PLEASE HELP!

[elipatm]

Rollins, my smallest crab, has been hiding under the substrate (calci-sand) for a little over a week now. He is what would be considered as a "small" crab (about the size of a quarter). After several days of him neglecting to emerge from his hiding place, I decided to play it safe. I cut the top off of an old bottle (sterilized) and placed it over the area he has been in so as not to disturb him and to deter the other crabs from digging him up or bothering him. I didn't smell anything fishy, so I knew he must still be alive, but I decided to take a quick peek under the tank. When I looked through the bottom of my tank, I could actually see him but he was just standing there! He wasn't sleeping or resting or anything... just standing and alert!

I did notice that he was eating a lot in the weeks prior to his disappearance and that the water bowl would be almost dry every morning (usually there is at least some water left). I tried watching him for one of those water sacs but never saw one, so I thought I might be getting ahead of myself. He also failed to appear "cloudy-eyed" or look any duller than usual.

I'm working on setting up another tank to move the non-molting crabs into, but wanted to know if anyone thought this was imperative at this stage. This is possibly my first molt and I guess my main question is, what do you think I should do? Is there anything I should be concerned about? Is he maybe getting ready to molt?

[krabby_katie]

I'm guessing that he's is going to molt very soon. Just stay calm and let him do his thing. He'll be up in a few weeks. By the way, I'd switch out of calci sand, it's hard for molters.

[elipatm]

Thanks for your help! I peeked under the tank again just before bed and he DID molt! His old shell is sitting next to him. So now my question is... when is it safe to take off the bottle top and/or move him into a tank of his own? Will he dig himself out of the substrate? And does anyone have any tips on what kinds of food contain a lot of calcium? I know I can boil eggshells, but if I can provide some variety I would like to.

[Wai]

Since you've already got a bottle over him, I'd just leave him there until he surfaces. Don't fiddle with him or anything. He will eat his exo if he is hungry.