QuestionHello - I have successfully kept hermit crabs as pets for almost 20 years now. I just discovered that one of my crabs has some kind of white paint-like substance on several legs and over much of his larger claw. Could it be mildew? As far as their living conditions go, a terrible "plague" swept through my habitat this past year, with the crabs dying one after the other, even my 17-year-old, which was a dreadful loss. I had since transfered the few survivors to a temporary tank, with a moss substrate from PetsMart instead of the usual sand, so that I could completely disinfect the huge tank. Two more died in the temporary tank, with only 3 remaining, and it is one of these 3 which has the white substance. I have never seen this before. This has all been so tragic, and I very much want to save the 3 who are still with me. Thank you for your generosity with your time and your expertise. Best Regards, Kay
AnswerMy advice to you is to make a double strength salt water solution and gently scrub those spots with a soft toothbrush several times a day. I have never heard of this before but if it is mold that should fix it. If it doesn't come off it could be pre-molt lightening which can be patchy. If you could send a picture I might be able to be more help.
