HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello Everyone,
Forming my question for this post has been hard and I have started at square one several times. I think Im personally having a PPS Attack.. I dont know if I have had a successful moult yet, although Im pleased to say that many of my crabs are on the surface now and seem to be doing great - and for a while it was eerily quiet. They are happy, climbing and out much more than they used to be (my large and first crab, a PP is out all day and night, he moves at night but is not afraid at all - he has been here since March, eats, looks at me, is very friendly, etc. this is the hairy crab mentioned in my other post).

I have purchased the crabs one or two at a time, depending on their need for me from the store tank window (yes, Im hooked) and I think I should have 13 in total, I have 9 regulars and they seem to be the same consistently, with not too much shell shuffle. I know I have another large down under as he had made a window for me, then he moved away from it - he was a pretty new purchase and was up and active for the first few days, then gone. (pps? yes?) I have another that I recently adopted (was a couple..the one crab was up and active, the other was apparently heading down for a moult and she said he was just hiding so when I moved him into the tat he looked weak, pale but was moving) I buried him gently and left him there, have not seen him in two weeks... and then there is another that has been gone for about 6 weeks - medium sized pp.


So, long story short (as all my posts tend to be, sorry) I have three missing (one mid moult tranfer, one big guy PPS maybe, and one MIA for six weeks).... I added more loose substrate to the top of the tank because I was worried that if the original (goosa the hairy pp) wanted or needed to moult, there may not be enough room or depth for him, my questions, if I am to try and form them.....

1. do you think I may have had a moult in this time and dont know it (march to now).
2. do you think my big guy is getting ready to go since he is hairy or is that a post moult thing?
3. what do you think I should do about the poor mid moult guy that is buried loosely but under new substrate? leave him or take him out to ISO (yes, should have iso'd him to begin with right?)
4. did I hurt them by adding more substrate to the top if they are down there and moulting? (I dont think it crushed the top level of the old?
5. Is it rediculous that I want to see a moult or have them SURVIVE a moult so bad that I am worried like this and I should just live and let live? My habitat seems to be really adjusted well, good temp/humidity, have only lost three crabs (two at the beginning and one not too long ago)....what is wrong with me??????

Thanks all for the advice and crab therapy - who knew it would be like this!!????????

Colene

I had been missing a crab or two here and there for a few days at a time, but not really longer than a week for any and thats too short to molt right?

Can someone give me a list of pre-molt and post symptoms or signs?

Do their colors change pre moult? Are their claws sharp post molt?
They do seem smaller post molt yes? Do they tend to need a new shell? how long before their colors change? is it the same for E's and PPS?

I have also only found a claw, but it was not hollow and thats one of the crabs mentioned that didnt make it - so where do you find this "exo-skeleten" and how do you really know thats what it is? does it smell fishy too?

Hi Colene! I hope I can be of some help.

1. do you think I may have had a moult in this time and dont know it (march to now).
Yes, absolutely.

2. do you think my big guy is getting ready to go since he is hairy or is that a post moult thing?
Hairy legs is a post-molt sign. However, the larger guys tend to look hairy all the time, likely because they're so much bigger making their hair more noticeable. Just the hair alone would not be a telltale sign of a molt. Now, if he has long pointy toenails along with the hairy legs, then it's possible he's molted.

3. what do you think I should do about the poor mid moult guy that is buried loosely but under new substrate? leave him or take him out to ISO (yes, should have iso'd him to begin with right?)
I strongly urge you to leave him be. Personally, I don't remove any of my hermies for molts, though it's certainly a matter of choice. I've just found that they do well on their own in their normal crabitat. Regardless what you practice, though, if he's mid-molt, I definitely would not touch him.

4. did I hurt them by adding more substrate to the top if they are down there and moulting? (I dont think it crushed the top level of the old?
This one I'm not sure about. I've added more EE to the top, too, but I've yet to see my molters, so I don't know if I've caused any damage by doing this. However, one's a large and the other's a jumbo, both of which take much longer to molt. Only time will tell.

5. Is it rediculous that I want to see a moult or have them SURVIVE a moult so bad that I am worried like this and I should just live and let live? My habitat seems to be really adjusted well, good temp/humidity, have only lost three crabs (two at the beginning and one not too long ago)....what is wrong with me??????
I was the same way in the beginning. All it took for me was to see my first two crabs who'd disappeared for weeks resurface with undeniable post-molt signs, and I think once that happens to you, you'll feel more confident and relaxed

Now I have to really look to see who it could have been. The big guy does have pointy nails, but he has the entire time. I reallllllly appreciate your time to comment on my questions, this is why I love everyone on here!!! It helps to hear from those in the "know!"!!! Colene