HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi, everyone. I'm new to this and adopted a PP (Coconut) from Petco yesterday. He is missing his 2 left legs and I noticed today that he has little gel buds where his legs are missing. Is this a sure sign that a molt is coming? How much time do I have? My ISO is currently occupied with a badly injured and soon-to-be-dead crab. Should I be setting up a makeshift ISO? How do I know when it's time to move him? HELP!!!

Hi!
I haven't been on here for long, but I actually saw a few people post that they don't even ISO their molters. As a matter of fact, it seems about 50/50. I have 3 under in the same tank, so I guess time will tell.

I don't ISO my molters. It is my belief that transferring crabs that are pre-molt to a new tank, disrupts the process & stresses them out. If your substrate is deep enough, you should have no trouble keeping him in the main tank.

Yes, there is always a risk that they might be disturbed by another digging crab, but I have found that this rarely occurs. To me, it isn't worth the risk of stressing the crab by moving him.

Regarding the gel buds, crabs can carry them for some time before they acctually molt. Once the gel bud starts to drop away from the body & almost dangle, then a molt is very near (usually within a week they will dig down once this occurs.)

Good luck with your upcoming molt! The first one is always the hardest!

*Kathy* wrote:I don't ISO my molters. It is my belief that transferring crabs that are pre-molt to a new tank, disrupts the process & stresses them out. If your substrate is deep enough, you should have no trouble keeping him in the main tank.

Yes, there is always a risk that they might be disturbed by another digging crab, but I have found that this rarely occurs. To me, it isn't worth the risk of stressing the crab by moving him

I totally agree with Kathy on this one, if you have enough substrate in your tat they'll be fine, they don't get isolated for molting in the wild, atleast thats how I see it, so I'm sure moving them around could very well stress them out and delay/disrupt the molt. :smt028

he may not molt for a few months yet. ive just had two molts in a row, and then i moved them to ISO to prevent attack (mine surface molted).
and my jumbo, thunder, also has a gel limb. but his is kind off odd, i can see the mini leg in a clear bubble? id get a pic but he never lets me take photos for long.

He's under! I'm sure he's just de-stressing, but maybe he'll come back up with new legs! I can hear him burrowing around under the sand - it's so cute!

Best of luck to you and your crab!