Molting question

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 5:59 pm

This may seem like a dumb question but I've never had a molt yet. I have Frank who has been under for about 4 days and I'm thinking maybe he's ready. Anyway my question is when they molt do they leave their shell. I mean do they come up without a shell or do they molt inside their present shell or whatever?

I got thinking about this and it's got me wondering. Any answer will be much appreciated.
Thanks-Chuck

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:16 pm

It would be unusual for a crab to molt without their shell on. I'm not saying it never happens, but if it did and it was a healthy molt the crab would return to it's shell before it resurfased. If your crab comes up from a molt without a shell on, that would not be a good thing.

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 7:15 pm

I did have a small E that came up from a moult without his shell.....I think his shell got all packed up with substrate or something like that. I put some shells his size near him and he jumped right into one, very gratefully, so it must have been a shell issue, not a health issue. He's fine now, but I've never had this happen before, so it's not real common.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 8:02 pm

It is really unusual for a crab to come up from molting without a shell. While molting, most do NOT leave their shells, but I did have a few Es molt outside of their shell. They always returned to their shells shortly after molting to eat their exo, though. And they always surfaced in their shells.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:07 am

Thanks for your replys everyone. Frank is still under so I'll just wait and see what happens.-Chuck