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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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