dying or already dead

Post by Wai »

Is he still loose? If so, he may be dead.
Wai
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jsanqunetti
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Posts: 4
Joined: 04 Jul 2012, 01:18
Gender: Female
Hermit crabs: 3
Total gallons: 10
Total tanks: 1

Re: I think my hermie is dying or already dead

Post by jsanqunetti »

yes, he died the morning or so after I posted this, he defitinly had that bad bad smell.

a couple of replies from another message thought it might of been post buying stress?

They also told me not to use commerical pellet food, so I don't use that anymore. Told me to change my salt water brand.

Someone also said don't use the qucikrite playsand brand, but not sure, ive read other places that use that with no problems.

So still unsure what did it, but wanting to make sure I have it set up correctly before I get a new guy,
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ladybug15057
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Re: I think my hermie is dying or already dead

Post by ladybug15057 »

Someone also said don't use the qucikrite playsand brand, but not sure, ive read other places that use that with no problems.
There are a few who have use it in the past, but a major factor is where it had been mined at too. Even at that, those do wash the sand a few times and use a magnet through it as well. But major issue, where it had been mined at.
I am sorry for your loss.
Marie (aka ladybug15057)

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jsanqunetti
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Re: I think my hermie is dying or already dead

Post by jsanqunetti »

Yes I see some people don't recommend it, but I never see any replies on to what brands is best then?? Thanks in advance :)

How would one go about washing it?
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ladybug15057
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Re: I think my hermie is dying or already dead

Post by ladybug15057 »

It would need to be done a couple times, but a reminder... it depends to where the sand was mined at:

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Washing+Sand

Not all impurities can be washed, baked or boiled out of sand. Here is a picture of the more popular quickrete play sand. (last photo)

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... Substrates

Please do read through the other play sand topics at:
http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-browse_categ ... =off&type=
Marie (aka ladybug15057)

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Snippy
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Re: I think my hermie is dying or already dead

Post by Snippy »

Oh no. Sorry to hear about your hermi :'(
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ladybug15057
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Posts: 3098
Joined: 03 Mar 2008, 04:12
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Location: Southwestern Pa., U.S.

Re: I think my hermie is dying or already dead

Post by ladybug15057 »

but I never see any replies on to what brands is best then??
CaribSea sugar or select grains that are both oolitic. It can be washed over, and over, and over, and over, etc.... and it doesn't hurt it.
Marie (aka ladybug15057)

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