My crab has been underground really long! Please help?

This forum is where you discuss issues relating to molting hermit crabs, including pre- and post-molting issues. If you are having a molting emergency please post in the Emergency Forum.
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Jen1986
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My crab has been underground really long! Please help?

Post by Jen1986 » Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:48 pm

My pp crab has been underground for like 6 weeks as of tonight. I'm a bit worried. My crabs seem to do this quite often, but don't come up looking any different. I got them from the pet store in March and one of them were surface molting when I got it. It died because of it! I don't want to lose any more! Please advise? Took his shell with him! Temps in range, humidity in range, have all basics too! Not sure what else. Is it dead?!

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soilentgringa
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Re: My crab has been underground really long! Please help?

Post by soilentgringa » Tue Aug 16, 2016 12:47 am

It is probably molting.

Most new crabs spend several weeks to a few months (or longer depending on size) underground molting.
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=92522

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=92457


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KayedeeLove<3
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Re: My crab has been underground really long! Please help?

Post by KayedeeLove<3 » Tue Aug 16, 2016 10:00 pm

Usually when I begin to get apprehensive, they make their big appearance ;)
6 weeks is nothing, he could very well have just gotten comfy let alone molted! Good luck!

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TazandBruce3
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Re: My crab has been underground really long! Please help?

Post by TazandBruce3 » Fri Aug 19, 2016 8:08 pm

Jen1986 wrote:My pp crab has been underground for like 6 weeks as of tonight. I'm a bit worried. My crabs seem to do this quite often, but don't come up looking any different. I got them from the pet store in March and one of them were surface molting when I got it. It died because of it! I don't want to lose any more! Please advise? Took his shell with him! Temps in range, humidity in range, have all basics too! Not sure what else. Is it dead?!
Sounds like your crabbie is molting! Depending on the size of your crab, they may not be in the substrate for much longer. Molting is natural, and means that you have to right conditions for the crab to feel comfortable enough to go through the process.


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Kermie16
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Re: My crab has been underground really long! Please help?

Post by Kermie16 » Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:09 pm

Ours is going on 9.5 weeks. Haven't heard anything in the tank either. Hang in there!!


Persia352
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Re: My crab has been underground really long! Please help?

Post by Persia352 » Sat Sep 03, 2016 9:31 am

I have med -large crabs and they stay down at LEAST 2/1/2 months! So hang in there and be patient as (I have to remind myself constantly lol !)
My newest crab went down the day I bought it and actually doubled it's size!

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isadoraisacat
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Re: My crab has been underground really long! Please help?

Post by isadoraisacat » Sat Sep 03, 2016 3:06 pm

Persia352 wrote:I have med -large crabs and they stay down at LEAST 2/1/2 months! So hang in there and be patient as (I have to remind myself constantly lol !)
My newest crab went down the day I bought it and actually doubled it's size!
My 2 crabs pina and mango took 2 months maybe a little longer and came up and we're both twice their size. My other medium went down for his second molt it's been almost a month. It takes a lot of patience and its a very scary time but as long as their healthy and you provide them proper care and food they should survive their molt and come up healthy and new

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