Molt in their shell?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:52 pm

I have one I think is molting on the surface. He was walking around yesterday then I find him on his side hanging out of his shell...pick it up and the shell falls apart. He is not smelly and his limbs are hallow. I tried to look up into the shell but can not tell if he is infact there. Not all of his body fell out so I put him in another tank that has a molter under the sand.(this molter that is down has been down for 7 weeks, came up two days ago and is now down again!)

My question is: Do they become super light and go so far into their shell you can hardly tell they are there? Or do they leave the shell and go dig down? I am thinking he could not have left his shell and leave his exo in perfect form sticking out of the shell, could he? Like I said, he does not smell.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:02 pm

It sounds like he is in there, but just small and freshly molted. Be sure to keep his exo with him. So he can eat it. Keep conditions at high humidity, and good heat. And Keep it dark. Don't check on him often. Good luck!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:57 pm

Thanks! I got these three a few months ago from someone who had a great set up but not the best conditions. The sand was less than 1/4 inch so there was no molting going on. Now it seems they all want to molt! I will be so hard to not check the guy but I will mist around him and he has an UTH so he should be fine.

I just hope my molter that is under does not come up and bother my new molter. These guys can just scare the heck out of ya huh? LOL

bksbuddha · Post by **bksbuddha** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:56 pm

[smilie=cheer.gif] Congrats on the molt!

Agree w/Cheyenne. He's probably so far back ya can't see him...sneaky little buggers, ain't they? Just be sure not to get him wet. Several here have thought it was an empty shell...luckily realized it was occupied in time.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:27 am

There have been many a crab that has been tossed into the garbage, because their owner mistook their exo for dead crab. Meanwhile, the true crab was tucked back tightly in the shell. Since the pieces you found are hollow, that means they are exo. You stated that there was no dead crab smell, but could you make out an almost medicinal/chemical smell instead? That is the smell of a molting/freshly molted crab.

Even though you still aren't sure that there is a crab in the shell, ou did the right thing by placing him in ISO. (Hopefully he IS in that shell.) There, he can eat his exo in privacy, without the risk of being attacked by another crab. Great job!!! [smilie=clap.gif]

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 9:09 am

The only thing I can really smell is a very faint brine smell...like the ocean I guess. He must still be in his shell. I placed him on his side with his exo facing to the left, this morning his shell is standing upright(enterance facing sand) and his exo is behind him. The other three crabs are under so I know no one moved him so hopefully he moved himself?

bksbuddha · Post by **bksbuddha** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:56 am

Yeah, they're sneak little buggers to be sure.

My teenies always go into a betta bowl (the ones that bettas come in-larger, not the cups) w/the lid on securely w/their exo. When they finish the exo & are moving around normally, I put them back in the tat.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:35 am

Don't get him wet? I misted the tank before I read your post! Should I not mist either?

Before I misted the tank I was watching and I saw a little part of his body sink back into his shell once he saw me over the tank! So I know he is there! Makes me very happy!

bksbuddha · Post by **bksbuddha** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:51 am

Don't place him in the water dish. I don't mist them directly, especially if their shell happens to be upside down. That's what I meant.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:35 pm

okay, thank you!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:40 pm

Have you noticed tiny little bits of the exo being chewed up?

With some of my crabs, I have to put the shell near my ear and I can hear them scooching back in the shell; ever so faintly. But to the eye, you can't see them. Nice little defense isn't it?

He should be eating that exo pretty soon!

Congrats.

How's the substrate in your tank? Just curious about that surface molt.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:26 pm

He is eating the exo...I have not picked him up since putting him in the iso tank...not so much an iso tank with 2 other molters in it! LOL

Both my tanks have sand...one play sand, the other calci sand. Both 5 to 6" deep and semi damp...sand castle consistancy.(this site has truely taught me a lot!) I am thinking he did a surface molt because there was a new crab put in the tat and I think he was a bit scared! The new crab is twice his size and while they never go near each other I think the size of the new one just scared him?

I really do not know...he stared to dig then went and hid behind the jungle mat then I just found him on his side looking dead! Not dead, just molting thank goodness! I do have a tiny that is surface molting too...I am wondering if it could be because they were never given more than inch of sand before? Only one of the three that were together dug down to molt. They are funny little things!