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

[CrabbyJo]

I"m so sorry, Jeskalyn
You did your best for him, and there really is no telling what we could have possibly done differently when we know we've done the best we know how for them. Sometimes it's just their time to go.

My heart goes out to you.

[ladybug15057]

I am sorry jeskalyn, have you checked him to be sure? It is hard to know what if anything was wrong, and as CrabbyJo said, sometimes it is just their time to go.
Sympathies, (from close to 'lil Washington, Pa)

[jeskalyn]

Aww thank you so much. I did check him again. I am sorry to say that what I mistook as leftover "muck" from the molt was indeed mold. A jarring discovery. It also appeared that he had just about completed the molt before he died. I noticed his big claw and his legs were formed. I appreciate your advice on all of this. It is good to learn some new facts about molting, even though it had to be in this sad experience. Washington, PA is very close to me, by the way! I may be writing soon with some questions regarding Ecuadorians - I have two of the cute crabs that I obtained from the reptile convention (which was in Washington last year). Again, thank you so much for your help in this matter!!! Happy crabbing to you!

[ladybug15057]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Years ago (about 8-9) my daughter had a hermie named Green Giant, Sr. Longer story shorter, he molted but had his back to us so I could not see him. Next day he was still out of his shell and it bothered me. So I did move him so we could see the front of him and that is when I noted his leg was still stuck in his exo. He struggled ever so hard to try to get it out, but the next day he had passed. I assumed it was from the stress of not being able to shed the exo off the leg, and at the time it was thought a hermie would just toss the leg. But he didn't and it was heartbreaking to think that possibly I could of done something to help him. (with what I have known the last couple years now I do think I could of helped him if I KNEW what I have known the past few years) This is why I was a bit persistent about if he was or what he possibly still had stuck in his exo. Not that it would of been a 100% guarantee that he could of been helped, but if the limb that was still stuck in the exo would of been kept damp hermies have been known to eat the exo off of themselves too.
And well lets say between Pittsburgh and Washington... between 22-30 and 79. Wasn't aware of the reptile convention last year? Was it at the county fair grounds, or?

[jeskalyn]

Yes, it was at the Washington County Fair and Expo Center (I live about five minutes from the new airport). I was interested in seeing if there were any Ecuadorian hermit crabs there, because I wanted two, but had no idea where to get them. They had them there but in an empty tank with no humidifier, no substrate, no food... it was sad. So I took two home, who have yet to molt or change shells in the year since I got them (even though one is missing half a leg - she must have gotten it stuck somewhere or got in a fight ). Their names are Lola and Caesar, and they are active little crabs. They are very skiddish still, and often fall over when I walk into the room. Haha. It's also funny because they definitely stick together and hang out. The rest of my crabs are PPs and though I sometimes see them interact with the E's, it's usually Lola and Caesar teaming up.

PS: Do you have any recommendations on good web sites to purchase shells from? I've ordered them once before but was curious if you had any preferences.

Thanks again for all of your advice and encouragement! I definitely learned a few lessons from this molt.

[ladybug15057]

I use to get my shells from Naples, located in Florida. (I have over 400 shells now, so really do not 'need' any and haven't) Naples sells by the 'hole' size.
http://naplesseashellcompany.com/hermit ... hells.html
Mike use to sell shells by the 'hole' opening, but for now until he finishes he is selling shells by the shell as a 'whole': (I prefer to buy shells per the 'hole' opening)
http://stores.ebay.com/The-Hermit-Crab-Shack/HOME.html

My last 2 E's I got 10 years ago were sooooo fussy! I bought countless moon style and D shaped shells for them. (not included in my 400 current count of shells) Would either of them change into them... NOOOOOOOOO! Ended up Vanessa chose a green turbo that had more of an oval opening than the typical round opening they usually have,
http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... anessa.jpg

But since then has chosen the lighter weight brown tapestry turbo style shells. (yep, with a more oval opening) Shells that I already had... so I spent almost another $75 on shells that nobody even flicks an antenna at.

[CrabbyJo]

I personally like to purchase my shells on Ebay from a user named Glassreign. She has a shop, and sells them in small lots of 3 or 4 usually. You can purchase several different lots (super cheap too, from about $2 to $6 or so) and she will combine on the shipping and cut you a deal. It's great!

[jeskalyn]

Ladybug, that's funny! I've never seen an E in a round opening shell like that! Very cute though! Haha. What a coincidence with all this talk of E's... my one just molted totally randomly right in the middle of everything, right on the surface. He (Caesar) wasn't exhibiting any noticeable signs, just walking and climbing and digging like usual, all over the place. Then he molted. I moved him and his exo to an isolation tank. He looks super pale (white, almost) right now, but I am hoping he survives.

In ANOTHER completely startling turn of events, one of my older PP's (Quigley, a real sweetie who once regrew two entire missing limbs) was molting and was killed in a fit of cannibalism by another PP, Margot. I had used a cut two liter pop bottle to isolate him, but had left it cut open, because he was up against a corner, and I didn't want to harm him by jamming the bottle down into the sand and accidentally severing a limb or something, since I wasn't totally sure where he was (just knew he was close to the wall). Well, Margot is pretty small, and maneuvered herself past the barricade somehow (still am kind of shocked by this), attacked him, stole his shell, and was walking around in it. Needless to say, when I saw that she had his shell and hers was still vacant, I knew it was bad. I am so upset about this! I haven't lost a crab in a year and a half, and in the past two weeks have lost TWO!

But thanks for the info on shells - I will be in search of some for my E who just molted, hopefully will look online this week, because I'm sure he'll be up and about very soon.

[jeskalyn]

PS: Is there any chance that the conditions in my tank are causing crabs to molt excessively? I'm having crabs molt left and right, some who have never molted since I got them... but it's like wildfire in there. Temperature is about 71 (Fahrenheit) and humidity is close to 75 at almost all times.

[ladybug15057]

I would venture a guess that it does. Better crabitat conditions, better diet, and TLC. Your little ones are growing. GOOD WORK!!