Is he surface moltng? I'm worried, please help!

[beepboop]

Alright, my PP Thor was fine yesterday, he crawled around a bit and stopped in a random corner as usual. Now, today, I noticed he was still there (now as in five minutes ago). On the far side of the tank, in the middle, so I can't see him from the front. Looking down into the tank, however, I saw that he either lost two legs or shed the exoskeleton from them. The tank doesn't smell fishy at all, which I take to be a good sign. I don't want to pick him up or touch anything around him if he's molting.
I can take a picture if needed, but I'll have to turn the tank around. It's not too big, though, only 20 gallons.
Please help, I'm really worried I did something wrong or something. I've had him (and Captain Hammer and Panic!) since 10/1/10, only two weeks, and if he is dead would it be because of PPS? Do they still suffer from PPS after two weeks, or is it because I did something wrong?!
Please please please help me!

[ladybug15057]

I looked back and do not see where the care questions have been answered? (copy and paste them from this post and answer them) For us to help you please do answer the below questions the best you can. (meanwhile keep the tank conditions in range and leave him be for now)

What is the volume of your main tank?


How many hermit crabs do you currently have? How big are they?


How long have you had the hermit crab(s) that you are concerned about?


What substrate or combination of substrates are you using? How deep is it?


What do you feed your hermit crabs?


Do you use distilled, bottled, tap or other types of water?


If you are using a dechlorinator, what brand is it? Does it state to remove all heavy metals, chlorine and chloramines?


What brand of sea salt are you using to supply your hermit crabs with salt water?


What heat source are you using and where is it positioned?


Have you calibrated your thermometer(s) and hygrometer so that you can interpret accurate readings?


What is the air temperature range and humidity inside the tank?


If you are using an under tank heater, what is the highest temperature that the substrate reaches?


Do you have any photos of your tank or hermit crab(s) of concern? If yes, please attach them to your post.

[beepboop]

What is the volume of your main tank?
20 gallons


How many hermit crabs do you currently have? How big are they?
3. One golf ball sized (Thor, the one I'm worried about), one a bit bigger and one smaller.

How long have you had the hermit crab(s) that you are concerned about?
two weeks

What substrate or combination of substrates are you using? How deep is it?
EE coconut fiber

What do you feed your hermit crabs?
fresh stuff; bell peppers, shrimp, chicken, eggs, apple, coconut, oats, etc

Do you use distilled, bottled, tap or other types of water?
I use dechlorinated tap water

If you are using a dechlorinator, what brand is it? Does it state to remove all heavy metals, chlorine and chloramines?
API Tap Water Conditioner

What brand of sea salt are you using to supply your hermit crabs with salt water?
Instant Ocean

What heat source are you using and where is it positioned?
A heat lamp positioned at the left end of the tank

Have you calibrated your thermometer(s) and hygrometer so that you can interpret accurate readings?
No... I think it's already pretty accurate, but I'll do that if it's part of what's wrong.

What is the air temperature range and humidity inside the tank?
the temperature is usually 72-75 degrees, and humidity usually between 75 and 80%

If you are using an under tank heater, what is the highest temperature that the substrate reaches?
nope

Do you have any photos of your tank or hermit crab(s) of concern? If yes, please attach them to your post.
No, but if you need them I can take some.

I've also cut the bottom off of a plastic cup and put it upside down over Thor like you're supposed to do with surface molters with a plastic bottle because I didn't have a bottle. I figure this works just as well.

[beepboop]

HE'S NOT DEAD!!!!
Yay, I'm pretty sure he's molting now! I turned the tank around and lifted of the cup, and a leg twitched!
The "limbs" are a small and large claw and one or two legs, and the leg that I saw twitch still had exoskeleton on it so I'm pretty sure he's surface molting and hasn't finished shedding all of his exoskeleton yet.
So, what so I do?! Do I just leave the cup over him and check every day? What about food? I'm such a newbie!
I think Panic! may also be molting - he's been buried at least three days now. Captain Hammer isn't I'm sure, even though he's been in the same place a day or two. He has more substrate covering him now than he did earlier, so he probably did that just for the sake of digging.

Should I try to move Thor? I read to use a spoon and put surface molters in ISO. But my 10 gallon ISO tank isn't set up yet! If I'm supposed to move him, would the EE be ok, or should I get some of that Carib Sea Argonite sand that I read is good?
Someone please answer me!!

[ladybug15057]

How long have you had the hermit crab(s) that you are concerned about?
two weeks

He could still be experiencing PPS. Did you slowly adjust him to proper conditions per the PPS article?

What heat source are you using and where is it positioned?
A heat lamp positioned at the left end of the tank

What is the substrate temp of the warm and cool side? (I see where it appears the air temp is being monitored, but even with lights/lamps one should still monitor substrate temp)

Have you calibrated your thermometer(s) and hygrometer so that you can interpret accurate readings?
No... I think it's already pretty accurate, but I'll do that if it's part of what's wrong.

Humidity gauges are very sensitive and should always be calibrated/tested prior to putting them in the tank Majority of the time they are off, and can be up to 20% at times. This calibration should be repeated too at least monthly for accuracy.

Do you have any photos of your tank or hermit crab(s) of concern? If yes, please attach them to your post.
No, but if you need them I can take some.

Given the circumstances I would suggest to leave him be at the present time, so no pictures.

I've also cut the bottom off of a plastic cup and put it upside down over Thor like you're supposed to do with surface molters with a plastic bottle because I didn't have a bottle. I figure this works just as well.

Whatever is used one must be able to at least fit a bottle cap of ocean and fresh water within it and a little food. And molters do need darkness as well to molt, even if a hut is used.

Yay, I'm pretty sure he's molting now! I turned the tank around and lifted of the cup, and a leg twitched!
So, what so I do?!

Please just leave this/these hermies alone and read:

http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... storyid=57

[beepboop]

I don't know what the substrate temp. is, I need to get another thermometer to measure it. I'll calibrate the hygrometer first thing tomorrow!
The pictures show the molted hermit crab with the entire shed exo in front of it. From the two times I looked closely at him (when I noticed something was wrong and when I checked on him), it seems like he either lost or shed the exoskeleton from only two legs and both claws. Is that normal, or does it vary per crab, or what?

[ladybug15057]

No this is not normal for molting. A normal 'healthy' molt is done in one sweep so to speak, like when a woman would take a dress off for example. The hermie does have the exo loose, and splits the exo from the fluids they have built up and shed from the soft abdomen up to and including their eyestalks in one piece:

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... ked-In.jpg

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... unched.jpg

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... ruises.jpg

(**note, no longer use the colored aquarium sand and haven't for years)

If per chance he maybe molting a leg at a time (highly unlikely) this is a difficult molt and possibly he was interrupted when he was in the molting process) But almost sounds like he is dropping limbs as opposed to molting? As the article states, if he is molting disturbing him can be harmful/lethal. If he is dieing, not much one can do other tank maintain proper conditions so best to leave him be.

[beepboop]

Oh...
Well, what would cause him to drop limbs?
The temperature may be too low, it's usually 72-75 degrees, but I am working on getting an UTH.
The humidity is always 70-80%. The substrate is EE. I use Instant Ocean for salt water and API tap water conditioner. The only thing to climb is a piece of cholla wood, but I don't think lack of things to climb would have any health effects. For them to hide in I have what looks to be something for a fish tank, it's a fake log with plastic plants that I got at a thrift store. I feed them chicken, shrimp, coconut, etc.
Would it be a health or nutrition thing or PPS or what?

[ladybug15057]

It could be a combination of all you mentioned if he wasn't acclimated to his new environment slowly.
Please read the first original article that was written by Sue, aka RFCrabs:

http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... ase+stress

This article was updated, but only to stress the importance of shallow substrate during this time that some crabbers weren't too clear on. Keeping the hermies above substrate permits them to adjust to temps and humidity levels, as well as smell the various foods which also play an important role in helping the hermies to adjust.
It is ever so important too during this time not to handle or disturb the hermies too.

Edited to add:
It could also be that he had undergone irreversible stress prior to you bringing him home.

[beepboop]

Maybe it's because I put them in a tank with 2 inches of EE, because I didn't know that it wasn't supposed to be deep at first until a week after I got them.
He's still alive, I think, because the tank doesn't smell fishy. Is it possible that he will survive, or will he most likely die soon?