HCA: Hermit Crab Association

My crabs aren't surviving their molts.
What can i do to ensure that i get a good molt?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
I have everything perfect except for the molts.

Please help me.
Kristy

A constant source of calcium, either cuttlebone scraped over their food, or a chunk of it in their tank

Good saltwater, since that is how their bodies create the chemical/physical reaction to burst their exo (the NaCl, that is)

A varied diet with proteins and all vitamins. Meats, shrimp, fruits, some vegies.

I do all of that.
Could my sand be too moist?
Could it be too heavy on them when they shed?
Should i make an underground tunnel?


TIA

Your sand should be moist enough that is sticks together (sand castle consistancy) but not so wet that water pools at the bottom of your tank. Make sure you have good humidity (the closer to 80%, the better) and temp. Other than that, all you can do is wait.

My sand is sandcastle consistency so it mustn't be that. My tank has a high humidity more often than not.
Do people lose crabs in molts or is it just me?

I've only had one bad molt; I had just gotten the crab in question, and it went down to destress but never came back up. I dug, and found it half-molted, dead. So ruled that as PPS, and moved on. Have had 3 good molts with my new set-up, and no bad molts since I re-started crabbing

I've only had one bad molt; I had just gotten the crab in question, and it went down to destress but never came back up. I dug, and found it half-molted, dead. So ruled that as PPS, and moved on. Have had 3 good molts with my new set-up, and no bad molts since I re-started crabbing

Perhaps it's not your doing. Molting is something we have no control over. It's all up to them. The best we can do is provide the best possible care, supply all of their needs, & pray that all comes out well in the end. If you're just getting the crabs & they're going down to molt, they could've put it off for too long. It could be that the ones you're getting are just too stressed by their ordeal. So don't lose hope. Keep up the good work & make their lives happy, comfortable, & as natural as you can. One day you will be rewarded w/a shiny, fuzzy, new little crab! [smilie=cloud9.gif]

Thanks for the replies
I thought i was doing all that i could for them but when they kept dieing from molting i started to question myself. But the place where i rescue them from isn't very well set up. The gravel they have as base is solid so no digging. So that could be the problem i guess.

At least now i can move on and know its not my fault. I've tried to do everything perfect for them.

Thanks again