Molting?

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.

cannm
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Re: Molting?

Post by cannm » Wed Oct 25, 2017 5:55 pm

Cherylco55 wrote:
Happyhermiehome wrote:Ohhhh okay I also missed the fact that u already moved him. I'd take Gotbutterflies advise and Find him to see if he is okay. She is very experienced and knows best.

Ok. If he's still alive should I then leave him half buried? Will he burrow down again? Or just leave him on top.

If he's alive - i'd put him in ISO in the event he was attempting to molt. You don't want to leave a molter on the surface as that would put him in harms way of other crabs, and you for sure don't want to rebury them. When they burrow down, they leave air pockets for them to breathe. If you bury him yourself he won't have those air pockets.

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Hermiesguardian
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Re: Molting?

Post by Hermiesguardian » Wed Oct 25, 2017 7:18 pm

cannm wrote:
Cherylco55 wrote:
Happyhermiehome wrote:Ohhhh okay I also missed the fact that u already moved him. I'd take Gotbutterflies advise and Find him to see if he is okay. She is very experienced and knows best.

Ok. If he's still alive should I then leave him half buried? Will he burrow down again? Or just leave him on top.

If he's alive - i'd put him in ISO in the event he was attempting to molt. You don't want to leave a molter on the surface as that would put him in harms way of other crabs, and you for sure don't want to rebury them. When they burrow down, they leave air pockets for them to breathe. If you bury him yourself he won't have those air pockets.
I'll be moving the other 2 to the bigger tank so I can leave him in the 15 gal tank where they all are now. So do I look for him anyway? Or just leave him as is even though it's possible he suffocated?
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi


Crabsalicious
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:06 pm

Re: Molting?

Post by Crabsalicious » Wed Oct 25, 2017 8:39 pm

Cherylco55 wrote:
cannm wrote:
Cherylco55 wrote:
Ok. If he's still alive should I then leave him half buried? Will he burrow down again? Or just leave him on top.

If he's alive - i'd put him in ISO in the event he was attempting to molt. You don't want to leave a molter on the surface as that would put him in harms way of other crabs, and you for sure don't want to rebury them. When they burrow down, they leave air pockets for them to breathe. If you bury him yourself he won't have those air pockets.
I'll be moving the other 2 to the bigger tank so I can leave him in the 15 gal tank where they all are now. So do I look for him anyway? Or just leave him as is even though it's possible he suffocated?
I would take got butterflies advise and dig him up asap. Then, if he's still alive immediately isolate him. I assume so that if he was molting he can continue the process safely in a place by himself. And then after he's stable put him in the tank with the others. Good luck! I hope he's ok!

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Happyhermiehome
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Re: Molting?

Post by Happyhermiehome » Thu Oct 26, 2017 3:04 pm

Yes. Check to be sure he is alive. Be extremely careful because if he is alive and if he has already molted and is not hardened his limbs will be very soft like gummies and he could be easily disfigured. And yes, If you move the other crabs first then it's fine for him to stay in the 15g.
Livin' the Crazy crab life :P

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Hermiesguardian
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Re: Molting?

Post by Hermiesguardian » Fri Nov 03, 2017 9:35 am

Happyhermiehome wrote:Yes. Check to be sure he is alive. Be extremely careful because if he is alive and if he has already molted and is not hardened his limbs will be very soft like gummies and he could be easily disfigured. And yes, If you move the other crabs first then it's fine for him to stay in the 15g.
I did move everyone to the bigger tank. Finally got the heat/humidity stable and added more plastic foliage and hidey spots. I think they are all much happier. I got 2 more. By now I think 3 are under and 2 on top. Of course I don't know if they are molting. And since the sand has seemed to settle so I am carefully adding about an inch a day.
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi


Crabsalicious
Posts: 109
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Re: Molting?

Post by Crabsalicious » Fri Nov 03, 2017 3:42 pm

Cherylco55 wrote:
Happyhermiehome wrote:Yes. Check to be sure he is alive. Be extremely careful because if he is alive and if he has already molted and is not hardened his limbs will be very soft like gummies and he could be easily disfigured. And yes, If you move the other crabs first then it's fine for him to stay in the 15g.
I did move everyone to the bigger tank. Finally got the heat/humidity stable and added more plastic foliage and hidey spots. I think they are all much happier. I got 2 more. By now I think 3 are under and 2 on top. Of course I don't know if they are molting. And since the sand has seemed to settle so I am carefully adding about an inch a day.
Are they in the 15 gal? Or the 40?

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Hermiesguardian
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Re: Molting?

Post by Hermiesguardian » Fri Nov 03, 2017 3:45 pm

The 40.
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi


Crabsalicious
Posts: 109
Joined: Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:06 pm

Re: Molting?

Post by Crabsalicious » Sat Nov 04, 2017 9:37 pm

Cherylco55 wrote:The 40.
Oh ok was just curious :)

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