QuestionI got my Hermit Crabs from 2 different places while on vacation in the Hamptons. When we got them everything seemed normal. Then about a week after we arrived home one of them mysteriously died.We couldn't figure out a reason why it had died; the temperature was perfect as was the humidity. I was changing their water everyday and feeding them everyday, routinely washing out all of the dishes. We just could not find what we had done wrong.Then sometime this evening another died.Everything in the crabitat is absolutly perfect for them. do you have any clue as to what we couldbe doing wrong? It's starting to upset me that they are just dieing. Please respond ASAP!
-Brittany
AnswerHi Brittany,
They could be passing from PPS(post purchase syndrome). They are taken from the beach and shipped to a wharehouse of a company who then sells them to stores. This can cause the crabs to become very stressed. Sometimes they make it and other times they don't, even when we provide the best care we can.
Can you tell me more stats about your tank and the conditions? Here is a help form I use for my forum. Fill it out and maybe we can find something to change.
Template:
1.Tank size and type (glass, plastic, etc)?
2.Type of lid or cover?
3.Type of substrate used and depth?
4.Temperature of the tank?
5.Temperature of the substrate?
6.Humidity in the tank?
7.Type and location of gauges?
8.Source of heat (heating pad/lamp) and/or humidity (tropic-air/misting)?
9.Types of food fed (commercial or homemade)?
10.How often do you switch out food?
11.Types of water available (fresh and/or salt)? If salt water is used, what brand and how much salt to water do you mix it with?
12.Decholorinator used? If so, does it have stress coat in it?
13.How deep are the water dishes?
14.Do you use sponges in the water? If so, how often are they exchanged and sterilized?
15.How many crabs are in the tank?
16.How long have you had them?
17.Do you know what species they are?
18.Have you had a successful molt with them?
19.If you take them out of the tank for a length of time, do you mist their gills first?
20.Do you bathe them, if so, in what kind of water and how frequently?
21.Are there any unusual odors in the tank? If so, what are they like, like a gym sock smell, a fishy smell, etc?
22.Has there been anything new added to the tank recently?
23.Are your hands clean before handling the crabs or anything in the tank?
24.Has there been any smoking, candles, perfumes, hair sprays, air fresheners, or paint near the tank?
25. Do you use anything to clean the tank (inside or out) such as glass cleaner, bleach, etc? if so, is it with the crabs in or out, and if out, how soon are they returned to the tank?
hope to hear from you soon,
Vicki
