HCA: Hermit Crab Association

My crab Frog (PP) molted a few weeks ago, two days ago I cleaned the tank and added some new climbing flowers a new toy I bought in Etsy! He immediately ran into his hut, and starting digging! He covered the opening with sand, and idk if he is underground or not! Is he motling, again? He's been in there for two days! I'm worried because why so soon? My other crab, Bug is hiding behind his shipwreck barrel hide, and chilling, but has came out to eat, I think she is preparing for a molt! Bug has yet to molt with me. Crab molted while I was gone on a trip, at least I think? I came back from my trip and he moved shells and appears bigger, am I imagining it? His old shell was much to small for him, it is possible that I am just seeing things, and this is his first molt with me. But can crabs actually molt that soon after molting? Should I be worried, should I lift up the hide and see if he is laying in the sand, or if he has burrowed under it? Looking for molting advice! Their tank has about 6 inches of sub btw, so he has room to dig!

I just took a small peak at him, and his body is fully in the sand, but most his shell is sticking out? Could he be molting? I was very gentle when moving the hide up, and I only moved it a little bit, just wanted to make sure he was ok.

Hy KyMart! We already met on Etsy
To answer your questions:
1. How long was your trip/ It's possible that the change of shells made him appear bigger. Molting can take weeks or even months.
2. Crabs don't usually molt right after they molt. It can be common for them to dig down anyways, not to molt but for whatever crabby reason they have.
3. Do not keep touching or shifting the hide around your crab. Does it smell fishy?

My trip was 4 days, so it's very doubtful that he has already molted. He changed shells 3 times when I came home, which could have just been him getting comfortable? Idk. As I said before he has been in there for two days now, so I think he is molting, maybe? The sand Infront of the hide has not moved, and it only has one way out. I don't plan on it, I was just making sure he wasn't out of his shell dying or something, my anxiety about my crabs is always bad. No new, weird, or fishy smells. How long do you think it will take him to molt?

Okay. From what you can remember, what is happening in the hide? Is he out of his shell? Is he moving? What do you remember? I encourage you to not move the hide, see if you can go off of memory.

He is in his shell, the end of his shell (where he would come out of) is in the sand, his shell is sticking out of the sand. His is still, but doesn't smell, so I think he is just molting?

The side of his shell is facing the sand, his body is definitely under the sand in some way. He is in the back right corner of the side, surrounded by the sand he dug up from his hole.

They can be uner for months at a time, but the actual molting part of molting is generally only a few hours. They also do not only go down to molt and could just be destressing since they are new. even after they have destressed they sometimes like to dig for fun/excercise

Molting anxiety is so real and so relatable, but unfortunately as crab keepers we have to fight the instinct to check or we can in actuality just make everything worse for our crabbies. Its an instinct crabbers of many years still sometimes have to fight ( if you really think you might need to dig up a crab, just ask first! We all get that fear so any of us who are able to will be happy to help before you actually get to digging

myllkti wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:18 pm

They can be uner for months at a time, but the actual molting part of molting is generally only a few hours. They also do not only go down to molt and could just be destressing since they are new. even after they have destressed they sometimes like to dig for fun/excercise

Molting anxiety is so real and so relatable, but unfortunately as crab keepers we have to fight the instinct to check or we can in actuality just make everything worse for our crabbies. Its an instinct crabbers of many years still sometimes have to fight ( if you really think you might need to dig up a crab, just ask first! We all get that fear so any of us who are able to will be happy to help before you actually get to digging

Thank you for being so understanding! He's just my baby, they both are, and it worries me! He's been in there for a little over 3 days, he should be fine, and when he comes out he will have a lot of new stuff! I have 3 different sizes of this cube that popcorns goes in for them to pick at, ingredients for a food mix I am making them, and a new food dish on the way! I also am going to get them a hamster saucer and new after dishes, as well as some instant ocean. I hope he likes the new stuff when he comes out! I'm just worried bc I wanted to remove this painted hide, and he ofc is under it now. I don't think it should hurt him that badly, but still worried..

You def can take it out! It'd be best to replace it with for example a soda bottle with the bottom cut off so that there isn't an entrance for your other crabby to bother him! It'll also make observation a tad easier and once you see he has finished most of his exoskeleton (if he is indeed molting) you can dip him in the freshwater real quick and let him back out to play!

And no problem! Had a crab come up recently myself so the feeling of molt anxiety is fresh in my mind XD

myllkti wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:58 pm

You def can take it out! It'd be best to replace it with for example a soda bottle with the bottom cut off so that there isn't an entrance for your other crabby to bother him! It'll also make observation a tad easier and once you see he has finished most of his exoskeleton (if he is indeed molting) you can dip him in the freshwater real quick and let him back out to play!

And no problem! Had a crab come up recently myself so the feeling of molt anxiety is fresh in my mind XD

He is partially under the sand and I don't want to cause movement in the sand around him, I am worried that will stress him out, will it?

Update!
He came back up after 5 days, and now is investigating a shell? I don't know if he molted, could he have in such a short time? He looks sharper, but I don't know about brighter, will he regain color after he eats or should he already have it? I have a camrea set up right now to catch him changing shells if he does, I have left the room to give him privacy tho. I hope he is doing well, he seems healthy and happy, just a little pale, only concern!

Omg Bug is looking at another smaller shell (more her size), right next to Frog while he looks at his. Will this cause issues? Should I remove one? I don't want to disturb them!

My camrea ran out of storage and my backup is dead No crabby shell changing videos this time ig..

Got it working, but for how long? Hopefully long enough!