Is it possible for 10 crabs to all be molting?

[ladybug15057]

Yep, waiting is hard and seems like forever too. Hermies are not for those who have a lack of patience. 2-3 months unless one smells an awful gaggy smell, or mold growing. Do you have a pair of comfy pacing slippers? This helps...
And when you do get that digging urge, come here and post. It helps the anxious feelings one can get.

[blondy627]

Thanks for the support! I don't so much care that they're burried and maybe trying to moult... I think it's more a guilty feeling that my lack of knowledge (or my mis-education) before finding this site... I just realize what a "bad" crab parent I was and I'm hoping that I have minimal casualties and/or issues from that. All I really want to know is that they are alive!

I was one of those people who thought that hermit crabs were so low maintenance... just a little mist here, a wet sponge there, crabbie food, some fresh fruit/veggies, extra shells and you're set! NOT! In all honesty, they are more work than my 4 cats who I spoil shamelessly! Not saying the crabs aren't worth it... It's just so much knowledge at once and wanting to do everything at once. I have swimming pools waiting for them, but I'm resisting putting them in just because I really don't want to disturb them from their business. I feel like I'm pacing outside of a delivery room

[ladybug15057]

In cases like yours, I think the term "Bad parent" is not appropriate. The term "Uneducated" seems to be a bit more appropriate. You are here reading and asking questions and trying your best for your little ones. IMO, that is an "uneducated parent" being a good loving parent.

[blondy627]

Thanks again!

And I do have some good news! I saw one of my little friends that I haven't seen it quite some time last night. He was trying to come out of a coco hut, but couldn't fit through the door with his big shell. He must have burried and tunneled under the hut. When he saw me, he totally went back in his shell so I just went to bed and let him be. He looked kind of on the pink side from the glimpse I got to see He's always been a silly one who wears a shell 10 times too big for him.

[ladybug15057]

Sometimes they do that due to how scarce shells are in the wild so they can grow into them. Sometimes after they are with us for awhile and use to shells being available 24/7 they will take shells a bit more appropriate.

[blondy627]

I am now only seeing one crab every night/early morning.... I think anyways. I have 2 that I didn't get to tell apart when I got them (the burried so quickly!) and two have the same shell. Same color and size. I had forgotten about that until I had seen the two of them out and about probably 2 weeks ago. My one E had been a regular I'd see everynight, but he dropped a leg and started to get very unactive. He's now burrowed so I can't see him. Pray for a moult! Temp and humidity is good.

I am a bit nervous. I'm pretty sure I have seen one or two pests in there. I really shouldn't interupt everybody at the moment. I just misted with salt water and have not seen any since. Any suggestions if I end up with an out break and all these burrowed hermies?

[ladybug15057]

Would you just so happen to have an extra tank that you could put the hermies in as you see them coming up if you continue to see pests? Prior to putting them into the extra tank, a dip in ocean/sea water would be recommended to do. (if they are not freshly molted) Any way to determine what kind of pest you maybe seeing?

[blondy627]

I do have my iso tank I could move them to. The guy I had in there did pass. To me, they look like fruit flies. I found I had a couple apples that were going bad. They are in the dumster now. I'm hoping that's where the flies came from and that the issue will go away. Today, my biggest worry is my tank is starting to stink... Like somebody has passed. I will see if it is worse in the morning.

[ladybug15057]

For now do you have any apple cider vinegar you can put a little sugar and water into? Put it in a cup/glass, cover with plastic wrap, put a rubber band around it and poke small holes into it. Place this outside of the tank and see if you catch any fruit flies. If they are fruit flies they should not bother the hermies, but if they are hump back flies (Phorid Flies) they can be harmful/lethal to molters.

Edited to change "Hermies" to " Molters"

[blondy627]

I do not have apple cider vinegar... I will have to get some tomorrow.