Where is my crab?

[jakeron24]

So my hermit crab, General Tso, is under for a molt. The only reason i know this is because he was showing pre-molt symptoms. My problem is i do not know where he is. I would like to know because i want to cover the area he is molting in, or close it off from the other crabs in my tank. How do i figure out where he is, and how should i make a divider so the other crabs can't get to him?

[ladybug15057]

If he has burrowed please do not go looking for him or digging about. This could stress him as well as collapse his tunnels he has made. Best one can do is be prepared with a cut 2 liter bottle and a glass from a picture frame in case the others do go digging about looking for him.
How long have you had this hermie?

[CrabbyJo]

Unfortunately there really is no easy way to find him without causing him disturbance and distress. Hopefully your substrate is deep enough (at least 3 or 4 inches, or more) so that the other crabs will not discover where he has made his cave.
Be careful when changing out water dishes, as you may find him underneath. If this is the case, you may want to find another dish for water that either will fit down inside the original dish, so that this is the dish you are removing to change water, or put in another water dish in another spot so you won't have to disturb him any more. I had to do this for one of my crabs.

You will just have to keep an eye out, watch for little "windows" that may open up along the side of the tank (if your crab ends up digging a tunnel right next to the glass) but please don't move the tank to look underneath. This is likely traumatic for all the crabs, sort of like a huge earthquake would be for you! Aaaghh the world is moving!
So put on your pacing slippers and resist the urge to search. Just keep hoping your little guy will be okay, often they are. Make sure you are feeding all your crabs plenty of protein and chitin, seaweed, calcium, and a large variety of nutrient rich foods including seaweeds.
http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... =epicurean
is a great way to get started.

Good luck, and we're here if you get tempted to look, just come and post instead!

[jakeron24]

I "rescued" it from my brother and his tanks horrible conditions a month ago, and now one of my crabs ive had since last summer is going down for a molt, what a coincidence

[jakeron24]

My hermit crab beavis dug under for a molt yesterday. He dug right up to the side of the glass, so, i can see him. I saw him today and hes not doing anything, just sitting in his shell. Is he molting or just digging?

[ladybug15057]

I have merged your posts to make it easier to follow events. With you getting these hermies from your brother and you claiming that they were in horrible conditions they maybe experiencing signs of PPS, even though they may of been bought a while back.
Looking back, I do not see where you have answered the questions about your tank conditions... this would help us possibly help you in case there is something going on. Please give as much detail as possible and brand names of products and foods.

What is the volume of your main tank?


How many hermit crabs do you currently have? How big are they?


How long have you had the hermit crab(s) that you are concerned about?


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.

[jakeron24]

What is the volume of your main tank?
10 gallons

How many hermit crabs do you currently have? How big are they?
i have 2 medium pps and a medium strawberry

How long have you had the hermit crab(s) that you are concerned about?
1 year

What substrate or combination of substrates are you using? How deep is it?
calcium snad and shredded coconut substrate

What do you feed your hermit crabs?
hermit crab powder, carrots, apples, lettuce

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?
dechlorinated tap water with aqua safe dechorinator.

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

What heat source are you using and where is it positioned?
don't have a heat source.

Have you calibrated your thermometer(s) and hygrometer?
no

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)?
the temperature is in the 70's I don't have a hygrometer

Do you have any photos of your tank or hermit crab(s) of concern? If yes, please attach them to your post.[/quote]
i will post some

[ladybug15057]

What is the volume of your main tank?
10 gallons
How many hermit crabs do you currently have? How big are they?
i have 2 medium pps and a medium strawberry

A straw needs lots of room due to how active they are. Are you sure he is a straw? If so, sounds as though you need a larger tank.

How long have you had the hermit crab(s) that you are concerned about?
1 year

You have cared for them? Or since they were with your brother?

What substrate or combination of substrates are you using? How deep is it?
calcium snad and shredded coconut substrate

What is the name brand of the coconut substrate you’re using? And it is highly recommended not to use calsi sand.

What do you feed your hermit crabs?
hermit crab powder, carrots, apples, lettuce

Your hermies need a larger healthier varied diet.

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... tion+Table+

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... hin%2C+etc.

http://www.hermitcrabcuisine.com/

And some freeze dried and dehydrated foods:

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-browse_categ ... =off&type=

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

API is not a ocean/sea salt mix, but a fresh water salt mix. Hermies need to be offered an ocean water mix sold specifically for salt water fish tanks.
http://www.hermitcrabparadise.com/crabc ... r/salt.php

What heat source are you using and where is it positioned?
don't have a heat source.

Due to the severity of the winter months, a heating source is needed to ensure the hermies stay warm. There should always be a warmer and cooler side to the crabitat.

http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... storyid=69

An UTH, (under tanks heater), is one heat source one can use for hermies.

http://www.petdiscounters.com/c14/c8/c1 ... p1347.html

The UTH is rated for what size gallon tank a crabber is attempting to warm for the hermies. It needs to cover at least 1/2 of the tanks floor. (an example here is a 20 gal tank and a 20 gal long tanks floor are different sizes. 20 gal tanks floor is 24 inches where as the 20 gal longs floor is 30 inches so one does need to know the floor measurement of their tank when purchasing an UTH.) The UTH also comes in very handy during the hot summer months when one uses air conditioning to stay cool.

Or one may wish to chose a light source, but one does need to be careful when doing so.
http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?pa ... ing+source

Have you calibrated your thermometer(s) and hygrometer?
No

It is important to calibrate/test the humidity gauge for accuracy.

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)?
the temperature is in the 70's I don't have a hygrometer

The air temp is in the 70’s? What is the temperature of the substrate itself on the warmer side and cooler side of the bedding?

Hermies are cold blooded creatures and must have the option of coolness and warmth to regulate their body heat. For this reason, they need a stable crabitat warmth of 74-78 F (22-25 C) degrees, and one should monitor the substrate temp too.

When a hermie is subjected to a temperature of 70 degrees F, (21 C) they will begin to go into a hibernation type state. If it is not corrected, this is stressful to the hermie, and eventually lethal to them. Anything 82 degree's F (28 C), or higher, there is a high chance of them over heating, which causes irreversible damage and is lethal. With the warm side to the crabitat substrate 78-80 F (25.56-26.67 C) there should always be a cooler side as well (72-73 F/22.22-22.78 C) for the hermie to choose where they are most comfortable at.
One must have a humidity gauge to monitor the humidity percentage within the crabitat. Hermies depend on humidity to breath through their modified gills. If the humidity level is too low, they can slowly suffocate. If the humidity level is too high, this creates a high potential for a bacteria/mold growth within the crabitat. A too high humidity level also makes it difficult for the hermies to breath, along with the chance of them getting an infection of their gills. Both the high, or low humidity levels cause irreversible gill damage that the hermie does not regenerate during a molt. A humidity percentage needs to be 75-78% within the crabitat. This reading should be at substrate level which is where the hermie spends majority of their time.

Jakeron it looks as though you are lacking a couple criteria that the hermies do need to remain healthy and to thrive by. Please do try to tweak the above ASAP and I am sure you hermies will be much more lively and happy.

[jakeron24]

my 3rd crab is a C. perlatus, not a straw. but i will tweek my setup so my crabs are happier

[ladybug15057]

C. perlatus, not a straw

The short term used by many is Straw, as in Strawberry, aka C.perlatus.
Same as a C. clypeatus is not actually a PP or Purple Pincher but for short they are called that. Same as with all species of land hermies.