please help me, urgent

[whimx]

i wasn't sure where to post this but im panicking....i have had my current crab for about a year(or perhaps slightly over that) now and today he's out of his shell moving weakly in a corner. i don't know what to do, i don't want him to die....someone please help me is there anything i can do for him? its urgent, please help

edit: ok, i got him to go back into his shell, he climbed into his water dish (the non-salt one) all by himself earlier as well. but since then he's half hanging out of his shell to where i can see his legs and claws. i can't get him to come out any further, but he does move if i drip water in his shell (as he is nearly upside down)
also i didn't provide this earlier , but he is a "purple pincher", and small; probably slightly larger than a quarter.
he also was sadly kept in a 2-3 gallon tank because that's all i could afford, but he always did great in it. besides that fact, everything else i had was bought carefully(which took all my cash...) and his diet was very varied and i believe pretty good. he was out playing a lot, and more than often kept me company on my desk.

is there absolutely anything i can do to save him? i really love him and i just can't stand to see him like this...maybe im overreacting but it really hurts to see. i have had crabs before and ive always been sad to see them go, but this is the first one i've formed such an overwhelming attachment to, he was like my baby.

earlier i put my finger tip up to him and he touched it with his antennae weakly and left them there...it just about broke my heart in two

[Wai]

Sorry to hear about what is going on. I'll be realistic, so be prepared in case he doesn't recover from the stress he is currently suffering from. Please answer the following questions according to rule #6 so we can identify what may be the cause of his odd behaviour:

What substrate or combination of substrates are you using? How deep is it?

What do you feed your hermit crabs?

Do you use distilled, bottled or tap water? If you are using a dechlorinator, what brand is it? Does it state to remove all heavy metals, chlorine and chloramines?

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

What heat source are you using and where is it positioned?

Have you calibrated your thermometer(s) and hygrometer?

What is the air temperature range and humidity inside the tank? If you are using an under tank heater, what is the temperature range of the substrate (it is likely to be different to the air temperature range)?

Do you have any photos of your tank or hermit crab(s) of concern? If yes, please attach them to your post.

[whimx]

thanks SO much for the fast reply!

What substrate or combination of substrates are you using? How deep is it?
the substrate i use is i believe ZooMed Eco Earth, the coco fiber stuff, its roughly 3 inches at its highest point

What do you feed your hermit crabs?
my crab is fed lots of carrots, lettuce, boiled eggs, cooked chicken, sometimes freeze dried shrimp , and lots of varieties of fruit (mostly i share my apples, mangos, and bananas with him). oh and he has a coconut hut that he munches on as well

Do you use distilled, bottled or tap water? If you are using a dechlorinator, what brand is it? Does it state to remove all heavy metals, chlorine and chloramines?
i use bottled water only

What brand of sea salt are you using to supply your hermit crabs with salt water?
Instant Ocean Sea Salt it's called

What heat source are you using and where is it positioned?
heating pad under his tank

Have you calibrated your thermometer(s) and hygrometer?
i don't have the money for either of those....all i have is a cheap thermometer that i check daily

What is the air temperature range and humidity inside the tank? If you are using an under tank heater, what is the temperature range of the substrate (it is likely to be different to the air temperature range)? all i know is that the humidity was around 75%, the other questions im nto 100% sure on

Do you have any photos of your tank or hermit crab(s) of concern? If yes, please attach them to your post.
no pic or a good way to get one...will try to get one with my phone when i get the chance to do so

[Wai]

He may have been overheated by burying himself in the area heated by the heating pad. Heating pads, under tank heaters, heat mats etc. are known to literally burn hermies if they are not controlled by a thermostat. By the time some hermit crabs realise that they have been overheated, irreversible damage has already been done. Since you're limited in funds, I assume you don't have a thermostat to control the heating pad?

If your hermit crab is indeed suffering from being overheating, I honestly don't know what to suggest to help him recover. I wish there some miracle medicines out there for these dear land crustaceans of ours. How do you know the humidity is 75% if you don't have a hygrometer? The tank is very small, although I'm not sure if it is so detrimental to reduce your hermit crab to the state it is in now. Have you been keeping the heating pad on even though it's summer over there?

[whimx]

He may have been overheated by burying himself in the area heated by the heating pad. Heating pads, under tank heaters, heat mats etc. are known to literally burn hermies if they are not controlled by a thermostat. By the time some hermit crabs realise that they have been overheated, irreversible damage has already been done. Since you're limited in funds, I assume you don't have a thermostat to control the heating pad?

If your hermit crab is indeed suffering from being overheating, I honestly don't know what to suggest to help him recover. I wish there some miracle medicines out there for these dear land crustaceans of ours. How do you know the humidity is 75% if you don't have a hygrometer? The tank is very small, although I'm not sure if it is so detrimental to reduce your hermit crab to the state it is in now. Have you been keeping the heating pad on even though it's summer over there?

yeah, i don't have control over it but i have had it off for a few weeks now, as my room is fairly hot and the temp has been pretty good without it

it was just that the last time i checked it, awhile back i was concerened about him and had borrowed my friend's who also keeps crabs. currently i don't know, i've just made sure to keep up the habits that had the humidity up there.

i wish there was too....i can't stand this. he is now in a corner by his water dish with his legs hanging out. i'm afraid to touch him.

[ladybug15057]

Is there air conditioning used within your home or in your room even though you do mention how warm it is? With your wrist, is there a warm and a cooler side to the substrate?
Walmart sells a smaller digital combo thermometer and humidity gauge for about $7. It is very important to know the humidity %. Hermies depend on a proper humidity percentage to breath properly through their modified gills. The Eco earth, do you use it dry or damp?

[whimx]

Is there air conditioning used within your home or in your room even though you do mention how warm it is? With your wrist, is there a warm and a cooler side to the substrate?
Walmart sells a smaller digital combo thermometer and humidity gauge for about $7. It is very important to know the humidity %. Hermies depend on a proper humidity percentage to breath properly through their modified gills. The Eco earth, do you use it dry or damp?

there is no air conditioning, only a fan lol
there is a slightly cooler side to it, fairly hard to keep an eye on that but i do, and i had no idea there one humidity gauges for that cheap...thank you!!
the substrate is slightly damp

also, my crab burried himself...i don't want to disturb him, maybe he is molting? theres no fishy smell at all..waiting is so hard!!!

[ladybug15057]

Many things for hermies can be bought for much less than what the pet stores sell them for. One can also order online too in order to get supplies for less. There is a s/h charge, but if one orders a few things in reality even with the s/h charges they can save more by doing so. Shells especially are less expensive, and also more appropriate for hermies as well.