CtryLuv's Crabbie Cove Post Purchase Stress Information
Sometimes, actually very often, hermies can get stressed because of being taken out of their natural environment, shipped all over the world, and then put into terrible conditions at their destination. Hermies are a very stressful creature and it doesnt take much to stress them. Below are a few symptoms and what you can do to help.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms associated with PPS. Being lethargic, not eating or drinking, just "laying" around, spending alot of time in the water pools, lowered eyestalks, dropped limbs and going naked. They are very similar to symptoms of a sick hermie. Most hermies in a new environment will pig out, and drink alot at first because they were deprived at their previous location. It is best to ISO (isolation) a new hermie so that he doesnt have to worry about fighting over food or room. Another reason to isolate a new guy is to make sure he doesnt have mites, or any kind of disease he could spread to your established colony.
You should make sure they have plenty of food and water, both fresh and salt, because chances are they had no salt water (ocean salt) at the pet store, have somewhere dark to hide, and keep the habitat nice and warm. Right now people are experimenting on slowing raising the conditions in the tank so that the good conditions dont throw the hermie into shock after being in bad conditions. I have always put mine into good conditions immediately and never had any problems, but it is something to consider. Make sure that there are plenty of shells available for him to change into because chances are he is in a painted shell or one that doesnt fit properly. A new hermie will also dig down to destress. This is normal. Do not dig him up. Let him stay down until he is ready and feels comfortable coming back up.
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