New Owner - Started completely wrong!

[CrowleyFam]

OK. I will post pictures of Cuff and Link when I get back home today.

[CrowleyFam]

This is Cuff. Can you tell me what species it is?

[CrowleyFam]

Here is Link

[Hermiesguardian]

Cuff is so teeny! I would say he's a purple pincher.

[odelayheehoo]

Cute! I agree, both PPs

[CrowleyFam]

So Link dropped a leg yesterday, another this morning and was dead by this evening. He was lethargic when we first got them, moved into a new shell when they were provided, took a salt bath and was very active prior to yesterday. Yesterday and today he was lethargic again and this evening it was clear he was gone. I assume it was due to the stress of his ordeal.

Cuff is currently MIA. He had dug a pit under the moss but is not there now. We are not sure if he is burrowing in order to molt but had a question. Do they just abandon their shells before the molt and then pick a new one when they are done?

[Hermiesguardian]

They never leave their shell to molt. They "slip out" of their exo.

[CrowleyFam]

All 3 remaining crabs seem to have buried themselves. For reference, we got 2 about a week ago and 2 more last Friday. One died on Sunday and the other 3 are now buried. So if they are molting, I assume they will be MIA for several weeks? Should we put food and water out?

[Hermiesguardian]

Yes, keep putting food and water out. They may just be destressing snd still coming up at night. Even if they are molting you won't know when they'll be up and they will want food.