Wesker Molted!

[erikleeson]

So thats why all my crabs take forever to molt! The sand is really wet at the bottom. I hope that Wesker comes through okay.

[ladybug15057]

The dampness helps them molt, but maybe why it is taking them so long to recover from the molt due to all the dampness. But with some substrates (such as the moss you use) they need to stay damp so not to pull valuable moisture from the hermies too. Since you have the moss pits for them, have you considered using the sand dry? This way they can have the choice of where they feel most comfortable at and choose what they want then.

[erikleeson]

I use play sand and it clumps when dry and is very annoying to have to deal with. They seem to like the sand somewhat damp but I use it damp mainly so they don't need to fill their shells and drool it on the sand in order to dig. I also use it to keep the tank nice and humid. I don't think they normally molt in moss as in the wild moss isn't usually a few inches deep.

[ladybug15057]

You can use a container of some sort for the damp sand to give them the choice as well as keep the moss to help with your humidity %. I know of several crabbers who use moss, and yes their hermies do molt in it, as well as some within the sand.

[erikleeson]

Maybe the most natural thing to do would be to have like half sand wet and half dry. I have the moss as a hang out place it doesn't really help with the humidity as it is away from the light to avoid it from drying out quickly.

[ladybug15057]

Well it is a known fact that in the wild hermies are not subjected to dampness 24/7.

[erikleeson]

Update: Wesker resurfaced from his molting nest in the moss. His exo has hardened and As far as I know he has no more exo left to eat. He looked traumatized or something. He was just barely peeking out of his shell, I could still see his eyes but his antennae was moving very slowly. I sprayed some moss and surrounded him with it giving him an extra water source and placed a milk cap with some honey and cuttlebone powder beside him. I am a little worried but he seems to be okay so I will give you the news in a bit.

[erikleeson]

I woke up in the middle of the night and Wesker was eating the apples I left in the dish. The real food dish was far away from the moss pit. As soon as I saw him he took off and ran to the coco hut. I guess he feels safe enough to hang out with the others.