Hermit crabs dying 1 by 1

[Quentin05]

Hello,

I started a fishless cycle a 6 weeks ago, saw an ammonia spike, a nitrite spike and some nitrates.

Last week I got 2 clowns and 5 hermit crabs of different sizes.

The crabs were doing good and looked active the first 3 days. One of the clown was showing lesion marks on the mouth and I dosed Melafix, was the worst thing I could've done. I sawpped the clown the next day as I don't have a hospital tank and did a 25% water change, changed my carbon and doubled the dose and turned off the skimmer to not flood my living room.

The 2 clowns are doing good, eat and swim healthy but the crabs are dying 1 by 1 at a rate of 1/day. 3 deads, 2 alive now. I bought empty shells, they are interested in it then go away.

Now the 2 alive climb all the way to the top and both are crammed on the top of my highest rock, if I move them, they go back.

Ammonia : 0
Nitrites : 0
Nitrates : 7
pH : 8.2
Alk.8.8
Phosphate : 0
Salinity: 34.7 ppt
Temp : 77

I am worried the Melafix is slowly killing them.
My other worry is they don't have enough food but I tried spot feeding them nori or pellet but no interest.

I bough a copper test kit in case but I never dosed copper. I also bought a manual salinity tester in case my Hanna digital one is off (I calibrated it with the solution 2 weeks ago).

I also might have acclimated them a little too fast as I thought they did not need that long of acclimation but if it was acclimation problem my guess is they would have died sooner not after 5 days?

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[akaps]

Hello,

I started a fishless cycle a 6 weeks ago, saw an ammonia spike, a nitrite spike and some nitrates.

Last week I got 2 clowns and 5 hermit crabs of different sizes.

The crabs were doing good and looked active the first 3 days. One of the clown was showing lesion marks on the mouth and I dosed Melafix, was the worst thing I could've done. I sawpped the clown the next day as I don't have a hospital tank and did a 25% water change, changed my carbon and doubled the dose and turned off the skimmer to not flood my living room.

The 2 clowns are doing good, eat and swim healthy but the crabs are dying 1 by 1 at a rate of 1/day. 3 deads, 2 alive now. I bought empty shells, they are interested in it then go away.

Now the 2 alive climb all the way to the top and both are crammed on the top of my highest rock, if I move them, they go back.

Ammonia : 0
Nitrites : 0
Nitrates : 7
pH : 8.2
Alk.8.8
Phosphate : 0
Salinity: 34.7 ppt
Temp : 77

I am worried the Melafix is slowly killing them.
My other worry is they don't have enough food but I tried spot feeding them nori or pellet but no interest.

I bough a copper test kit in case but I never dosed copper. I also bought a manual salinity tester in case my Hanna digital one is off (I calibrated it with the solution 2 weeks ago).

I also might have acclimated them a little too fast as I thought they did not need that long of acclimation but if it was acclimation problem my guess is they would have died sooner not after 5 days?

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

It could be the meds. I think fish meds are not safe for inverts.

 

[Quentin05]

It could be the meds. I think fish meds are not safe for inverts.

It is stated on the bottle that it is invert safe. It is not a meds but more like a tree oil that is super hard to get rid off and I should've never dose it in the first place but API says it is invert safe.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

if not the meds then I think they starved. They normally pick at rocks all day, if your rocks are too new and clean they might not be eating.

 

[Jasonak]

Its not acclimation problem. I only ever temp acclimate mine.

 

[Quentin05]

if not the meds then I think they starved. They normally pick at rocks all day, if your rocks are too new and clean they might not be eating.

That s was my concern yes but dying of starvtion after 5 days? Sounds pretty short to me no?

 

[Jasonak]

By the way there acting seems like they want out of the tank so im gusseting something with the meds is irritating them. There hermits they kinda eats anything they can get ahold of.

 

[Quentin05]

By the way there acting seems like they want out of the tank so im gusseting something with the meds is irritating them. There hermits they kinda eats anything they can get ahold of.

This or not enough oxygen since I turned off the skimmer?

 

[akaps]

This or not enough oxygen since I turned off the skimmer?

Skimmers aren’t meant to be on 24/7, ur meant to turn off at least when feeding. I don’t believe they provide oxygen… maybe I am wrong

 

[Quentin05]

Skimmers aren’t meant to be on 24/7, ur meant to turn off at least when feeding. I don’t believe they provide oxygen… maybe I am wrong

I have to leave it on all the time, it is Aquamaxx 1.5 HOB if I turn it off my water level goes up significantly

 

[akaps]

I have to leave it on all the time, it is Aquamaxx 1.5 HOB if I turn it off my water level goes up significantly

Must be different kinds that can stay on 24/7 and ones that don’t have to

 

[cgoochce]

I have to leave it on all the time, it is Aquamaxx 1.5 HOB if I turn it off my water level goes up significantly

You may have too much water in your sump. Raise or lower the skimmer within the sump, will help with the water level when not in use.
I had a similar problem and I installed a stand in my sump and adjusted the level at which the skimmer was within the sump my water level issues went away.