Those of you who know, I have a huge Straw Named monster his picture appears on the crab care section. Ive had a little over 2 yrs now. This past winter he has dug down for around two months. He has had two successful molts in the past. This Time he just dug down he did not molt. He came up yesterday and spent 4 hrs in the food dish. I really couldn't tell if he was eating or just sitting. Im Assuming eating. Now this morning he was submerged in the salt pool and when I came home he still was in the salt pool not fully submerged. His color is great. He has all his legs. This is just behavior I haven't seen from this crab before. I don't want to remove him from the pool because I guess he feels that is what he wants to do so im gonna keep him there. I don't want to isolate him because he is a softball size straw and he is in the large tank with correct conditions. Im Afraid moving him to a smalller Isolation tank will probably stress and kill him. He's one of my favs so anyone have this type of behavior before and any ideas?
thx
Chris
Im Worried About Monster
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Foxydiva3
- Zoea II
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CrabbyJo
- Coenobita
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Re: Im Worried About Monster
Foxydiva,
if he has not molted, then perhaps he was down to try to molt and realized he needed more food and salt water, and may go back down again?
I'm with you, I wouldn't disturb him if you've had him successfully molt in the tank before, and you aren't worried about other crabs bothering him. He's probably just fine, and you know, even after 33 years, Carol of Crabworks STILL gets nervous every time it's molting time!
Maybe time to pull out your softest, comfiest pacing slippers.
if he has not molted, then perhaps he was down to try to molt and realized he needed more food and salt water, and may go back down again?
I'm with you, I wouldn't disturb him if you've had him successfully molt in the tank before, and you aren't worried about other crabs bothering him. He's probably just fine, and you know, even after 33 years, Carol of Crabworks STILL gets nervous every time it's molting time!
Maybe time to pull out your softest, comfiest pacing slippers.
6 hermit crabs - 3 PPs and 3 Equadorians
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Please feel free to share information from this website, but please be sure to give credit and a link back to the information. Failure to give credit is plagiarism. Don't take credit for someone else's information.
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Foxydiva3
- Zoea II
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Re: Im Worried About Monster
Thanks So Much, I guess im just a worried Mom lol. He is still in the salt pond I Just hope he has enough energy to go back down. All th crabs get along and love him so no ones bothering him, Ill Keep you all updated
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CrabbyJo
- Coenobita
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Re: Im Worried About Monster
Yep, you're a good crabby mom and you do know what to do lol. We all still need our hand held from time to time. Reassurance is always a good thing.
Got your slippers on?
Got your slippers on?
6 hermit crabs - 3 PPs and 3 Equadorians
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please feel free to share information from this website, but please be sure to give credit and a link back to the information. Failure to give credit is plagiarism. Don't take credit for someone else's information.
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Please feel free to share information from this website, but please be sure to give credit and a link back to the information. Failure to give credit is plagiarism. Don't take credit for someone else's information.
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Wai
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Re: Im Worried About Monster
To be honest, his behaviour seems normal to me. Don't worry too much.
Wai
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ladybug15057
- Coenobita
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Re: Im Worried About Monster
Foxydiva3 having 4 straws myself, to me this sounds like a definite pms behavior. Now mine do not burrow down, but do make the circle impressions in the sand. (Like somebody took a tennis ball and pushed in down in the substrate about 1/2 way.)
Sounds like your little one went down to relax but decided he wanted more food and water prior to getting serious about the deed he has ahead of him.
I (as well as others) have noted my straws gorging food prior to molting. (like the other species) It is not uncommon here at all either (as with other crabbers) to observe the straw spending excessive/prolonged time in the ocean/sea water pond for a few days. There was also a crabber who noted one of her straws Fuchsia
who spent up to an hour totally submerged in the ocean pond to in a few days burrowed for 13 weeks to molt.
My straws also seem to become a bit more destructive than usual too, and then all of a sudden seem to lose all their energy and barely move if they move at all.
So this sounds like normal pms to me. Just make sure your pacing slippers have loads of padding in them and good soles on them they may get a couple months of wear. Be prepared in case your straw decides to pull a surface molt so the others do not disturb him.
Good luck and keep us updated!
Sounds like your little one went down to relax but decided he wanted more food and water prior to getting serious about the deed he has ahead of him.
I (as well as others) have noted my straws gorging food prior to molting. (like the other species) It is not uncommon here at all either (as with other crabbers) to observe the straw spending excessive/prolonged time in the ocean/sea water pond for a few days. There was also a crabber who noted one of her straws Fuchsia
who spent up to an hour totally submerged in the ocean pond to in a few days burrowed for 13 weeks to molt. My straws also seem to become a bit more destructive than usual too, and then all of a sudden seem to lose all their energy and barely move if they move at all.
So this sounds like normal pms to me. Just make sure your pacing slippers have loads of padding in them and good soles on them they may get a couple months of wear. Be prepared in case your straw decides to pull a surface molt so the others do not disturb him.
Good luck and keep us updated!
Marie (aka ladybug15057)
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If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.
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Foxydiva3
- Zoea II
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Re: Im Worried About Monster
Well its nice to here this is basically normal. Like Ive said I have had this particular crab over 2 yeas and he's never done anything like this. I got them a new pond this Christmas and He was down at that time but whn he came up it was new to him. Needless to say he must love it because he has yet to get out of it. He is not however listless he is very much alive and not looking sickly so he must just really love his new present. Slip slip slip! 