I think my hermit crab is sick. Please Help!!!?

Question

I just got two hermit crabs form the beach about 4 months ago. i take very good care of them. But i came home today and one of my crabs looked dead. It smelled dead too. I picked him up and when i did i could feel that he was loose in his shell but he was not moving. And i could take the tip of my finger and pull him out alittle bit and hes never done that. But when i put him in about an inch of water, after 10 seconds he started to move and come out to breath. so he is alive, but he still has a bad fishy smell. I dont know what is wrong with him. My other one moves, and eats just fine. Ive looked on just about every site to find help but nothing has gave me an answer except for molting. But he only signs he has is notmoving much.
Can someone that knows alot about this please help me? It will be VERY much appreciated!

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Answer 1

it is because they are wild...you need to buy crabs from a fish/pet store...common sense

Answer 2

First of all, NEVER take hermit crabs from the beach EVER. They are known to have diseases and do not make good pets as they have not been handled be people at all. However, you probably already know this. Also, I'm wondering whether your crab is almost dead or just molting, because I'm really sorry to say that a fishy smell usually means that a hermit crab is dead. and when my hermit crabs died, they all smelled bad and were loose inside their shells...if he moves a lot when he comes out of his shell, then he is probably fine...maybe...but if he doesn't, then he is probably dead...I'm REALLY sorry...I love hermies probably just as much as you do...I used to have a bunch...I suggest that you go to Yahoo or Google and type in "hermit crabs molting" and you will find a ton of info about how to tell if your crab is molting, what to do to prepare for a molt, etc. VERY IMPORTANT: If you believe that your crabbie is getting close to a molt, you REALLY need to isolate it from the other crabs; put it in a completely separate conatiner...Iif you don't, the crabs will fight for the shells in the habitat and something bad will happen! VERY BAD!!! TRUST ME!!! You don't want to learn from experience like me *shudder*...I once had a young crab that was molting, and when it tried, the other crab in the cage at the time, which was only a little bit bigger, killed him, probably because they were fighting over a shell! This also happened to a friend of mine and her hermie named Laviathin (monster of the sea). Good luck and I hope I helped at least some!!! Thanks 4 the points lol! Hope I deserved them!

Answer 3

As you have said it could be molting but if it was molting, it would have a medicine or an Iodine smell. It could also have a limb or something that got injured and that is the smell you are smelling. They will not have the dead fish smell, when they are still alive.

It is really hard to say what is going on with your hermie. The best thing for it, is for you to put it in a tank that is warm and high in humidity. That way, if the hermie is having some problems, it can breath easier.

Sabrina
40 hermies since July 2004 and 1 Raccoon-Sugar- May 2006. RIP BANDIT
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/oimsofunny/my_photos
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HermieSwap/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HermiesTalk/

Answer 4

First of all, the crab is most likely molting, it does take a while.
Second of all, let me just tell you, Hermies can go for a whole year without food or water.
If your crab stays there motionless, and I mean no movenment, no changes to the look of the crab for a whole 3-7 days, AND out of the shell, immediatly take your crab to a pet specialist. Because the crab still has a chance if it moves when you spray water on it, because you know it is still alive.

The main reason crabs die unexpectedly is that they endure too much stress being harvested and then shipped to stores that don't know how to care for them. Most stores don't offer the proper humidity for crabs. A crab breaths through modified gills and when the humidity is too low they can't breath. Therefore they slowly suffocate and die. When you buy a crab and it dies within the first month, and your conditions are optimal, you can usually attribute it to stress.

Answer 5

Since he perked up with putting him in water, I am wondering if his habitat has enough humidity. I had very similar problems in the beginning with mine and it was because I did not have the accurate care tips for them.

Moisture is very, very important to Hermies. If you have a slotted or vented lid cover part of it up with a towel or some "press-n-seal" to seal in the moisture. Make sure you spritz the cage every 2-3 days, even mist the crabs themselves, they grow to like it. The sand needs to be really damp, like what you would make sand castles out of. Also giving them a bath once a week in a bowl of warm water and a drop stress coat in it is very healthy for Hermies. I have not had any sick crabs since i started doing all of this.

I hope this helps. Good luck! Here are some sites I use for reference once in awhile.

Answer 6

It's probably molting.Put it in some damp sand and cover it ,then leave it alone.When it's finished molting,if everything goes well,it will come out on it's own.Just make sure you have a lot of spare shells of different sizes(some smaller,some larger,than his current shell)Be aware that not all molts go well in captivity,and the crab may die.

Answer 7

that's extraordinarily plenty all you're able to do. ascertain the humidity is at eighty% and he's in a heat climate (seventy 5-eighty). additionally, i'm no longer prepared on Hermit Crab nutrition. they're scavengers, and ingesting pellet nutrition isn't the superb element for them. attempt slightly organic and organic honey and peanut butter. maximum crabs like it and it will incredibly get his capability up. If that doesn't artwork you may attempt some scrambled eggs and combine the egg shell in with it, in line with threat some greens. do only no longer use salt, butter, or sugar once you're making waiting any nutrition for them. stable success with your Hermie

Answer 8

idk...I've had many-a-hermit-crabs and I've never seen this before. Vet prolly wouldn't do any good cause I don't know if they can treat hermit crabs. Does he have calcium chews??? that might help. They're availible at any pet store. Low-calcium can cause all sorts of issues, so that could be it.

Answer 9

Do not pull him out of his shell. It sounds like he could be dying, he needs different shells as well. But it doesn't sound good.

Answer 10

Is he to big for his shell? He might need a bigger shell. Sounds like he might also be dehydrated.