Bathing after a moult?

iluvhermies · Post by **iluvhermies** » 11 Apr 2006, 12:00

I use the hermit crab salt conditioner. Mine do not usually stay in that long and I leave the lowest end dry so that they can get out of the water when they want to. Mine seem to love their baths though. They get to the lowest end and turn around and go back to the water.

hermiesrokmysox · Post by **hermiesrokmysox** » 12 Apr 2006, 05:54

20 second sounds about right. I only have them in the water for like 5 seconds, lol! I don't think it take long for the water to WOOSH into the shell since i place them in the water upside down.

Jaci · Post by **Jaci** » 12 Apr 2006, 07:23

how often do you bathe your crabs?

hermiesrokmysox · Post by **hermiesrokmysox** » 12 Apr 2006, 09:24

every so often. Sometimes every two weeks...one a month. Somtimes i don't bathe them at all because they look healthy with out.

iluvhermies · Post by **iluvhermies** » 12 Apr 2006, 10:12

I bathe mine once a week. Unless they have just came up from a moult.

hermiesrokmysox · Post by **hermiesrokmysox** » 16 Apr 2006, 08:43

i don't know how often to bathe really. you shouldn't bathe them too much, are you will dry them out, something about their exos.

Jaci · Post by **Jaci** » 21 Apr 2006, 01:46

really....i didn't know that. i haven't bathed my crabs before bc of the ponds in the tank....do you think lemi will freak out if i start it now? ike and bebe are still under, but i should be seeing bebe here soon, i'm so excited. should i bathe them when they unbury themselves?

iluvhermies · Post by **iluvhermies** » 21 Apr 2006, 03:51

I don't think lemi would. Not sure how long mine were at the pet store and were they were for how long before the pet store. Mine all seem to love their baths. You need to wait about a week or so before you give them a bath so their exo can harden up. I bathe mine even Thursday night. It is suppose to replenish the water that they store in their shells to help keep them moist. The salt in the water will help them when it comes time to moult. Or so I have read and been told by others.

hermiesrokmysox · Post by **hermiesrokmysox** » 21 Apr 2006, 09:15

i thought salt water irratates their abdomens...? after all, it's salt water. Anyone know anything about this?

a week of water after a molt (before you introduce the molted crab to the others) sounds good. Giving a bath works great after molts. Make sure to bath the other crabs with and in the same water as all the others so they all smell similar. It really help to prevent fights!!

I bathe my crabs whenever i really think they need it (and when i do, there's always crab siol or sand up in the shell when the water runs out).

Jaci · Post by **Jaci** » 22 Apr 2006, 06:18

i heard that salt water was good especially if they're preparing to molt. my oldest ike sat in the salt water pond for quite a while, i'd have to replenish it 2x a day before he went under. well i found bebe on the coconut wall this morning, another successful molt. after playing with her for a few mins (i was estatic to see her) i put her back into the cage and she went into the freshwater pond (it wasn't there before she went under) and she cleaned her eyes and her big claw, then she got out and headed back up the wall (which also wasn't there before her molt). she's having fun exploring. i'll try the bath with lemi tonight and see what he does. he's my most active so it should be interesting to watch.