*sigh* Dead or Molting?

jbruton · 09-15-2008, 06:46 PM

Hi all...

Only my second post here, and not a good one.

I purchased a second pair of crabs a couple of weeks ago, after purchasing my first pair some 6 weeks ago.

Anyway, one of my crabs has been buried for 2+ weeks and the other seemed to be doing well up until a couple of days ago.

2 days ago Serius B., a hermit in about a 1" shell with good color a good activity, retreated into his shell (unburied) after feasting on some apple, peanut butter and ZooMed hermie food. Nothing unusual there, except that he hasn't come out of his shell since.

Tickling his feet would cause him to retract his legs, but he hasn't been out for almost 3 days.

Tonight, I arrived home from work to find him curled in his shell in the same spot... obviously hasn't moved. His legs are lax... no response to touch or tickle. No movement whatsoever regardless of what (gentle) prodding we give him. No smell... no warning.. it seems our poor Serius has left us.

Any chance he could be molting above ground?

How long should we wait for him to respond to some activity?

INEXPERIENCED NOTE: Although we're quite new to having hermies for pets, I can say that both myself and my daughter have felt that he has been in far too small a shell since we found him at the pet store.

Please help... this is painful. Poor Serius B.

krackersmom2 · 09-15-2008, 10:35 PM

It doesn't sound good

Leave him be for a few days and if he is dead, the smell will come. We all lose new crabs every once in a while....usually PPS (post purchase stress).

Mommy2Crabs · 09-16-2008, 02:29 AM

Oh I'm so sorry. That's always tough. I have lost 3 of my 12 new crabs that I have had for a month in a half due to PPS (2 I am sure of, the other one could have been another reason. I'll never know). Such a sad thing. Hang in their it will get easier.

One other thing. Comercial hermit crab food is not very good for them. Contains ingredients that could harm them like table salt and preservatives. Try to feed them all organic foods. Much better for them.

Take care and Welcome!

jbruton · 09-16-2008, 09:17 AM

Thanks for the kind words... it is sad.

No change this morning... but no smell either. Hoping beyond hope

Mommy2Crabs · 09-16-2008, 10:54 PM

Keep us posted.

09-15-2008, 06:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
jbruton Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4	sigh Dead or Molting? Hi all... Only my second post here, and not a good one. I purchased a second pair of crabs a couple of weeks ago, after purchasing my first pair some 6 weeks ago. Anyway, one of my crabs has been buried for 2+ weeks and the other seemed to be doing well up until a couple of days ago. 2 days ago Serius B., a hermit in about a 1" shell with good color a good activity, retreated into his shell (unburied) after feasting on some apple, peanut butter and ZooMed hermie food. Nothing unusual there, except that he hasn't come out of his shell since. Tickling his feet would cause him to retract his legs, but he hasn't been out for almost 3 days. Tonight, I arrived home from work to find him curled in his shell in the same spot... obviously hasn't moved. His legs are lax... no response to touch or tickle. No movement whatsoever regardless of what (gentle) prodding we give him. No smell... no warning.. it seems our poor Serius has left us. Any chance he could be molting above ground? How long should we wait for him to respond to some activity? INEXPERIENCED NOTE: Although we're quite new to having hermies for pets, I can say that both myself and my daughter have felt that he has been in far too small a shell since we found him at the pet store. Please help... this is painful. Poor Serius B. __________________ ------------------------------------------ Hermit newbie, but we're learning fast!

09-15-2008, 10:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
krackersmom2 (Large Crab) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: South TX (near the beach) Posts: 1,128	*Re: sigh* Dead or Molting?** It doesn't sound good Leave him be for a few days and if he is dead, the smell will come. We all lose new crabs every once in a while....usually PPS (post purchase stress). __________________ 12 PP's: Spooky, Baby, Flash, Rocky, Herbie, Violet, Fester, Zeus, Neptune, Mars, Luna and Misterie R.I.P:Hercules and Apollo

09-16-2008, 02:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mommy2Crabs (Small Crab) Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 281	*Re: sigh* Dead or Molting? Oh I'm so sorry. That's always tough. I have lost 3 of my 12 new crabs that I have had for a month in a half due to PPS (2 I am sure of, the other one could have been another reason. I'll never know). Such a sad thing. Hang in their it will get easier. One other thing. Comercial hermit crab food is not very good for them. Contains ingredients that could harm them like table salt and preservatives. Try to feed them all organic foods. Much better for them. Take care and Welcome! __________________ Alysa**11 PPs: Goliath, Davey Jones, Rainman, Crazy Crab, Turtle, Sketch, One Eye Willy, Mini T, Spider, Luna and Estrella

09-16-2008, 09:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
jbruton Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4	*Re: sigh* Dead or Molting?** Thanks for the kind words... it is sad. No change this morning... but no smell either. Hoping beyond hope __________________ ------------------------------------------ Hermit newbie, but we're learning fast!

09-16-2008, 10:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mommy2Crabs (Small Crab) Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 281	*Re: sigh* Dead or Molting? Keep us posted. __________________ Alysa**11 PPs: Goliath, Davey Jones, Rainman, Crazy Crab, Turtle, Sketch, One Eye Willy, Mini T, Spider, Luna and Estrella

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode