Scarlet hermit question

Vanquishxxxx · 07/10/2006, 12:08 AM

I have had a very large Scarlet hermit crab fro about 4 months now and abotu 2 weeks he turn white, first time, and got very docile, he stayed that way for about a week and then molted. and became his active self again causeing me trouble. But he stayed white, he isnt a scarlet hermit anymore, he is a white hermit now. He has molted before but has never turned. He is old, do they do that when they get old. He is very large too, his larger claw is about a inch and a half to give a picture of his size. DO you think old age can make them turn white

Sk8r · 07/10/2006, 08:03 AM

That's not a scarlet hermit. He may be a hermit crab that is colored red, but scarlets max out at 1/2 inch total body size.

I'd say there's something going on with his shell condition. I wouldn't perpetually dose iodine, but you might test, and if low, try dosing once and see if that helps him. It is said to assist molt, but I think that is disputed.

thor32766 · 07/10/2006, 08:03 AM

yeah scralets dont get that big.

Vanquishxxxx · 07/11/2006, 05:46 PM

what do you rhik it could be then, cause it looks exactly the same as a scarlet hermit, same coloring same featres?

bertoni · 07/11/2006, 05:48 PM

Hard to say, but the color changes might be related to the diet. Some food like Cyclop-Eeze or other foods with pigments might help.

07/10/2006, 12:08 AM	#1
Vanquishxxxx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 998	Scarlet hermit question I have had a very large Scarlet hermit crab fro about 4 months now and abotu 2 weeks he turn white, first time, and got very docile, he stayed that way for about a week and then molted. and became his active self again causeing me trouble. But he stayed white, he isnt a scarlet hermit anymore, he is a white hermit now. He has molted before but has never turned. He is old, do they do that when they get old. He is very large too, his larger claw is about a inch and a half to give a picture of his size. DO you think old age can make them turn white

07/10/2006, 08:03 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	That's not a scarlet hermit. He may be a hermit crab that is colored red, but scarlets max out at 1/2 inch total body size. I'd say there's something going on with his shell condition. I wouldn't perpetually dose iodine, but you might test, and if low, try dosing once and see if that helps him. It is said to assist molt, but I think that is disputed. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/10/2006, 08:03 AM	#3
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	yeah scralets dont get that big. __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

07/11/2006, 05:48 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Hard to say, but the color changes might be related to the diet. Some food like Cyclop-Eeze or other foods with pigments might help. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/11/2006, 05:46 PM	#4
Vanquishxxxx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 998	what do you rhik it could be then, cause it looks exactly the same as a scarlet hermit, same coloring same featres?