Help!!

[harleyucollins]

I was giving my crabs a bath today, and I accidently moved the log that was in my tank. Underneath, was a crab.. molting. What should I do??? I put the log back where it was, and tried to make it dark for him, but I'm worried that I stressed him out more and he'll die. What do I do???!!!

[emmac350]

If the log was the top of his molting burrow, then replace it. Question, though - why are you bathing your crabs? This is totally unnecessary so long as they are given water bowls deep enough to submerge in (they will bathe themselves when needed). Bathing them messes up the careful balance they work to achieve in their shell water, and most crabbers believe that unless the crabs have mites, bathing is an unnecessary stress.

[ladybug15057]

Periodically I do bath our hermies for hygiene reasons even though we do provide deep water dishes for them. It is the best option if one cannot provide deep larger ponds where the hermies can bath themselves. Some will even give their hermies a dunk when they do a deep clean of their tank. 3 tanks with the total of 31 gallons possibly you do not have the room to add the larger deeper dishes? If you have a margarine lid or such you can also place this over where the molter is and then put the log back too. If he wasn't in mid molt, he should be fine. If you notice any of the others showing interest in the area you may wish to consider using a cut 2 liter soda bottle to section him off from the others. Good Luck!

[harleyucollins]

I don't think he was in mid molt. and the log wasn't really in the sand, just laying on top. When I seen him he had already shed is exoskeleton... so I don't know.. I will put a barrier up around him so no others can get to him, just in case. Thanks. :\