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Do crabs always leave shell to molt?
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 3:51 pm
by Guest
Can a crab shed thier exo without leaving the shell, or do they always have to leave and then return? I have had some crabs that could not enter the shell because sand had packed in the shell opening. The sand was kept moist but larger crabs walking over the top may have caused a partial "cave in" in thier tunnel. Any thoughts? Deeper substrate?
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:10 pm
by DustAndEchoes
if the molt is going as it should, they stay in the shell (usually), because it offers protection while their new exo is hardening.
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:43 pm
by Guest
There isn't a relation between shell changing and molting. They molt in the shell, then may or may not change shells afterwards.
Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:49 pm
by Guest
Actually, I have noticed a relation between shell-changing and molting. My crabs, before they molt, seem to go through a huge indecisive shell-switching frenzy. Then they bury themselves and molt.
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:00 pm
by Guest
How funny, my crab Oliver who went below a few days ago, was changing shells every day. Always between the same two, he'd just go back and forth.
