Crab Left Shell

[StellaCrab]

Temps at 76.28f, been as high as 82-84f.
Humidity is 82% been up as high as 88%

The humidity fluctuates as the day progresses, atm, the evaporative cooler is going all day and night, yesterdays temp was 113f, with about 16% humidity outside (though a thermometer in my garage in shade measured 116) we are going through a heatwave with no end in sight.

I change the salt and fresh water daily if it's full of coconut fiber or every second day if it's clean.

The humidity in the crabitat was around the seventies for quite a while, could this be the reason?

And he's once again left his shell, and moved over to sit on top of my other crab.

I would keep the temperature up to at least 78, my tanks are always 80 during the day, and 78 at night. I do not recommend letting your humidity fluctuation much though, it should always be above 80.

Ensure your water bowls allow the crabs to fully submerge, and have a safe way to get out. My pools have bubblers on them to prevent the need to change them so often.

Try to get him back in a shell and put into a separate container inside the crabitat, then he has less room to move about and less a chance of coming out of his shell again. Keep offering him honey and water.

[charcoal44]

I'm pretty sure he's dying, atm, he's not moving and I can't get him back in his shell at all.

EDIT:
I can no longer sit by and watch him suffer, so I have euthanized him, I placed him a small bag, and put him into the freezer.

[StellaCrab]

I'm pretty sure he's dying, atm, he's not moving and I can't get him back in his shell at all.

EDIT:
I can no longer sit by and watch him suffer, so I have euthanized him, I placed him a small bag, and put him into the freezer.

I am very sorry to hear this, but putting him in the freezer is a very inhumane thing to do.

[charcoal44]

I'm pretty sure he's dying, atm, he's not moving and I can't get him back in his shell at all.

EDIT:
I can no longer sit by and watch him suffer, so I have euthanized him, I placed him a small bag, and put him into the freezer.

I am very sorry to hear this, but putting him in the freezer is a very inhumane thing to do.

I was under the impression that it was best to cool them then freeze, I found that online.

[aussieJJDude]

While freezing does kill them, they do 'feel it', and is quite drawn out. I personally would euthanize a crab by cutting or severing the brain - aka, cutting the cephalothorax in half - as its rather quick and instantaneous.


But everyone has their methods, and really sorry for you loss.

[StellaCrab]

While freezing does kill them, they do 'feel it', and is quite drawn out. I personally would euthanize a crab by cutting or severing the brain - aka, cutting the cephalothorax in half - as its rather quick and instantaneous.


But everyone has their methods, and really sorry for you loss.

I agree, but I would be too sensitive to even do that to any hermit crab!

[aussieJJDude]

I agree, but I would be too sensitive to even do that to any hermit crab!

It's something I would of agreed with a couple of years back, but since doing sciences at uni - particularly biology/zoology - I've become pretty desensitised to it all.

[charcoal44]

how do they handle being put into a fridge then? Rather than freezing?

[StellaCrab]

how do they handle being put into a fridge then? Rather than freezing?

They'd die much slower due to the fridge being slightly above the freezing point, and it would be much for agonizing than the freezer.

[charcoal44]

I was under the impression that they just go to sleep as they cool down, this method was given as a means to dispatch crabs prior to boiling