molting?

jdude0u812 · Post by **jdude0u812** » 19 Jul 2009, 13:52

well i just put more eco earth in my 30 gallon aqaurim after cleaning it made one side with most of it its at least five inches or so enough for them to burry themselves and thats exactly what they did not sure if they are molting or what and not sure what to do any help on this would be appriciated?

jdude0u812 · Post by **jdude0u812** » 19 Jul 2009, 15:53

have two hermit crabs that burried themself are they molting ? not sure recently added more eco earth so it fairly deep they dug right down dont wanna disturb them if they are

emmac350 · Post by **emmac350** » 19 Jul 2009, 21:59

If they are molting, they just need you to keep their tank conditions stable. Your crabs have molted many times before you owned them, so they know what they need to do. They may not be molting, though - sometimes crabs will bury themselves just because. If they come up in a few days and if, when they come up, they look unchanged and they don't have dark leg tips or hairs on their legs, they weren't molting - they just felt like digging.

Also, I'm moving this to the molting forum.

emmac350 · Post by **emmac350** » 19 Jul 2009, 22:02

I am merging this thread with the other one that was originally in the Chirp and Chat forum that was moved here.

jdude0u812 · Post by **jdude0u812** » 21 Jul 2009, 17:27

well they are still buried not sure whats going on hope its alright just added new one to the tank my wife bought they are all at least qarter size if that means anything how if they were molting would it take

emmac350 · Post by **emmac350** » 22 Jul 2009, 01:19

I would recommend you not put the new guy in the tank. New crabs need to be isolated away from our current crabs to ensure they don't have diseases or mites and so that they can learn that they don't need to fight for food, shells, and water. In your situation especially, he could possibly dig up and cannibalize your molters or even just steal their exos, which would make them take much longer to harden after the molt.

Molting time depends on each crab. Generally speaking, your molters should be done within a month or two, but I've had them take much longer to come back up. They will only take as much time as they need.

jdude0u812 · Post by **jdude0u812** » 28 Jul 2009, 08:53

keeping my fingers crossed think i seen the one crab seperated from the exo and think she is eating it hoping everything goes well thank for all the help and advice

CrabbyJo · Post by **CrabbyJo** » 28 Jul 2009, 09:10

Merged to keep info together.

Glad to hear you may have had a successful molt.

Did your crab do a surface molt, or are you looking under the tank at where she dug down?
Either way, it's best not to move the tank to peek, or to shine lights, or to lift hiding spots to peek.
Try to resist the temptation to peek now, and let your crab come out on her own. When she's ready she'll start visiting the food and water dishes again, and now is a good time to give her foods like shrimp with the tail still on, spirulina, eggs yolks with the shells crushed up, and corn.
Remember not to pick her up for the first week or two after her molt. She needs time to recover, and with as little disturbance as possible. Good luck! She's not out of the woods yet!

jdude0u812 · Post by **jdude0u812** » 28 Jul 2009, 16:06

one is kinda on the surface its burried a little the other one is totally burried no fishy smell so its all good i hope yes i looked but i will look no more just gonna wait it out thanks

CrabbyJo · Post by **CrabbyJo** » 29 Jul 2009, 10:39

I know it's hard to not have itchy fingers and want to just peek a little.

It's time to put on what we call "pacing slippers" and just wait it out!

molting?

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maybe first sucsessful moult

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