Hermit crab acting weird help!

[Salemk555]

Hello, I am a fairly new hermit crab owner, and need some advice.
My hermit crab, Howl, is acting very strangely after a year. The humidity is okay; my other crab is okay, the heat is okay, as far as I can tell, the dirt seems to be okay but I am keeping an eye out for bacterial blooms or any other issues that could be causing his weird behavior, but my husband and I are concerned. We did the smell test for bacterial blooms and did not smell anything. He has running, filtered water, fresh food, vitamin mixes, enough dirt/sand to molt, variety of foods and calcium, dechlorinated salt and fresh water, and anything else he needs. He has been burying him self near the front of the tank by the water dishes, and is half way in and out of the dirt. He goes up to eat but then goes back down and seems to be stuck at times, so I moved the water a bit but did not touch him in case he’s preparing to molt. There has been a little condensation on the glass, but adjust as needed with fresh moss, wiping it off if it appears too much and airing out the tank a bit to avoid mold. But, today for example, he was on his side in the dirt and appeared to be stuck sort of under the water dishes, so I moved them back, and he seemed to readjust himself and straighten himself out, but he was flailing a bit and had stopped moving for a second, I even waited for a sign of movement in the light. I didn’t touch him though in case he’s preparing to go deeper and molt, but if so, he’s molted before and never chosen this spot or had an issue, and he’s been doing this for over a week. He does eat and drink. Maybe I’m being a helicopter hermit crab parent but my husband and I are a little concerned. If anyone has any idea why he may be acting this way, please let me know so I can help him.

[sophie_rice]

Hi! Hermit crabs often like to molt near water bowls. It sounds like he might be trying to molt but not having enough strength yet to successfully do so? Has there been any change in his environment or diet? I’ve had crabs behave like this before they were able to get the strength to mold. He might also just be being a crab.. sometimes they just find new favorite spots and maybe chilling by the water bowls is his new favorite one.