Bad luck? Worried about both Thisbe and Panic

[CrabbyJo]

Fleabuskitty,
Did you adjust the temperature in the tank? It sounds like perhaps your crabs may have died from heat, but not sure. There is definitely something wrong with two of them passing in the same manner, and the other losses you have had.

What did you expand the EE with? Ocean salt water, dechlor tap water?

Personally if I had chlorinated/fluoridated tap water, I think I would opt for distilled water. I have well water as it is, and still use the water conditioner to remove heavy metals. Lately I have been using distilled water though, and only use the well water if I've run out and haven't remembered to restock.
There is no water conditioner that can remove fluoride, and as I understand it, there have been no studies to determine the effect of fluoride on hermit crabs? not sure on that one.

Wish we had more answers for you, I think you'll just have to look really hard at your setup and what you are feeding to see if anything strikes you that could be the problem.

[ladybug15057]

There is no water conditioner that can remove fluoride, and as I understand it, there have been no studies to determine the effect of fluoride on hermit crabs? not sure on that one.

You're right CJ, there is no tap water conditioner sold on the market (to date) that can remove fluoride from tap water. To date it is known that fluoride does cause mutations/defects in zoea, ('larva' staged hermies) through all the metamorphosis stages, BUT to date no studies/experiments have 'scientifically' been done to see if or what effects fluoride has on adult hermies. (considered adult when they come on land for the last metamorphosis stage where they then take on a shell to live on land)

[beepboop]

I didn't expand the EE, I got it in the bag already expanded. Is that bad?
I probably won't be getting any more hermit crabs. I'm starting to think that any animal that will not reproduce in captivity shouldn't be kept in captivity except maybe by experts...

[ladybug15057]

It is best to use your own water to expand substrates, this way you know what was used to expand it with.
As for keeping hermies, I was told a few times in the past years there is no such thing as a hermit crab expert. If there was, everything would be known about them and no further research or field studies would be needed. Even through field studies, it is so different than keeping them in captivity.

[CrabbyJo]

Sorry to hear it. I am not aware of any EE that is not expanded, except the "forest floor" products out there that contain more than just coconut fiber. Maybe this could be a source of the problem if so? I do realize you have decided not to keep them any more, but your answer might help future hermit crab owners, as we know they are a very popular pet right now, and will continue to be so.
I am with you though - I do not plan to obtain any more hermit crabs myself, as I feel awful about keeping them in a little glass box in my house when they could be running free outside on a beach somewhere. I feel a strong responsibility to the ones I do have though, and am doing my best to make their home as comfortable and healthy for them as possible.

[Wai]

I agree with Jo. Sometimes I feel sad watching my hermit crabs because they've been captured from the north and sent all the way down to Victoria, where there are no wild hermit crabs. The only thing I can do is try my best to keep them happy in captivity. I haven't purchased any hermit crabs since August last year. My recent four hermit crabs were adopted from two other people who could no longer care for them.