HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Captain Hook & Claude are my biggest crabs and they've been down for the longest. I can't even remember how long since it's been so long.... probably almost 2 months now!
Gizmo, Baby and Beans have been down there now for almost a month I'm thinking.
Everyday I am so tempted to just dig... On one hand I know if they are molting I am not to disturb them what so ever... but stilllll this is killing me!
I want to see them! They haven't come up to eat or drink so I'm wondering about them.... I just dont know how much longer I should wait... I dont wanna wait forever and then find them dead one day..... What should I do?! How much longer should I wait!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

leave it alone and wait for two things: a brand new crab or a fishy odor

if they are buried will i still smell the odor?

Nina wrote:if they are buried will i still smell the odor?

that's quite the question, in my experience, when they are burried and start to decomp(sorry to say hope it doesn;t happen) they emit a smelly liquid that in turn emits a gas, it either reaches the surface you will smell something, ususally you do, but sometimes you won't just wait for either a smell or no signs of re digging.

I wouldn't dig. Maybe get a couple new guys and see what happens.

If I do a decent surface clean, my "diggers not molters" tend to come up.

Try to wait. I just had two come up and I am really glad I waited...all pointy limbs, great color and hardened up. Worth the wait.

what is your definition of a decent surface clean? i am willing to try anything at this point. i will hold off on digging.... but i still feel like i need to do something other than sit and wait!

thanks for all the feedback!

Hi Nina,
I know just how you feel! I've got one that is "dug in" now for over 5 weeks. It's driving me nuts too. I have three others who seem to want to dig around where the other one is molting. They've not broken through but still I worry. I usually keep pushing the sand back over where the other crabs have started to dig.

It's nerve wracking isn't it?.....

Keep us posted. I'd love to hear how long you go before you crumble. Kind of like "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?"

I take out all the food and water bowls, clean them. Take out all the wood pieces, check for mold, wash, soak in salt water and bake, then I will soak them in salt water again. Remove the plants, rinse and soak in salt water. I scrape off the top layer of sand slightly and smooth it down. I place the stuff back in the tank in different places. If they aren't molting, they usually come up to check it out. The added moisture on the plants and wood helps too. It sounds like a lot but I get one bucket of salt water for my "dipping" and it's pretty quick. Hope that helps! Keep us updated.

i know how hard it is not to dig, and i am guilty of disterbing all underground molters so far they were ok, but they could have been better. this time i have 2 molters, and i am determined not to touch them.

Ahh I hated waiting too; but don't worry, they'll come up sooner or later.

athenaslantern wrote: I place the stuff back in the tank in different places. If they aren't molting, they usually come up to check it out. The added moisture on the plants and wood helps too. It sounds like a lot but I get one bucket of salt water for my "dipping" and it's pretty quick. Hope that helps! Keep us updated.

^
I am going to try that tonight!

Thank you to everyone for your feedback... and I have great great news!!! Beans came up!!! whooo whoooo!!! He was down for about a month... I saw his shell by the food dish this morning @ 9:30 when I strolled in for work. I'm so happy! I missed his lil' eyes!!!!!!! This is definitely my first successful molt and I am thrilled. His lil' furry legs are so cute and his antennas are going a mile a minute! yaya!!!

I will try to get a pic up ASAP!

YAY!!! See...isn't it worth it?? Glad you waited. Send pix when you can. Regardless - good for you and the crabbies!

A

Happy, happy, joy joy!!

I'm so happy that everything turned out alright. Patience is good!