Advice needed re un-isolating moulter`

[appps]

I currently have one crab in a tiny tank and two in my main tank. The one in the tiny tank dug under just before we moved them so he had to stay behind.

He has now re-emerged after about 3 weeks but now the two in the main tank have gone below ground.during the last week

So..........if I were to put him over into the main tank, because he has just moulted hinself is there much danger of him digging up and eating the other two? Or would he be in a weakened state so not likely to cause any problems?

I really down want to keep both these tanks running if I dont have too, and the one he is in now is really tiny with nowhere to hide but one coconut hut. Im a little concerned he will get nervous and dig under again and Ill have another wait on my hands before I can move him.

So........to move or not to move??

[Wai]

The two in your main tank aren't necessarily moulting, so it should be okay to move the one in isolation back with the others. You can't keep them apart forever, so there's always going to be the slight chance of cannabalism. The only way to prevent cannabalism is to keep them all in a tank of their own.

[appps]

Thanks, I was thinkng along those lines too.

[ladybug15057]

Should be fine like Wai said, but make sure to bump up the chitin intake as a safety feature with the other nutrients he needs. Give him a little dip in the fresh water pond to rinse off the molt smell on him too.

[appps]

Well he is now in the big tank. First thing he did was go from one shell to another checking them all out but didn't seem to like any.

He then went for a totally submerged swim in the salt pool (was starting to think I'd better rescue him when he finally climbed out)

And then finished off the day by digging a hole in the coconut fibre and burying himself again.

Do these guys ever just stay above ground?

Oh and ps thanks Marie, did a search for chitin and as luck would have it I've got mushrooms in the fridge so off to add some to the feed dish in case he comes up again

[ladybug15057]

Some chitin sources are considered protein, but not all protein sources contain chitin. This can also be found in the exo's of shrimp, lobsters, (crustaceans in general) and insects too.