Crabs returning to same old shell after molt?
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:25 am
Hi friends, I'm new here and this is my first time posting so I hope someone can inform me! I have 2 crabs that my kids gave me for my birthday a couple months ago. I knew nothing about crabs or crab care but I really love them and am doing my best to learn and give them the right conditions, food and so on. My question, is it normal for crabs to go back to the same shell after molting? From what I had read, I thought they were supposed to move to a larger shell. 
My smaller crab, Jabby, has a shell only about an inch across and in the time I've had him he has only been above the sand a few days. I did discover he molted, only because I saw an area that had some of his old exoskeleton on it and he had buried himself under a nearby piece of wood. Since coming out a couple days ago, I see he is in his same old shell.
My other crab, Crabbie, is quite large, shell about 3.5" (opening maybe 2"). He has spent almost all his time above the sand and moved around regularly until about 4 weeks ago. He tunneled down under a different piece of wood and I figured he was going to molt. I haven't bothered or done anything to him except today, I lifted the wood because I worried he might be dead after so long. It looked like he did indeed molt, and tried to put himself back in his old shell???
Can anyone tell me why my crabs would be returning to their same shells? Will Crabbie switch into a different shell once he emerges from his molting hole? There are a few of different sizes I provided. This has been a huge learning experience for me. Thank you to any responders!
My smaller crab, Jabby, has a shell only about an inch across and in the time I've had him he has only been above the sand a few days. I did discover he molted, only because I saw an area that had some of his old exoskeleton on it and he had buried himself under a nearby piece of wood. Since coming out a couple days ago, I see he is in his same old shell.
My other crab, Crabbie, is quite large, shell about 3.5" (opening maybe 2"). He has spent almost all his time above the sand and moved around regularly until about 4 weeks ago. He tunneled down under a different piece of wood and I figured he was going to molt. I haven't bothered or done anything to him except today, I lifted the wood because I worried he might be dead after so long. It looked like he did indeed molt, and tried to put himself back in his old shell???
Can anyone tell me why my crabs would be returning to their same shells? Will Crabbie switch into a different shell once he emerges from his molting hole? There are a few of different sizes I provided. This has been a huge learning experience for me. Thank you to any responders!