Made a mistake with molting crab

[wrswrs2]

I accidentally dug up a my crab Santiago while he was molting! He has been down over a month so when I dug him up I thought it was no big deal, but I was wrong! I found exoskeleton all over and he's been laying out of his shell for almost 24 hrs now! He did rotate sides, but he looks bad! IDk what to do - he's my favorite and I don't want him to die! I should've just reburied him. What should I do for him? I put the exoskeleton by him if that helps.



I had a fruit fly infestation and was changing out the substrate, but I thought I knew where he was. I saw him under the water dish shortly after he went down, so I thought he was still there and that it was safe to change out the rest of the substrate! I know I should've waited, but it was getting bad in there with the flies!

[curlysister]

Do not re-bury him. He needs to be put in isolation now, so the other crabs can not get to him. You can use a clean empty margarine container with holes punched in the top, or a 2L pop bottle cut down, and put it in the tank - that way, the temp and humidity are the same, but he is protected. He will need both dechlor fresh and marine salt water, as well as his exo and a source of protein (many people give organic natural peanut butter and honey).

[wodesorel]

Pile the exo underneath him, and pose him so he's in a normal sitting position over top. Usually after molting they are so weak they cannot move to reach their exo. Cover over with something solid to recreate a dark cave. I don't mess with other foods as they will rot and mold if left alone, and he needs to be hands off for at least a week.

[curlysister]

Thank you for the correction, Wode! I thought that they always needed those other things in the iso with them, but it makes sense that all he needs is his exo at that stage in the molt.

[wrswrs2]

Thanks for the answers!
I just leave him covered for a week? I shouldn't check on him?

[PinchersAndShells]

Just leave him be, he will be fine and will have the ability to dig himself out when he's ready.

[wrswrs2]

I haven’t smelled anything but I think he is dead. I looked through a small hole in thecup at him and his eyes are down and he is still hanging out of the shell and hasn’t moved.