Molt problems and vitamin B12

To: CrabDr@yahoogroups.com
From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 02:20:33 -0000
Subject: [CrabDr] NEW IDEA --B12--



What if crabs who did not do well after a molt were deficient in vitamin B12? B12 is used to help synthesis DNA during cell division. A lack of B12 would stop the proliferation of cells needed just after a molt. This could cause what looked like a pause in the post-molt recovery.

The easiest sources of B12 are found in milk, meat, and eggs. I don't know if it is bad to feed crabs milk, but I'm just going to knock out that option for now.

Vitamin B12 is also degraded with excess heat. I bet that hermit crab food and other manufactured pet foods would be more prone to loose the B12 during cooking and processing. Therefore, if vitamin B12 were not fortified in these foods, they could be deficient.

It may be a good idea to supplement the diet with B12. There are some water treatments for coral reefs that contain B12. I would suggest putting B12 in a dish of water of the crabs, or putting the supplement on the food.

Emily, you may want to try treating your crab with vitamin B12, or using an antibiotic that contains B12 like "saltwater Maracyn-Two" which is theoretically nontoxic to invertebrates. (Your crab may also be suffering from a bacterial infection.)

Here's a link to giving antibiotics: http://tinyurl.com/58ywb

I'm trying this myself right now on a crab with similar symptoms. I'll be sure to write in more detail later, but my dad is visiting and there is less time available at the moment.

-Lisa