HCA: Hermit Crab Association

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?!

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

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!

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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