Newbie, want to do right thing

[CrabbyJo]

I agree with Marie, you can find lots of cheap toys for your crabs.
I would refrain from putting any metal in the tank - hermit crabs are very sensitive to metals and rust, so it's really not a good idea.

here's a link to some cost cutting tips: http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... rds=budget

You can get really creative!

[babesbarn]

I saw some nice rocks and things in the Aquarium section of the Pet store and was tempted because the crabs like to climb. But since I was not sure about the rocks and what kind, I thought of the fish tank greenery. But then I concerned myself of the paint on those. humm, So I got a coconut husk that that was suppose to be for drinking or bathing and decided to turn it upsidedown and it has nice climbing area and Old Crusty was checking it out. I have a apothacary ceramic dish that they seem to like to bath in. Got a new sponge and well, the lid is glass that opens in the center and has plastic about two inches of it for easy access. I gave them some air by putting a "refrigerator clip" on the front so it leaves a gap for some oxygen. So far, I am concerned because it is cool in the house and the humidistat says 50% inside there. So i wet everything with a distilled mister. The little gauge they sell in the store uses velcrow and that was not really good for sticking inside the tank. But I have a home humidistat I use for the winter. (I use to be in heating and cooling and sold alot of humidifiers) so I know about humidity. And this is accurate. Hope I can bring it up some. Spider Ted checked out the food today, and the cart is on wheels so I can pretty much place them by a window for extra light if necessary. Oh my husband can't get over the fuss I make over these guys.

[Wai]

If you want to "green-up" your tank a little, you can add some forest wallpaper on the back of your tank as scenery. My hermit crabs no longer need to stare at the back of the couch.

Don't forget to look online for supplies too as you may find plenty of bargains too.

[babesbarn]

My beddng is getting wet and drippy under the food and water dish. I believe those clay dishes maybe leak. I felt the bottom of the bedding and glad it will not make mold. The crabs seem to like it though. I decided to use a antique pharmacy apothacary crusher dish. The distilled water seems to invite them inside when they want. It is not too deep but I will use the other dish that leaks for veggies. The sponges have Hermit Crab Sea Salt water, and they do look for it but like to take a dip in the crock too. The bedding seems pretty moist, I hope it is not too moist for my little guys. The humidity level only shows 50%, maybe they are benefiting from that excess drip that is there from before? Thanks for the abundant of information this forum gives on the Care of Hermit Crabs. I am sure I will worry myself to death over them. My husband said I should get another one but I think two in a 10 gallon tank is enough. Could get crowded you think?

[babesbarn]

With Hurricane "Earl" going up the Eastern Seaboard, the humidity has lingered around the tank in my one room at 85%. I thought it better to roll their cart with the tank in THERE so that they would have more of their natural West Fla humidity. I opened the lid for the tank and I do have the coco fiber for bedding. I also took advantage of the fact that the cart is on wheels and could give them the benefit of a cloudy sky daylight by the window. I felt that it was better than the air conditioning they would be in the house and having 45 % humidity from that AC which sucks up the humidity while running. Was that a good decision? One of the crabs came to the surface and is hanging out where the light is where normally he just finds a place to hind under a sponge or near a water dish. I am doing everything you say so far and well, really felt that the natural humidity was better because I live at the shore and one came off the boardwalk where it is 100% at all times. Opinion on this, please and thank you.

[babesbarn]

Now I am very upset..."Old Crusty" lost his big fat claw. I was putting a little something in the tank and I picked him up as he was on his side and I was careful. I placed him on another end of the tank and saw his big fat claw left where he use to be. I figure he will probably die now right? OMG...maybe I am just too attentive! They have everything they need that I can think of and the other one TED Spiderman is ok. What is next? Poor thing.

[CrabbyJo]

Babesbarn,
Have you read the care sheets in the crab care section?
Did you try reading some other posts about lost limbs?
It often helps to read what others have been through and the advice they got to help you calm down and be able to assess the situation.

I would advise you Not to handle the crab any more, do leave him be. A stressed or sick crab will lose limbs, and unfortunately handling him only stresses him more.

First, we can't tell anything without any details. Please answer the following questions as completely as you can:

How long have you had this crab?

What is the size of your tank?

What is the air temperature in the tank?

What is the substrate temperature?

Do you offer fresh dechlorinated water? What brand dechlorinator do you use?

Do you offer ocean salt water? If so, what brand do you use?

Do you have a humidity gauge?

When was it last calibrated?

What is the humidity?

Have there been any chemicals or scented candles or perfumes or anything with a strong odor around the crab's tank recently? If so, what?

Do you wash your hands to remove lotions, etc. before handling your crabs?

What type of substrate do you have in the tank, and how deep is it?

Do you have any reptile half-logs in the tank?

Do you use a heating source? if so, what kind and where is it placed?

Do you use lights on the tank, and do you have them on a day/night cycle (turn off at night so the hermies have darkness)?

After you have answered these as completely as you can, we can begin to help you figure out what may be going on with your crab.

[babesbarn]

Ok, here are my answers as best I understand
1-I have had my hermits about one week. Spiderman from the Boardwalk at Jersey Shore 9days and Old Crusty with the lost leg (who really never was moving around much but burying) 7 days. I got Old Crusty from Petco and they put him in a plastic container after misting him. Come to think of it, there were alot of crabs in the tank they had but only two or three when I went back two days ago for more items. hummm
2-I have a 10 gallon tank. I just added a small plastic basket in it for climbing.
3-The substate temperature I guess I have to read up on that more but it is 77 degrees inside the tank as same as outside. I have a foldable glass lid with a air gap on the side.
4-I use a Taylor home humidistat to check the temperature with the humidity. I do have to calibrate it as I have not done that since last winter. Will do that right away. The humidity keeps showing 45% but went up to 80% when the storm came. Just can't keep the humidity inside the tank enough to keep it at 70%.
5-No chemicals are in my house as my husband has sensitivity to odors and perfumes.
6-Oh yes, I wash my hands all the time- I am a Certifiied Home Health Aid and know the importance of that.
7- When I got Old Crusty, he came from a ten gallon tank that had several half logs in it. I bought a log but when I found the forum here, a nice person told me to get rid of it. So I did. It was Mac's Creature log. Only had it in the tank for four days then took it out. Spiderman Ted never had a log from the Boardwalk. Seems to me that the boardwalk had healthier crabs. Maybe it is the salt air so close to the ocean.
8-The bedding I use is T-Rex Jungle premium blend forest substrate. I got it loose in the bag and wet it in the tank. I do mist it alot in there to keep it moist and add humidity.

9-I do not use a heating source as it is warm enough where I live and the temperature is steady at 78 degrees. I use window light but not direct and they are not baking in it.
BTW...Spiderman left his Spider Shell and changed shells. I dumped the old painted one. He seems ok.

Also I use Hermit Crab salt for the sponge which they both seem to go for.
I use distilled water for misting and also for a water dish.
I feed them so far some shaved carrots, crushed some cuddlebone, crushed to size Hermit crab food by Zoo Med, says vitamin enriched and also Repto Treat gammarus dried shrimp.

I was picking them up once a day to put them in a dish to bathe them. That is all.
Should I keep the substrate really wet through? I keep it about two inches thick. The girl at the shop told me to make it like five, I did not.

Thanks!

[babesbarn]

I am going to post some pictures. The tank I have front view back view. You can see Old Crusty on the left on the bottom by the coconut shell/basket area buried now. The lid I keep it open a bit for air but wonder if just letting it down with a crack is a way to get enough humidity in there. A pic of Old Crusty Yesterday before his leg came off today Any suggestions, I think I am putting too much thought into their entertainment right now. please comment and also thanks in advance.

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[ladybug15057]

babesbarn, suggestions/replies have been done to your other postings. Have you read them and made any changes? This one here too:
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=3884&p=32244#p32244

Please also keep your postings in one thread so it is easier for us to follow the events as opposed to posting the same info in a couple threads making it harder for us to help you.