First Time Dealing With Molting; Questions!
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 12:22 am
Hi! I'm new to hermit crab care (I've had mine about two months) and I'm dealing with my first hermit crab molt. I have two that I just call the little guy and big guy due to their significant size difference and it's easy to tell them apart as they've never switched their shells since I got them although I've provided an abundant amount. Into my problem- my little guy seems to be having his first molt in my crabitat.
I'm worried about him as I was in the habitat the other day cleaning dirt out of shells as to try and make them more accessible for him once he was done with his molt and I found that a very large shell that my crabs have put next to the saltwater bowl had some resistance when I went to pick it up so I instantly stopped, as I think my little crab may be molting in there as at this point I haven't seen him on the surface in a bit over a week, and I thought I saw his legs poking out. for reference id say he's a bit bigger than a quarter and this shell is about golf ball-sized. is it healthy for him to be molting in there? i didn't realize he was in there, I thought he was underneath his saltwater dish as I accidentally uncovered him under there a week ago, so I have not stopped my big crab from just walking over there (he isn't a digger and he lost his fighting claw before I got him so I haven't been too worried as I did not know that you should separate molting crabs).
On top of all of this I have heard chirping coming from the crabitat at night, which I have never heard before little guy started to molt! im worried that its a sign that my bigger crab is messing with my molting crab (such as climbing on the shell he's possibly molting in) or that my bigger crab is lonely or agitated (he has not been as active since my small one went to molt). Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do? i know now I should have separated my little one as soon as he began digging around and showing signs of molting but unfortunately I did not know that until it was too late. Any advice would be extremely appreciated, as well as any responses that might help me answer my questions. Thanks!
I'm worried about him as I was in the habitat the other day cleaning dirt out of shells as to try and make them more accessible for him once he was done with his molt and I found that a very large shell that my crabs have put next to the saltwater bowl had some resistance when I went to pick it up so I instantly stopped, as I think my little crab may be molting in there as at this point I haven't seen him on the surface in a bit over a week, and I thought I saw his legs poking out. for reference id say he's a bit bigger than a quarter and this shell is about golf ball-sized. is it healthy for him to be molting in there? i didn't realize he was in there, I thought he was underneath his saltwater dish as I accidentally uncovered him under there a week ago, so I have not stopped my big crab from just walking over there (he isn't a digger and he lost his fighting claw before I got him so I haven't been too worried as I did not know that you should separate molting crabs).
On top of all of this I have heard chirping coming from the crabitat at night, which I have never heard before little guy started to molt! im worried that its a sign that my bigger crab is messing with my molting crab (such as climbing on the shell he's possibly molting in) or that my bigger crab is lonely or agitated (he has not been as active since my small one went to molt). Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do? i know now I should have separated my little one as soon as he began digging around and showing signs of molting but unfortunately I did not know that until it was too late. Any advice would be extremely appreciated, as well as any responses that might help me answer my questions. Thanks!