Newbie crab owner: I think i messed up a molt

[FluffyKev]

So I had five small crabs living in a little 10 gallon tank, and I quickly learned they i had them in less than ideal conditions. Between the tank size and the fact that i used only play sand as a substrate. My temp and humidity were fine, I had both water pools, and fed them a variety of foods.
I live in a really small town and only make rare trips to the nearby city but was able to convince a friend to make the trip yesterday so I could get what I needed to get to make their lives better. Three of my crabs are under right now so I am assuming they are molting and I figured in would just move the ones that are not under and move the rest as they came back up.
Anyway, i went about getting the new tank set up and had to move the small one out of the way. I didnt exactly drop it, but it also wasn't a very graceful move. I'm worried that I may have collapsed their tunnels since it was just plain play sand. I cannot see any of the crabs nor can I see where they entered. The two crabs in the new tank are doing fine, but i feel concerned about the other three. If the tunnels did collapse is it basically guaranteed they wont make it? Is there anything I should do or check for?

[wodesorel]

I've had tanks with just playsand for the last ten years. My husband even had to move a tankful of molters to a warmer room once, when our furnace was replaced in the middle of winter. Sand is an excellent holder of tunnels! I've found it to much sturdier than any mix.

[crabbycasey]

Wondering...was your playsand sub mixed with dechlorinated water for a sandcastle-like consistency?


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[wodesorel]

I use dechlorinated saltwater for the initial mix, but yes, all substrate must be moistened until it will hold its shape!

[crabbycasey]

I use dechlorinated saltwater for the initial mix, but yes, all substrate must be moistened until it will hold its shape!

Sorry Wode if you thought my reply was for you! I was wondering if the original poster had done so...

If not, would a true tunnel even form in the first place?


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[FluffyKev]

Yes, I did mix it with water until sandcastle consistency. I noticed that the very top layer would dry out sometimes but the rest seemed fine. I removed a couple pieces of cholla wood today and the holes that they made did hold up

[crabbycasey]

That’s great news...have faith the tunnels held too then!


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[Crabby7Crabber]

I've noticed, just as a note, you need to add A LOT of water when first mixing the sub for it to stay. A few months back I changed out some and a week later it was dry, similar to Fluffy. Some people's hermies thrive with just dry sub (coconut fibre), as far as I've seen, but I'd recommend making it sand-castle like so they can burrow

[FluffyKev]

So, update. I have been leaving the smaller tank alone for the most part. Just replacing the food and water. Today I noticed some mold in a couple spots so I scooped it out with a plastic spoon and where I scooped completely collapsed as though the sand were bone dry. I poked around in a couple other spots and it seemed to hold its shape though

[crabbycasey]

Just tryin to think like a crab here...even if there are drier spots in the sub, you’d think he would find the spot where his tunnel would hold, right? So have faith in him that he got away from the dry/loose stuff and found a spot with the perfect consistency for his molt hole where it would hold shape for him !


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