two crabs dead, one not confirmed.

[crabcrazygal]

ok so at about 11pm last night i was quickly checking on my crabs.
i noticed that hazel was sitting in the corner, and it looked like she had started to moult, so i left her there while i was checking my other crabs.
i picked up Kath and noticed that she did not respond to me touching her, i soon established that she was dead because when i tried to gently pull her out of the shell, she did not resist, and pretty much fell out onto my hand, i was so shocked that i placed her back in gently, and put her on a container lid. kath had been in that spot for a few days, but i thourght nothing of it, as ive hed a crab that has stayed in the same spot for weeks, and then would suddenly be walking around again.
i picked up hazel, and realised that she had two legs fallen of, and had not started to moult.
i put her down on a different plastic lid, and noticed that she was very weak.
i decided to remove my other crabs from the tank, the last crab i found, i had to dig up. and that was hyper. hyper also didnt respond to me touching him, and i asumed he was also dead, as his legs were lose. i placed hazel in iso, as she was still alive at that point, and i put hyper and kath in a plastic container out side, as it was so late at that point. i checked the tank and there was no possible cause that i could find that could of caused this. i re did the food and water, and put the remaing crabs (junior kim vixen and bino) back in th tank.
when i woke up this morning hazel was hanging out of her shell dead.
i went to put my crabs to rest, and when i went to put hpyer in , i noticed that there was no colour to his eyes, i gently pulled at his body, and his exo came out, and i could see him in the back of his shell. i think that he is dead, but i redid the food in the iso, and i put a tea towl over it so nothing disturbes him. i feel so bad for leaving him out side all night, i dont think he will live.
the tank didnt smell so im guessing they died recently. if any one hes any ideas of what caused this then please reply thanks.......................

[emmac350]

I'm sorry to hear about that! But we can't help you out unless you tell us everything that is in your tank, every brand name (if available) of foods/water treatment used, and everything that has happened recently in the room the crabs are in. Everything from any new stuff that you may have tried to the stuff they've been exposed to from the start (like ornaments in the tank).

[crabcrazygal]

update hyper is confirmed dead.

ok so i feed my crabs fresh fruit and stuff lke that (all on good food list)
i also feed them crushed up cereal, non sugared, and no preservatives
and i feed them shrimp legs. (that people on this site have said are safe)

the bedding is play sand, baked, and i have run magnets through it, with no metal showing up.

i have both a salt and a fresh water dishes in there

i have not put anything new in there for a few months, and every thing i have pt in there has been said to be safe by many people on this site.

there was no smell or forein objects found in the tank, and the only thing i can think of would be that the other day when i was changing he food, part of it had started togo mouldy, because i forgot that i put some apple in there, and i thourght it was all dry food.

[emmac350]

What water treatments do you use? Do you cook the shrimp (if it's fresh) before offering it in case it has crustacean diseases (like shell rot) on it? What cereals? Ones without sugar and preservatives isn't very specific - are you sure there's nothing in them that sounds odd - a chemical in them of some sort (I tend to look at the ingredients - anything that looks hard to pronounce I generally assume is bad for the crabs)? I don't think the mold would cause a crab death, but maybe it could. I'm not sure.

[emmac350]

One other thing - the rock you always mentioned in your journal - where did you get it and what did you do to prep it before you put it in the tank? Did you find it outside, or did you buy it? What kind of rock was it, or what did it look like?

[CrabbyJo]

I'm so sorry to hear about your losses, Crazycrabgal. I think it would break my heart to lose all my crabs like that. It sounds suspect that all died around the same time, I would assume something like an environmental issue (items or temp or humidity).

Another question - what have been the usual humidity and temperature ranges in the tank?
Also, the list of foods, are these the ONLY things you ever feed your crabs?

What kind of playsand is it? One you purchased at a hardware store? It's not just the metal that can cause problems with playsand. The issues with playsand are that there can easily be contaminants that you cannot see or smell and that may not be in quantities to be dangerous to humans, but can be a problem for hermit crabs. it's a very iffy substrate to use, as not all playsand is created equally.

The questions Emma has are spot on. We need to eliminate the possibility of the playsand being the culprit, the processed cereal (packed full of chemicals), and possible temperature fluctuations outside the normal "safe" zone for crabs, as well as the questionable rock.

It's a tough call on this one, as I remember you've been pretty good about keeping your tank within parameters? I'm very sad for you.

[crabcrazygal]

ok so the other four crabs are healthy and roaming around.
i think that what killed hyper was me leaving him out side all night because i thourght he was dead, but he had just moulted, leaving the exo looking as if it was him, whilst he was withdrawn further into his shell.
the temp and humidity were both fine when i found them.
the cereal is : oats (canot specify type at the moment, but it didnt have any preservatives labeled)
weetbix
dried shredded coconut
and i thinki thats it.

i canot specify the brand of the play sand at the moment, but i will next time i come on

i will finish post later i have to go now bye

[CrabbyJo]

I'm really so sorry you lost so many. Hopefully we can help you figure out what caused your crab deaths (other than the one you dug up, digging up a molting crab, unfortunately, usually results in death) so the same thing doesn't happen to your other crabs, too.

[ladybug15057]

There are many who believe their hermies have not moved but in reality while they were sleeping or out for awhile the hermies are actually moving about only to return to the same exact location they were in.
As Emma has mentioned a lot more information is needed to try to help you, but to have a couple hermies pass like this at the same time something does sound amidst.

What do you use for the sea/ocean pond?
What brand of dechlorinator do you use?
What are ALL the foods you feed your hermies?
What is the humidity level?
When did you calibrate the gauge last?
What is the air temp of the tank?
What is the substrate temp?

Here in U.S. we are in fall with winter around the corner which means Aus. Is in spring going into summer. Temps and humidity will be an issue. Many spring clean too, have there been any cleaners used in your home? (air freshners, paints, perfumes, deodorants, cleaners, candles, etc)

And usually a hermie begins to get an odor within an hour or sooner of passing.
And whereas not all molds are harmful/lethal to hermies there are some that are harmful/lethal.

[crabcrazygal]

sorry for not finishing my last post, i had to go somewhere in a hurry.
you are correct ladybug15057, it is spring, soon to be summer over here, but i live in one of the most rainy, and cold towns in WA, and it feels more like winter.

ok so i dont use a water dechlorinator, as i use fresh rain water (i boil it first to remove any thing that might harm my hermies).
could it have been caused by me using plain seasalt (which does not contain any harmful preservatives etc) i am still searching for the right stuff to use for the salt pond
i am being paid tomorow, and on sataday i will most likely be going to the town near me that has the pet stores, so i will search then. it is difficult because this town is three quarters of an hour away from where i live and we dont go there often.

like i said before i usually feed my crabs fresh fruit and veggies, with the ocasional meat, and the cereal and shrimp stuff.
the shrimp stuff if dried.

right now the humidity is 75%
the substrate tep at he cool end is 23 celseus (dont know how to spell)
and warm end is 26 celseus.

there is a possibility that my mum might of used some cleaning chemicals in my room without me knowing.

more detail on the playsand: it was bourght at a pet and garden store called better pets and gardens.
im pretty sure i mentioned it under my journal ages ago.

my hypothesis is that hazel died from stress (hence the loss of two legs) hyper died from me diggng him up then leaving him out side for he night, and kath i am stuck on.

any wy thanks for all the help so far.