HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I was just wondering what their chances of survival are while they're molting. are most of them successful? can you all tell that im super concerned? LOL. going through my first molt, both of them at the same time, and i wish I knew they were going to be okay.

The only moulting deaths I have had are from other hermies eating the moulters. But then again, I own variabilis.... :roll:

As long as your substrate is deep and moist, the crabs are healthy and they aren't disturbed, they should be fine. This is a normal thing for them. Stressful, but normal. They've done it numerous times and they know what they're doing. Just give them the best possible nutrition when they come up and make sure you are misting the substrate to keep it moist. (Don't soak it, though! lol)

i havent really had any bad molts. i used to, when i gave them commercial food. now that i have switched to an all natural diet and kibbles made by members, as well as adding more substarte and making it moist, i have had to trouble at all. i am sure your crabs are fine.

The surviving rate of hermit crabs during molting is usually fairly high because it is a natural process. The best way to go about having a successful molt is to have an environment as natural to the crab as the wild is.

For instance, humidity and temperature should be at the correct levels (80F, 80%) and the sand or other substrate should be moist enough for them to make a small hole.

Food is also fairly important and a diet high in all of the correct nutrients definitely aids in good molts. Many people have theorized that oils help a crab molt, but I'm not sure it has been proven.

As long as the crab is not disturbed, it should be fine. However, sometimes things go wrong and it doesn't work out. Your best chances of good molting is to just keep your crabs healthy.

Molts are so nerve-wracking. Unfortunately I think there are a combination of factors involved like the kind of setup you have and how stressed your crabs are -- and the species of crab, too. I've had the best success when I've actually had the crabs for a while before they decided to molt. I think they've had more time to destress, build up resources, and haven't been delaying molts for as long. Apparently, the longer they have to delay a molt because of unfavorable conditions, the more the molt-preventing hormone builds up in their bodies and becomes toxic.

Still, I've had quite a few newbies molt successfully . My biggest problem has been with Rugs from Petco where I've had a 50% mortality rate, and only one that went straight down to molt survived .

Ya do the best you can and keep your fingers crossed -- it's definitely a stressful time -- but it will probably be fine, and they're so cute and fuzzy when they come back .

Well, it's just a matter of how good your crabitat is. My Straw molter has a bended leg after a molt and I heard a few stories with the same thing. I have a lot of Straw death due to molting. So I guess the Straw's molting succesful rate is around 65%....

I def. agree with the above statements that it is stressful....I am in the middle of a mass molt and about half of them have come back up successfully. Still waiting on the others...stress all the way! [smilie=tearhair1.gif]
I have had 30+ successful molts and only 2 of those have gone bad because they were surface molts gone bad. So I'd say if your conditions are good, you have nothing to worry about.....although you'll still worry. We all do :roll:

stephaniecrabbylover wrote:Well, it's just a matter of how good your crabitat is. My Straw molter has a bended leg after a molt and I heard a few stories with the same thing. I have a lot of Straw death due to molting. So I guess the Straw's molting succesful rate is around 65%....

Not to stick my nose where it does not belong, but I feel this is inaccurate. I remember from some of your recent posts that I replied to that you went for some time without providing salt water and that it's presence in your tank is a new development. I feel this is the issue more than a general survival rate. Crabs use hydrostatic pressure to split their old exoskeleton. They do this by both the uptake of salt water as well as an increase in blood pressure. If they are left to rely solely on the use of blood pressure, they are missing a vital part of their molting needs. This is especially worse for Straws as they have even higher salinity needs than those of other species. I feel this is most likely the cause of your high molting mortality rate as opposed to the crabs themselves.

They should be fine as long as you've been treating them correctly. Good luck with the molters.

Yeah, I think it is more stressful for the humans!

I've had about 10 molts so far and have only lost my 1st straw due to a molt.....

OMG!! last night the molter that went down a month ago just popped back up!! he's furry, has a nice color, and has those little black toenails you were all talking about! I had a very empty tat, because the other one went down, and then I peeked in and saw the first one, TWICE the size of when he went down, and in a different shell! I am so happy!!! YAY!

He's all over the rank, SO active, I even watched him climb the tank, right to the top where the edges come together. unbelievable!

I am concerned that his shell is too large for him, he picked the biggest one in the tank. (theres about 20 in there) it seems so huge on him though. should I be worried??

I wouldn't be particularly worried if I were you. My PP Pain likes his clothes very loose... See for yourself:



Congrats on the successful molt. Sounds like it was a beautiful one... Which means pics are in order! ~*hint hint... nudge nudge*~ lol

I agree with the above...