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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Topic author
Tiamat
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by Tiamat » Mon Dec 29, 2014 6:46 pm
What was your longest-ever molt?
I ask because my two medium-ish PPs are ready to hit the 8 month-mark at the beginning of January, and I'm going between being completely calm and completely panicking. I'm hoping someone will pop up here with a similar tale of woe to reassure me.

Hey, who knows, by hearing similar tales, this might serve to help others feel calmer, as well?
Sheldon and Leonard - RIP 1/11/15
"TIA IS.... NEVER WRONG 60% OF THE TIME. The other 40% she is right." - Chelsea716
"Tia shall never be questioned tis she is the master of all answers." - Bean2011
"Yes Tia, everything you say inspires me" - zoey
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hermitcrab24
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by hermitcrab24 » Mon Dec 29, 2014 7:56 pm
My E is going on 4 months, though honestly I don't think she is coming back up, I lost 2 E's before her.
I heard of someones hermit being down for almost a year!!
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dinky
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- Location: crestview Florida
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by dinky » Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:00 pm
I hate to tell you, but think 8 months is to long ): I have a large pp in a 1 1/2 or larger shell and usually I'm looking at 2 1/2 months for him.
Happy owner of 10 pp's, 7 E's, 2 straws, 1 ruggie, 2 viola's, 2 dogs, to many kids to count and one awesome hubby
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wodesorel
- Tech Support

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by wodesorel » Tue Dec 30, 2014 10:19 am
It was a from a long time ago and I know I'll never find the original thread (if it was ever saved) but yes - we had someone whose crab was underground for 8 months and it suddenly popped up one day and was fine. Whether it was actually down that entire time or sneaking up in the middle of the night unnoticed was up for debate. Crabs can do that - the first two years I had Firefly I kept thinking for sure he was dead, but then I would catch him at 3 in the morning in the food bowl, only to have him vanish for another 4 or 5 months.
Edit: Was it Sebby who had the crab?... Grr. I hate not being able to remember!
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Ryry
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by Ryry » Tue Dec 30, 2014 12:30 pm
Ugh I have a small pp that's been down for over 2 months. I know smaller ones molt quicker so I'm kinda freaked out... I'm trying to keep hope tho! He's my original crab

All kinds of crabby!
2 Violas, 1 Indo, 7 PPs, 2 cats, 1 Sheltie, 1 mechanic boyfriend
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gotta-crab-em-all
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by gotta-crab-em-all » Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:57 pm
My longest molt so far was a small PP who took 4 months.
Shuckle (f), Clauncher (f), Omanyte (f), Weedle (f), Ralts (f) : 55gal Crabitat
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Ryry
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by Ryry » Thu Jan 01, 2015 8:14 pm
gotta-crab-em-all wrote:My longest molt so far was a small PP who took 4 months.
I appreciate you! That really does make me feel better! I'm trying to stay positive!
All kinds of crabby!
2 Violas, 1 Indo, 7 PPs, 2 cats, 1 Sheltie, 1 mechanic boyfriend
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oceanrei
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by oceanrei » Wed Feb 04, 2015 2:12 am
Any update with your PP? I am having similar worries...I have 3 medium-large PPs, roughly all the same size and they all went under to molt within the same couple weeks. 2 have already come back up a few weeks ago and seem like they've had a nice healthy molt, but the 3rd guy still hasn't come up yet...it's been I think almost 4 months now...sometimes I could hear them moving around in the sand when they were buried, but after the 2 came up, I haven't heard anything under there... :headshake:
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kornchaser
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by kornchaser » Thu Jun 18, 2015 1:31 pm
My teeny tiny Kaylee in a 1\2" tigrina was down for 2 months destressing and molting. Her next molt was another 2 months and occupied a 7\8" green turbo before changing into a clunky murex awaiting another growth spurt. In more recent news Toby came up hairy as could be after his second molt with me (?? destress) after 85 days of nothing... he makes holes you can see and my tinys could be snuggled in together comfortably, he wasn't surfacing. Now he occupies a 1" petholatus that doesn't hide his head at all, he's noticeably bigger than Sid who's in a 11\8" petholatus and she stuffs herself in that unconvincingly...
Side note - Do PPs 'max out' once they hit 1" or so sized shells? What I mean is, do they purposefully deny a shell that would fit comfortably once they get big enough?
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Cumba
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by Cumba » Mon Jun 22, 2015 7:31 am
I have a small/medium PP and he has been down almost two months.
Ugh I have a small pp that's been down for over 2 months. I know smaller ones molt quicker so I'm kinda freaked out... I'm trying to keep hope tho! He's my original crab
I know exactly how you feel! Just another reason to freak out about hermit crabs.

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KellyCrabbieLove
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by KellyCrabbieLove » Mon Jun 22, 2015 8:15 am
#1 rule of crabbing - crabs are weird.
#2 rule of crabbing - see above
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Cumba
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by Cumba » Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:38 pm
Wow. Kelly, your crabs are beautiful!

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kornchaser
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by kornchaser » Tue Jun 23, 2015 3:28 am
Thanks! Glad to know they will change 'cause they look so uncomfortable. Toby's been checking out all the shells with no definable favorite (of the ones with bigger openings). So on to the jades then... The adventure begins! Any good online stores with jade turbos or other turbo shells 1 1/8+ that you (or anyone else reading) could recommend?
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