Red Clawed Crab Lying On Back!

[sarahmarshadlam]

Hi,
I bought a red clawed crab on Saturday and it was moving around fine. I have it in my tropical 90litre aquarium with a few peaceful fish (turtle dock is on it's way for him as the shop didn't tell me they liked land!).
 
However, since last night Sebastian keeps 'falling over' on his back. He just lies there on his back, sometimes completely still, sometimes moving his legs around.
 
Several times I've popped him back on his feet and he falls back over.
 
I have scoured the net but can't find out whether this is a normal moulting behaviour or if he's ill? I haven't seen him walk, although he must have because he was over a different side of the tank (on his back) when I got home from work.
 
I had my water levels checked at pets at home torday and all were fine, and I've added some aquarium salt just now.
 
I'd be so grateful for any help, I askewd at pets at home and also where I got him from and neither had any ideas.
 
Many thanks, Sarah

 

[raptorrex]

Hard to know were to start really.
 
first  they need to have brackish water thats NEED!
second they are, for the most part, land dwellers.
i have never seen a redclaw on it back during moult, it may happen but a healthy one would hide so its hard to tell.
I'd pop down to the LFS with a sample of you water
many will refund if the stats are right and the stock dies so quickley. I say many there is no rules on such things.

 

[Livewire88]

I dont know much about crabs apart from they need plenty of land, so if I were you I would at least tank him out of the water and see if he improves.
 
He is probably drowning.

 

[sarahmarshadlam]

Hi Guys,.
I had my water tested and all is fine, he's still pretty much the same but he has moved around the tank and his stomach 'plate' started to open the day before yesterday so I think he is molting. I have added aquarium salt to water and he has a 'turtle dock' .
 
How long does a molt take?


I moved him and put him on the turtle dock...I didn't want to move him, but thought he'd be better on land?

 

[Tuxyu3]

first  they need to have brackish water thats NEED!
second they are, for the most part, land dwellers.
i have never seen a redclaw on it back during moult, it may happen but a healthy one would hide so its hard to tell.

 
I agree with all of this. I couldn't even keep them alive for more than a few months with their very own brackish tank dedicated to them.

 

[Livewire88]

Hi Guys,.
I had my water tested and all is fine, he's still pretty much the same but he has moved around the tank and his stomach 'plate' started to open the day before yesterday so I think he is molting. I have added aquarium salt to water and he has a 'turtle dock' .
 
How long does a molt take?
I moved him and put him on the turtle dock...I didn't want to move him, but thought he'd be better on land?

Just make sure that the crab can make its own way up to the turtle dock if he needs to, a strong leafed plant or piece of wood leading up to the dock is what is required.

 

[raptorrex]

Hi Guys,.
I had my water tested and all is fine, he's still pretty much the same but he has moved around the tank and his stomach 'plate' started to open the day before yesterday so I think he is molting. I have added aquarium salt to water and he has a 'turtle dock' .
 
How long does a molt take?


I moved him and put him on the turtle dock...I didn't want to move him, but thought he'd be better on land?

 
Despite living on land, mainly, they don’t actual need air (ie they can’t drown)
 
If its belly flap is open i fear it’s not long for this world. The carapace splits at the
back and the top of the shell hinges forward to allow the crab to extract
itself

A moult should take a few minutes, but the overall processed is about 1 day.

Hard lesson here.
Never ever touch a critter that’s moulting. It will assume it is in danger, and halt the moult.
This usually ends in the critters death.