A Crabby of mine died.

[Tyger]

Ive been needing to clean out my crab tank for months now, but one of them has been multing (shedding shell), so I haven't done it till today. Its quite a sight when you dig up a tank to see little shell bits all over the place. I found my crab, and he didn't move at all. I was sad. He is dead. I am very sad.

I am wondering if anyone else has Hermit Crabs? And if they can give me some advice on what I might have done wrong... I thought I was doing everything right...

[jynxxxedangel]

Sorry about your little buddy.

Have you been misting the tank? Any moulting arthropod needs quite a bit of moisture. Otherwise, the moult can turn out "bad"-- meaning the animal has trouble freeing itself from the old exoskeleton. I have seen tarantulas and crabs break their still-soft limbs off, trying to escape from their old shells. This usually results in the animal bleeding out or infection, and ultimately, death. If you find that your animal has broken off an appendage, dab the broken end with some clear nail polish, IMMEDIATELY.

Sometimes, it can be tricky, getting the moisture balance correct-- too much, and the enclosure will mould..too little, and your critters will dry up. What have you been using as substrate?

My old matriarch jumping spider passed last week. She was well over three years old, which is almost unheard of. They usually only live for one year, in the wild. I am heartbroken over her death.

Edited December 14, 2009 by jynxxxedangel

[Msterbeau]

:-(

[fuckmerunning]

He's died ):

I cried, literally.

Animal died ):

[Tyger]

My old matriarch jumping spider passed last week. She was well over three years old, which is almost unheard of. They usually only live for one year, in the wild. I am heartbroken over her death.

Im sorry for your loss.

I have moss in the tank all the time, and temp/ humid. thermometers in the tank. There usually within the proper temperatures. My crab seemed to mult, properly and everything, but he just seemed to not be able to take it anymore... I donno...

[Homicidalheathen]

I personally can't get attached to any life form Lower on the chain than a snake. But sorry for your loss.

(guess this is a bad time to mention crabby patties?)

[pomba gira]

Im sorry for your loss.

I have moss in the tank all the time, and temp/ humid. thermometers in the tank. There usually within the proper temperatures. My crab seemed to mult, properly and everything, but he just seemed to not be able to take it anymore... I donno...

What kind of gauges? The analog stick-on temp gauges are pretty much useless, they can be off by as much as 20 degrees. Digital stick-ons are marginally better, temp probes are much better, temp guns are best. Also, if you're using stick-ons make sure they're placed down at the animal's level, not up at the top of the tank... it's amazing how many people overlook this bit.

I agree with Jynxxxie... the fact that it died during or right after its moult does seem to point to a "bad shed". How long did you have the crab? I don't know a lot about hermit crabs, but as Jynxxie pointed out, most invertebrates have pretty short lifespans anyway.