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First time owner..molting advice please. :)
Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 4:31 am
by Rawrgeous
So, I have had my crabs for about a week now, and I've noticed my smallest is now missing. (To molt I'm assuming, they have the correct substrate depth made from the hermit crab patch kit) I'm not even completely sure where he is buried ...is there anything special I need to do to protect him? Also approximately how long does it take for a small crab to resurface? Please and thanks for any advice- molting related or not.
Re: First time owner..molting advice please. :)
Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 11:24 am
by megmaholm
Hi and welcome
No need to worry about protecting your little guy as long as your tank is large enough and your substrate is deep enough. The hardest part is waiting! Since your crabs are new, the buried one is probably destressing - he may be down longer than usual. It can take anywhere from a month to 3-4 months; it's really hard to predict, unfortunately.
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=92527 That's our guide on molting. It has all kinds of great info and answers some frequently asked questions
Since you're new, if you haven't already I definitely recommend you check out our care guides. They can all be found here:
viewforum.php?f=51
Re: First time owner..molting advice please. :)
Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 2:34 pm
by Rawrgeous
Thank you so much! I figured that was the case but when I saw the cannibalistic talk I got worried! Lol my biggest nightmare would be them eating the lil guy!
Re: First time owner..molting advice please. :)
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 1:36 pm
by cartash86
After they molt do i need to leave the Exoskeleton in the tank? I really hope not, i removed it last night thinking it was him and he had died.
Re: First time owner..molting advice please. :)
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 1:46 pm
by AutumnHermie
Crabs lose almost all of their calcium while molting. They eat their Exo to get their calcium back.... so you would want to add extra calcium, like crushed cuttlebone, honey and other nutrient- rich foods. A lot of crabbbers have a cuttlebone in their tank at all times for extra-calcium.
Re: First time owner..molting advice please. :)
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 1:51 pm
by CallaLily
cartash86 wrote:After they molt do i need to leave the Exoskeleton in the tank? I really hope not, i removed it last night thinking it was him and he had died.
Yes, they need to eat their exo. If you don't have have it anymore you should offer things like cuttlebone, eggshells, shrimp with shell, crab with shell, crickets, mealworms, etc. Drizzling a little honey on it would be a good energy boost.