very sad

Question
QUESTION: Hi.  We just brought home our new hermit crab.  The crab seemed very healthy and active.  Today, it changed shells and then came out of the shell, ran around the tank and then died a few hours later :(  We don't use chemicals and we use drops to take the chlorine out of the water.  We feed them with commercial hermit crab food and have shredded coconut bedding.  Do you have any idea what could have happened to our poor crabbie?  Thank you so much.

ANSWER: There is a condition called PPS (Post Purchase Syndrome) where a crab is so weakened from being harvested and carted around that the final transition to the new home environment is more than they can take.

Another possibility is that the difference in humidity and temp between your tank and his old one was too great and he was unable to adjust in time.

How long had you had him?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We had him about 24 hours.  Is it possible that my son handled him too much?  He may have been too enthusiastic with misting him...not rough, but too often, perhaps.  This crab came from a beach shop.  He wasn't even in a tank, just a wire cage in an air conditioned store.

We'd like to get another as our existing crab probably needs a companion.  We have had that crab for over a year.

Thank you for responding.  This is very helpful.

Answer
Bad conditions at the store can definitely lead to PPS. Overhandling an already stressed crab can also be problematic.  I know that you have probably been told differently but you really shouldn't mist your crabs. Crabs make special mix of water in their shell from your salt and your fresh water dishes, when you mist them you upset the balance of their shell water and after awhile that become stressful.

The best things you can do are to make sure your temperature and humidity are balanced between 74 and 82 and that you are offering dechlorinated fresh AND ocean style salt water for your little guys in dishes deep enough they can climb in and get water into their shells. Once you get this set up you'll be amazed at how much more active they will be.

Crabs are naturally more active when they have a buddy, once you get your tank squared away I'm sure your new guys would LOVE a roomate!

Good luck!