Question about Blaze

[Wai]

He could be waiting to moult very soon. Isolate him in another tank or section him off.

[Gizaroo]

The other crab isn't very active right now either...he's still on the other side of the moss pit in the same place as he was last night. They've not had anything to do with one another since 2 days after I brought them home.

I will look to see if I have another really small critter carrier that can fit in the tank...otherwise I don't have anything I can put over him and him still be able to go get water and or food.

[Gizaroo]

found a small critter carrier...going to rearrange the tank now so I can put it in there

edited to add: he's now in the critter carrier...have Skip smooshed into the other half of the tank...had to take some of the stuff out to make room, but at least both of their areas will be regulated with the temp and humidity.

I keep seeing him move his legs ever so slightly, so I'm guessing it is a moult?

I didn't have any hiding places to put in there....so i partially covered it with a handkerchief to help darken the critter carrier a bit.

If he hadn't looked like he had fallen into a space between the edge of the moss pit and the heater I would have left him alone hope he'll be ok and have a successful moult if that's what this is.

[ladybug15057]

Please do leave him be at this point. He very well maybe molting and being so new he needs complete privacy. If you can you can also cover the outside of the tank with cardboard, a towel or something to darken that area of the tank.
They look so dead when molting, and some will give off a silicone type odor. (that is what I relate it too... like what we put around the tub/shower, some relate it to iodine and some even to butterscotch.)
Please read this article and check out the pictures too:

http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... storyid=57

Good luck and chelipeds crossed for you here!

[Wai]

Good luck! I hope he is indeed preparing to moult and isn't dying. My hermit crabs tend not to show pre-moult symptoms (even if they do, usually I don't catch them beforehand).

[Gizaroo]

I covered his container up with a dark bandana...couldn't find anything else to use. Hope he'll pull through this!

[crypticlaman]

Those pictures were helpful. thank you. I think it will help all of us newbies to better recognize whats going on with our little ones. Good luck Blaze!!!

[Gizaroo]

Thanks for those pictures! They are very helpful.

For some reason the humidity is not staying as constant as I'd like it to with the critter carrier in there...

Had to put fresh water in Blaze's dishes...he is no longer twitching (noticeably...but I wasn't staring at him and got the tank covered up asap), but still does not smell.

If he is moulting, how long do you think it will be? I'm just curious...

Also, when do you think would be a good time to introduce skip to the other crabs in the bigger tank? After he molts? (I think he's getting closer...his gel limbs were well formed when I saw them the other night)

Thanks

[ladybug15057]

It is not easy to try to judge when a hermie will molt. It can be within 24 hours or up to about 3 months. It varies between hermie to hermie and even with the same hermie it can and does vary. Once he begins to actually take the exo off? From what I have seen anywhere from 15 minutes up to about 45 minutes.

[Gizaroo]

Thanks!