How long is it normal for a large hermie to molt?

[jeskalyn]

My oldest and largest crab, Corduroy, I've had for over a year and a half - and he's molting for the first time. It's a surface molt (which makes me nervous in the first place), but he is isolated in a tank with proper humidity. He has been just hanging out (literally, his exo is hanging out of his shell) for about two months now. Is this normal? There is a slight odor, but nothing "fishy." It just surprises me that his exo looks to be still intact, not in pieces scattered about. So I have yet to see any evidence that his new exo is alive in there somewhere. Any advice?

[ladybug15057]

Most molters/premolters do have an odor to them. I relate it to the silicone put around a tub/shower, some relate it to iodine and a couple to butterscotch. On rare occasions a molter can also smell a bit fishy.
Some hermies take longer than others to molt, even the same sized hermies. There is no set time limit it takes them to molt. Have you noted any movement at all in that 2 month period? If you have sand for a substrate have you smoothed it and looked for hermie tracks?

[jeskalyn]

I have noticed zero movement for about a month now. He ended up almost perched against the glass when he decided he needed to molt, so my worry is that he doesn't have the strength to push his old exo out of his way. Yet I'm nervous to move him away from the glass for fear of disrupting him and causing him to die.

[ladybug15057]

Is there or have you noted any forms of odor/smells during this time? Where he is positioned, can you possibly place a drop or two of water on what you think is the exo? If he doesn't move or twitch, by tomorrow is there a way you can gently tip him backwards to see a bit in his shell?

[jeskalyn]

There is a slight odor, but I can't put my finger on what it's comparable to - it's not quite "fishy" - iodine may be the closest thing to it. Tomorrow, I will try to do as you said and put a drop of water on what I can only assume is his old exo. Good idea - if it does not move, I will as gently as I can tip his shell back to hopefully take a peek, and also to give him a little bit of freedom from the remains of his old exo. Have you ever had a molt like this one? I'm sure you've had your share of molt predicaments!

[jeskalyn]

PS: I took a picture, so maybe tomorrow I will try to post it on here.

[ladybug15057]

Yes and also my share of almost a panic state thinking the hermie passed too. Here you will see how dead my Clyde looked: (BTW I no longer and haven't used the colored marine sand for years)

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... r-Dead.jpg

So I did gently tip him back to peek. (our hermies are use to being handled too)
http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... ked-In.jpg

If it is his exo and you put a couple drops of water on it, it will not move.
Question, do you use a dry or damp substrate?

[jeskalyn]

I use play sand as it is so affordable, and they don't seem to mind it. I'll let you know what happens once I tip him back... hopefully the same thing that happened for you!

[jeskalyn]

Gah... I fear that I have let my curiosity and impatience get the best of me. I did what you mentioned. I let a tiny droplet of water fall on what I thought was his discarded exo... and he did not flinch. I tried to tip him backward but the exo did not fall right off. When I did tip him, I realized his molt is not yet through...there is still some of his old exo attached to him... No new crab in view... I'm quite worried now. I was as gentle as humanly possible. But I still disturbed him and fear that it may lead to his death. I know I can't do anything about it now. I hope so much that he lives... he's my oldest crab and one of my favorites. Still no bad odors, but I am worried that when I wake up in the morning, there may be... Any survival stories to give me some hope for my little (big) guy?

[Wai]

How much of the exoskeleton is still attached to him? Has he pulled his head out, or does it appear that he has only slid a bit out of the exoskeleton? Can you see his fleshy body?