Is it possible for 10 crabs to all be molting?

[blondy627]

I have 14 small-medium hermit crabs in a 55 gallon tank. I have had 2 of them for about 2 years. The rest I have accumulated this summer. (I went on vacation and saw a few I felt needed rescuing) I have learned a tremendous amont more than what I already knew by accident. I ended up with 2 ecudorian crabs and I looked them up to see what they were and if the needed anything special and ended up with a whole lot more info than all my little hermit crab books from the boardwalk. Anyways, I have 3 different substrates in my tank. I have half my tank as sand, a quarter as coconut fibers, and the last quarter is gravel (I now know gravel may not be optimal, but I only have their extra shells on it. I find the messier substrates get in the shells and I may not get it out before a crab considers it). They have all kinds of things to climb and the heat and humidity is always in the acceptable range on the gauges. I made my own crab food from the recipe on http://www.hermit-crabs.com and they also have other fruits, veggies, ext available. So, my question is, is it possible for 10 of my 14 hermits to all be moulting? There are only about 4 of them that I see on a regular basis. One of which, I do know already molted. There are a few that I see under the water and food shells, wood pieces, plants burried under that have not moved in a couple weeks. Are my crabs happy to be off the boardwalk type shops and are digging down for a good moult or is something wrong? Its just a little frustrating because I got them because I obvously like them and I like watching their activity, but nobody is doing anything! I don't want to disturb them if they are doing something important though. What should I do?

[blondy627]

Oh, and I do think a couple of them showed signs of moulting becuase they were eating a lot and drinking lots of salt water.

[abegie]

Your new crabs are probably just destressing. Its a good idea when you get new crabs to isolate them for a couple weeks with a very shallow substrate so they can't dig down in order for them to get used to their new environment. I didn't know this either when I got my new crabs and a couple of them dug down for close to three weeks before coming up and becoming more social.

[blondy627]

Thanks... I had them all in a 10 gallon tank because my friend promised the 55 and it took her a little while to get it . I have had them all since the end of July and they have been in the new tank for probably 3-4 weeks. One of the ones "hiding" is one I have had for quite some time longer (year+?). He is specifically one I saw drinking LOTS of salt water and he has a couple nubs where legs are growing back (they were missing when I got him). It's so tempting to dig them all up because I love watching them all running and climbing about... but I guess I will leave them to come out on their own terms.

[abegie]

Well the one drinking lots of salt water and showing gel limbs could very possibly be molting as those are definitely pre molt signs. Even more reason to leave them alone until they all come back on their own terms. I know how tough that can be though, you worry about them when you can't see them, and they can be buried for a long time.

[blondy627]

I have now not seen any of my crabbies since Sunday

I miss them all, but I'm trying to be very patient.I'm thinking of getting some kind of stinky food to lure them out :-p

[blondy627]

I just found out I have not been giving them a proper brand of salt water... I am hoping I did not do something horrible to them and that's why they are all burried. Wish me luck and pray for my crabbies!

[abegie]

What brand of salt water were you using? I was using the zoo med stuff for about a month before I got the proper stuff, and my crabbies came through ok. Hope that is some comfort.

[blondy627]

I was using API....

[abegie]

Well I would say not to worry about it too much but do get them some of the good stuff as soon as possible. For the most part I would say those hermit crab saltwater mixes don't do much harm from short term use, there is just really no benefit in using them.