A few weeks ago a crab of mine began to grow a bit pale. I thought he was just molting, but, unfortunately, I found him dead today. I carefully eased him out of his shell and, on his belly, found a large, purple growth (I will add pictures below).
I've had him for almost a year and got him from a pet store that looked to keep their crabs until respectable, though imperfect, conditions. His tank at home was 10 gallon, heated and humidified. I made sure him and his crab buddy had a variety of both shrimp/blood worm/protein and a fruit salad mixture nightly. I'm not sure exactly what could have happened to him.
If this kind of growth looks familiar to any of you, I'd really appreciate the help.
Thanks,
Kate
Crab death, growth found - help
-
- Zygote
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 20 Apr 2016, 08:27
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 2
- Total gallons: 10
- Total tanks: 1
- 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 death, growth found - help
I've never seen anything like that before, unless it's a sack of fat and protein in which hermit crabs sometimes eat when buried. I wonder if they get tumours too.
- emmac350
- Coenobita
- Posts: 1949
- Joined: 22 Sep 2008, 08:08
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 6
- Total gallons: 40
- Total tanks: 2
- Contact:
Re: Crab death, growth found - help
I don't know what that is, but when my Toodles died she had a bright blue blob on her torso kind of like that! You can kind of see it at http://thedailyhermit.tumblr.com/post/9 ... -the-worst and http://thedailyhermit.tumblr.com/post/3 ... -unable-to and http://thedailyhermit.tumblr.com/post/2 ... -is-no-fun. The clearest one might be http://thedailyhermit.tumblr.com/post/9 ... t-a-little.
Wai, any ideas?
Wai, any ideas?
Follow the daily lives of my crabs at thedailyhermit.tumblr.com
Mommy to:
Rack, 23 Sep 08; Benny, 23 Sep 08; Slightly, 3 Jan 09; Nibs, 3 Jan 09; Curly, 3 Jan 09; Spaz, 5 Jul 09
If you are contacted privately and enticed to join another forum, please inform a moderator. This is an unethical practice.
Mommy to:
Rack, 23 Sep 08; Benny, 23 Sep 08; Slightly, 3 Jan 09; Nibs, 3 Jan 09; Curly, 3 Jan 09; Spaz, 5 Jul 09
If you are contacted privately and enticed to join another forum, please inform a moderator. This is an unethical practice.
- 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 death, growth found - help
Not sure... my guesses were either a moulting sac or disease (e.g. tumour).
- 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 death, growth found - help
Emma, from experience with our hermies what your hermie has looks like a molting sac to me. This will turn a browninsh/tannish in coloring when they are very close to molting. The only other time I've seen a picture like enjj's is from a rupture, something gouging the abdomen. (that is how our King Crab died back in about 2001 I believe, which was from a crushed oyster shell and why I grind ours to a powder now)
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.
- 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 death, growth found - help
Sorry for how blurred this picture may seem, but to the right of your screen in Squirmy's shell you can see her molting sac.
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.
- emmac350
- Coenobita
- Posts: 1949
- Joined: 22 Sep 2008, 08:08
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 6
- Total gallons: 40
- Total tanks: 2
- Contact:
Re: Crab death, growth found - help
Interesting, Marie. I've never seen pictures of other crabs with that, I didn't realize it was a molting sac. Thanks for clearing that up for me!
Follow the daily lives of my crabs at thedailyhermit.tumblr.com
Mommy to:
Rack, 23 Sep 08; Benny, 23 Sep 08; Slightly, 3 Jan 09; Nibs, 3 Jan 09; Curly, 3 Jan 09; Spaz, 5 Jul 09
If you are contacted privately and enticed to join another forum, please inform a moderator. This is an unethical practice.
Mommy to:
Rack, 23 Sep 08; Benny, 23 Sep 08; Slightly, 3 Jan 09; Nibs, 3 Jan 09; Curly, 3 Jan 09; Spaz, 5 Jul 09
If you are contacted privately and enticed to join another forum, please inform a moderator. This is an unethical practice.
- 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 death, growth found - help
I was surprised when I saw that myself! It has been said that the sac bursts when they molt and they clean this soon as they molt. It is this substance if not cleaned that can harden like glue. (very important not to disturb a molter) This is said to be their first step to their 'nourishment' for recovery. My error though, the molting sac turns a smokey gray coloring, it is the gel limbs that turn brownish in coloring the closer they are to their actual molt.
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.