another molt!

lilhermitgirl17 · Post by **lilhermitgirl17** » 03 Apr 2005, 03:51

Well, My littlest hermit crab, aka. Little Dude, has molted again. Last time, he lost his large pincher, and I have been watching him closely since, and he got the little gelly limb, and it has gradually been taking shape. Kinda interesting. He has never been much of a digger, and I found out that he likes to go into large shells to hid. I had a pretty big one just for decoration, and since Little Dude liked it so much, I have always kept it there. that is where he molted last time, was in the large shell. A day or so ago, LD moved into one of the extra shells I had out for my larges hermit crab, Zipper. I watched him, and put the shell in a corner. Last night I was feeding and checking every one, and I notice, Little Dude had molted again! it has been barely over a full month since his last one. I carefully picked up the big shell that he was in and put him the whole set up into my ISO tank, then put my cocoa hut over the shell so that it would be more protected. I gave it the food, and both waters, and sea weed. I put ground cuttle bone in with the food, and he still has his exo, so he should have plenty of calcium. I also have its spare shells in with it.
So, how am I doing? is there anything else I should be doing? Just wondering if anyone has any advice.

bennynlewie · Post by **bennynlewie** » 03 Apr 2005, 11:14

it sounds like you are doing a great job i mean thats about all you can do and more..so thats really great i think ur doing very well with this molt..good job

lilhermitgirl17 · Post by **lilhermitgirl17** » 04 Apr 2005, 02:13

Ok, thanks tehehe. He was moving around a little yesterday evening when I peaked at him before I went to bed. They look funny just after a molt. He gets really pale. More carrots.

bennynlewie · Post by **bennynlewie** » 04 Apr 2005, 03:20

lol ya they do but it sounds to me like u got it down perfectly

ayianna · Post by **ayianna** » 08 Apr 2005, 10:29

Iso isn't really required unless you have an aggressive crab. Just so you know. ^_^

lilhermitgirl17 · Post by **lilhermitgirl17** » 11 Apr 2005, 02:14

hey! my middle sized hermit crab has also molted again! *sigh* I'm gonna run out of iso tanks! tehehe, I think my big hermie Zipper is lonely all by himself, but my Little Dude will be back soon, he's starting to be more active in his Iso.

So, does this mean that my hermies are happier here, since they are molting like this, and seem to be doing well afterward? Cause it has only been just over a month since they both molted...

Post by **Wai** » 11 Apr 2005, 11:40

It's great that they are actually molting every now and then and are surving. Make sure you give them plenty of carotene and protein to grow!

crabbiemom · Post by **crabbiemom** » 20 May 2005, 06:54

So, it's ok to molt just a month or so after the first time?

Our little Missy Mouse Only finished molting and healing about 5 weeks ago...and we found her a few minutes ago, after a bath and playtime molting again!!
...of course both her brothers (the kids just "decided" they were boys based on the sort of shells each crab chose..haha) are have Molted this week as well, so they are all now in iso while I figure out if theres something not right in the tank....

I guess my real question is, is this second molt normal?

Hannah · Post by **Hannah** » 20 May 2005, 08:02

ayianna wrote:Iso isn't really required unless you have an aggressive crab. Just so you know. ^_^

Actually I only have one agressive crab and I have never had a surface molt out of ISO, but ALL of my crabs have dug up molters to get at them. Yes, it is required, and you really shouldn't risk it. When I have a molt in the tank that I have discovered, I always at least put the top half of a bottle on it.