Yay! My first molter seems to have survived...or has she?

[YoursTruly]

My first molter(YAY!) appears to be done molting, but how exactly do I confirm her survival? I'm so excited, because most newbies to hermit crabs and molting fail at their first crab - I think she's survived because, 1. I did lots of research before buying them, 2. I have y'all to support me through the hardships AND[/i] joys!

Anyways, I read people's posts and other sites, but they don't say how to tell when she done. I don't want to know that I have to keep her in a dark, humid tank, like Hannah said. I just want to know when exactly is the right time to release her into the main tank again.

I vowed to myself as soon as I got a molter, and she successfully molted, I would get a 20 gallon tank. I've done so, even though it's a bit ahead. I know she'll survive, I just want to make sure that she's READY to be released.

I've already set up the larger tank, ready for her arrival(even made a welcome home banner, lol).

If you need to know what her new exo looks like, it's purple on the claw, and satisfyingly red on the body, and stuff. She's very active at the moment, and is crawlingaroung the ISO, looking for a way to escape. She wasn't this active before two/three days ago. She's a little pink still, but not by much. by far, her mood and exo has made great leaps.

[Julia_Crab]

If she's trying to escape, has eaten all her exo, and is eating normal food, give her a nice meal of scrambled egg with grated carrot in extra virgin olive oil -- crush the eggshell into it -- and after she's had that, either bathe her with the others (if you believe in bathing) or dip her in the other crabs' salt water to make her smell like the others, and put her back in your main tank.

Sounds like she's ready to go! You can feed the leftover eggs to the other crabs. Eggs every 7-10 days is very good for their health.

[YoursTruly]

Thanks. Helped a lot. But, should I SCRAMBLE the eggs on the stove? Or give them raw?

I don't have olive oil...My mom is allergic to any types of olives.

[Julia_Crab]

Yes, scramble them on ths stove, LOL. Raw eggs can infect the crabitat with salmonella. Alternatively, you can soft boil them and serve them just the really runny yolk -- it simulates it being raw, while killing most of the bacteria.

Olive oil isn't a necessity. Any cooking oil that is a whole food (not hydrogenated), such as extra virgin coconut oil will do as well. If you have to you can microwave the eggs in a glass bowl, if you don't have any of the right kind of oil. Stuff like corn oil isn't really good for crabs, it's too empty of nutrition, and has the wrong kind of fatty acids in it.

If you do cook eggs in a pan, though, be sure to use only stainless steel. Aluminum cookware is dangerous because it's not stable and gives off aluminum ions in cooking (which is bad for the crabs and your brain, LOL), and teflon outgasses a toxic chemical when heated that causes cancer in humans over time, and kills pet birds. The thought of feeding that residue to the crabs makes me shudder.

Stainless steel is safe because it is very stable, especially the high-quality kind. Also, if it's going to leach minerals into the food, it does it in the beginning of its career, when first used, then tends to stop doing it. The metal that it would give off in the odd chance is chromium. The amounts given off are minuscule, and chromium is something that is found naturally in seaweed, which crabs would be used to eating.

If you're nervous about cooking in metal, then glass or ceramic in the microwave is your best bet. It's best to undercook the eggs. Crabs prefer them runny.

[Wai]

Yes, listen to the chef (I'm hopeless at cooking). It's great to have you around Kerie!

[Julia_Crab]

Thanks, Wai -- it's nice to know some people appreciate me! LOL

[vergil397]

well i think the egg would be good to try but has anyone ever given them a mixture cocanut and some other fruits then with cocanut sprinkles on top for a little like birthday ckae it really works used it on my old crabs ate it up fast tell me if they like it and ill try the egg thing thx for the tip

[Jaci]

i'll have to try the hard cooked egg thing. they are visiting their dad's family so when i talk to him next, i'll have him put some scrambled or soft boiled in there. do they like just the white or just the yolks or both?