Do crabs always leave shell to molt?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 3:51 pm

Can a crab shed thier exo without leaving the shell, or do they always have to leave and then return? I have had some crabs that could not enter the shell because sand had packed in the shell opening. The sand was kept moist but larger crabs walking over the top may have caused a partial "cave in" in thier tunnel. Any thoughts? Deeper substrate?

DustAndEchoes · Post by **DustAndEchoes** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:10 pm

if the molt is going as it should, they stay in the shell (usually), because it offers protection while their new exo is hardening.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:43 pm

There isn't a relation between shell changing and molting. They molt in the shell, then may or may not change shells afterwards.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:49 pm

Actually, I have noticed a relation between shell-changing and molting. My crabs, before they molt, seem to go through a huge indecisive shell-switching frenzy. Then they bury themselves and molt.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:00 pm

How funny, my crab Oliver who went below a few days ago, was changing shells every day. Always between the same two, he'd just go back and forth.