Crab molting, worried

[Panther_Shadow83]

OK, I have a crab who I think is molting... she buried herself in the sand in her rock hut on about Sunday or Monday, and I haven't seen her since. I'm really worried she won't get thru it. I don't want to dig her up to put her in ISO but I don't want my other crab to attack her (which I don't think will happen because I think my other crab misses her). The molter, Eclipse, is about an inch big (well, her shell is, I'm guessing that's about the size of her body) so she shouldn't be down for very long, right? Pleese help, I'm really worried.

[jessie4crabs]

I know it is hard, but try not to worry. You can't really judge how long they will be under by their size. I know people say that the bigger they are, the longer they take and visa versa. But, My crabs are all small and so far I have had 3 molt & they all took about a month. My "Corky" just came up yesterday from his molt and he was under for about 1 and 1/2 months!!! I could usually see him if I peeked under the tank & I could see him move. But, really, all you can do is wait it out. Maybe your guy will come up any day now. I have 4 out of 10 that are buried under right now! Its driving me crazy! We have to have patience and trust that they know what they are doing, (I think it is harder on us parents than on the crabs)

[Panther_Shadow83]

Thanks for the consoling... but I'm still worried lol...

I'm sure I can see her if I peek under the tank... what do I do about the ISO problem? I don't want to stress her by moving her to another tank, but I don't know what else to do...

What a great time to molt... the weekend I was supposed to clean the tank

[Wai]

The crab hasn't taken long at all. You should wait at least a month before getting a bit "concerned". Most importantly, do not disturb the crab.

[Panther_Shadow83]

OK, last night, I got home at about ten and Stellar (the non-molting crab) was climbing around on top of the cave that I saw Eclipse bury herself in, so i got kinda nervous. I wasn't fond of digging Eclipse up because of what I had read about leaving them alone, but I didn't want Stellar to attack her, so I went into a kind of plan B.

I was going to separate the tank and set up a mini ISO for Eclipse, so I picked up the water bowl to wash it out and then to move it. However, I saw a small hole and a purple thing sticking out right where the bowl had been! Well, Eclipse's shell is purple (I know that the painted ones are tacky but she loves this shell lol). I quickly replaced the water bowl and started freaking out. In the end I decided to still set up the ISO but just a little differenly.

Since the hole was about as big as Eclipse, I was scared that I would stress her out big time if I left her uncovered with the light on. Well, I couldn't turn off the light because then I wouldn't be able to see, so I dimmed it and started the ISO. I gave her some salt water and a bowl of food (I didn't have any dishes for fresh water, and I'm going to Petsmart today to get gerbil food some I'm going to get more stuff for the hermies.) I covered the hold opening with a few sheets of small paper so it would be dark for her while I was isolating her.

Well, I removed the paper and covered Eclipse with sand (only a thin layer, she can do the rest herself.) Then I took a terra cotta pot and stuck it around her at an angle so she could leave if she wanted to. After that I took the bottom of a critter tote box, which is about ten inches by five, and stuck that all around Eclipse, her food and water bowls, and her terra cotta pot. I also stuck the humidity gauge in there after misting it. My only problem is that there aren't any air holes, so I'll have to take it off for a few minutes every so often.

Just to make it fun for Stellar, I put some climbing netting over the ISO portion so she wouldn't be curious to bury under. Then I put two treats on top to keep her occupied.

Did I do the right thing?

I figured that this is a win-win situation. I had a small feeling last night that Eclipse had just been digging around and got herself lost under the water bowl and couldn't go up. Otherwise, I wouldn't have moved the bowl. My only other problem is that the sand is only about an inch to an inch and a half deep. What should I do about this? I know its not deep enough for her to molt in...

By the way, I did learn my lesson... next cleaning session, they're getting more sand!

[Wai]

Perhaps move Stellar into the smaller tank, then you wouldn't need to do all that extra protection and risk disturbing Eclipse. You really shouldn't be fiddling with the tank and the area around Eclipse too much.

[Panther_Shadow83]

one more question... i keep reading about some molting hermies getting covered in mold! i'm freaking out about that... what makes it happen and how can i prevent it?

[happibunni42]

(I know that the painted ones are tacky but she loves this shell lol

No crabs like painted shells. The paint chips off and they eat it. They can also get stuck in the shell. You need a wider variety and when she changes, take the painted shell out IMMEDITALY I did this with my Kero like last year. Shes so happy she's outa there now. lol

Well, I removed the paper and covered Eclipse with sand

Never did up crabs, especially IF you do never burry them! They create air holes we can't create.

keep reading about some molting hermies getting covered in mold

I wouldn't worry. I have had 5 molts and didn't hear anything like that. So unless the humidity is over the top(Like 90%) then u can wrry.

Also, let's hope she doesn't have a bad molt. My reasons for this :: Feeding them commercial crab food, especially FMR, has Ethoxiquin, a bad preservitive, that causes bad molts. The whole redigging idea takes away air. If you digged her out(I just scanned through everything and diodn't really pay attencion to other stuff, so IF) that causes stress.

[Panther_Shadow83]

No crabs like painted shells. The paint chips off and they eat it. They can also get stuck in the shell. You need a wider variety and when she changes, take the painted shell out IMMEDITALY I did this with my Kero like last year. Shes so happy she's outa there now. lol

Maybe I didn't elaborate on this enough, but the shell isn't a tacky one, its a light purple, and my other hermie, Stellar, came in it. When she switched to a bigger shell Eclipse went into Stellar's. And I have a ton of options... between fifteen to twenty shells... she's just a stubborn lil girl!

Never did up crabs, especially IF you do never burry them! They create air holes we can't create. [/quote
My fault >.<, but she's doing OK so far...

Also, let's hope she doesn't have a bad molt. My reasons for this :: Feeding them commercial crab food, especially FMR, has Ethoxiquin, a bad preservitive, that causes bad molts. The whole redigging idea takes away air. If you digged her out(I just scanned through everything and diodn't really pay attencion to other stuff, so IF) that causes stress.

Let's pray she doesn't have a bad molt!! Mama's worried!
I only feed them a small protion of commercial crab food, its mixed in with their home mix that I made(all organic stuff), and that food is JurrasiDiet or something, one of the only brands without Ethoxyquin. Trust me, I've had gerbils for years, I know all about Ethoxyquin... nasty stuff...

[happibunni42]

Maybe I didn't elaborate on this enough, but the shell isn't a tacky one, its a light purple, and my other hermie, Stellar, came in it. When she switched to a bigger shell Eclipse went into Stellar's. And I have a ton of options... between fifteen to twenty shells... she's just a stubborn lil girl!

I know what you mean, it took Kero a year to switch, finally she is in a georgous Pica shell, that nasty painted shell is gone, but I still have it on my dresser, to remember her first shell.

My fault >.<, but she's doing OK so far...

Just remember for next time

Let's pray she doesn't have a bad molt!! Mama's worried!
I only feed them a small protion of commercial crab food, its mixed in with their home mix that I made(all organic stuff), and that food is JurrasiDiet or something, one of the only brands without Ethoxyquin. Trust me, I've had gerbils for years, I know all about Ethoxyquin... nasty stuff...

Good you KNOW about Ethoxiquin. And I'm sure he'll be fine since I have had about 3 or 4 of my 5 molts while I fed commercial foods. I stopped. So i hope he'll be OK.Good luck.