Is my crab molting/gonna molt soon?

[erikleeson]

I got one of my crabs, Xavi, about a few weeks ago, on July 11 too be precise.
A few days ago he was in the fresh water dish for about 6 hours

I woke up too see him deep in a hole by the window. He isn't covered up, theres just a hole and a mountain of dirt next to him, when they molt, do they cover themselves?

Also, he doesn't really look like he's molting, he doesn't have any exo near him. It just looks like a crab dug a hole and is now either digging more or trying too get out.

Is this a good chance that he'll molt? What if he's destressing? I haven't seen other symptoms other than drinking, If i move him to ISO, will it stress him out? WHAT DO I DO!

[krabby_katie]

Crabs cover themselve when they molt. I think he'll probably molt soon. I don't iso my molters. You can get a 2L pop bottle and cut off the bottom. Leave the cap off. dig the open end into the dirt around his hole that he dug. Push the bottle down until you hit the bottom.

[erikleeson]

Great thanks,

If I put the bottle over him, how will he have acces to food/water when he comes up? Does he live off what he saved up? cause he hasn't eaten NEARLY enough food as water.

[erikleeson]

ok...weird....was he diggin for fun cause he came up without burying himself. He was in the hole for like a few hours put now he's up.

[Chermo]

Crabs like to dig, they make a fun game out of it I think.

[erikleeson]

Yea I realized that Gilbert is digging but I don't suspect a molt. Xavi ended up burying himself. I guess he'll be up in a few weeks, he's a medium crab. I can hear him moving. Its my first molt so I'm super nervous. He isn't in ISO but I'm sure he'll be fine. When they come up, have they already eaten they're exo? Is their exo hardened? Should I put him in ISO when he comes up? FOr how long?

[wizkidsmom]

You will know if they molted as their color will be more pinkish with sharp nails and hairy legs.
Once he does come up, there is no need to ISO him. He'll want/need company. Just leave him be. He maybe shy once he is up and probably be by himself for a while.

If you hear him moving around, he is just digging for fun or finding a perfect spot.

[erikleeson]

He maybe shy once he is up and probably be by himself for a while.

Really? I read that crabs are really active after a molt. I guess to make up for the weeks molting.

So when he comes up, he will have eaten his exo and have a hardened new exo?

[wizkidsmom]

Really? I read that crabs are really active after a molt. I guess to make up for the weeks molting.
So when he comes up, he will have eaten his exo and have a hardened new exo?

It is all on the individual crabs. Most of mine have become shy even to me after a molt. It takes a couple of days for them to get up to speed. You have to remember that a molt uses up a lot of energy.

When they come up, they should have eaten most if not all of their exo. You may find a piece or two in the substrate. You can crush that and put it in the food dish for all. They should be mostly hardened as well.

[erikleeson]

I hear that crabs are "vulnerable" during molting, if your info is true, then how?
The crabs dig, and come up and are safe? That doesn't make them vulnerable, unless the other crabs dig up molting ones.