nervous about main tank molting and tank size

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:04 am

So...I know the trend these days is substrate deep enough that the crabs can bury and molt in the main tank without having to be put into an iso tank. I like the idea but it makes me nervous. I have plenty of substrate depth, but my tank isn't huge, it's a standard 20 gallon. Is in-tank molting only a possibility for large tanks or can it work in smaller tank like mine? There's a pic of my tank in my signature if that helps any.

Post by **Lady WolfStorm** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 7:07 pm

My thoughts, after looking at the crabitat picture:

4 PPs in a 20 gallon -- sounds like you have enough room. But looking at the 'tat, it looks like you have about 1/2 gravel/rocks and 1/2 actual substrate. This cuts the molting room down by 1/2.

If this is the case, you may find if all four of your crabs decide to molt, it may get crowded underneath, or a crab pulls a surface molt.

I like your decorations though.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:05 pm

There's about 1/4 gravel for the water dishes and then the cave, which is full of substrate but not enough to molt in. I made big water dishes and now wish I had more substrate space. I keep being tempted to take out the cave but the crabs adore it, they spend a lot of time in there. I don't think they would forgive me. I'm just worried about someone getting dug up since I haven't tried molting in anything but an iso before. Maybe I just need to upgrade to a bigger tank to make it all work.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 5:15 am

I just love your tat, so pretty! You could give it a try in your main and see how it goes.
I recently adopted 3 crabs from a young man who brought his 10 gallon tank with the crabs in it to me, as one was still down molting. Looked like it had maybe 3 inches of EE in it, and it even had a divider in it with a pond, so there wasn't full substrate space. He said that another one had just completed it's molt. Everything went well!
I know your worried about changing from your routine of things, that can be hard to do! You've had your crabs for quite awhile I believe, and they are familiar with each other and settled into their conditions, they will probably be just fine. I would leave everything the way it is and let them molt.
I have a 55 gallon with 10 in. substrate, and mine usually all go down in the same location anyway, right next to each other to molt (3 at the moment with a 4th on it's way down there now), I 'm always so afraid they are going to dig each other up, but so far I've had many molts like this and no problems...knock on wood!

Gab33 · Post by **Gab33** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:29 am

i love your tank but im not sure if there is enough digging room.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 6:00 pm

Of course it depends on the size of your crabs. But a 20 g should be fine. For a while I had 14 (now down to 11) crabs in a 29l. Many moults and no problems with not enough room to moult.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:31 pm

Well, I think I'll try it and see how it goes.

You're totally right Okie, that it makes me nervous because it's new. I've had many, many successful molts by moving crabs into iso but the bigger they get, the harder that becomes.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:41 pm

Good Luck! Please let us know how it all works out!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:12 pm

Hi everyone, I know I'm reviving an old post but I wanted to update you after enough time to test things out. If anyone else has a tank like mine feel free to drop isolating.

I've been doing main-tank molts in that tank for the past year and they've all been 100% fine (5 or 6 molts, I think). What a relief to not constantly be looking for pre-molt signs, maintaining separate iso tanks, etc. If anything, I've had less molting problems, not more. Thanks for everyone's advice on this, I really value the way this community helps me out.

hermiegirl · Post by **hermiegirl** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:57 am

Glad to hear it's better for all involved. I actually did main tank molts in my 10g which just housed teenies and smalls, so the substrate wasn't as deep. But I think in general the less changing of environment, the better the crabs will be. BTW, did you ever upgrade your tank? lol

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:04 am

I'm sticking with the tank for now. I only have 4 crabs small/medium in there, no plans to add more, and the size is working well for them. It will get bigger as they do

Big MaC · Post by **Big MaC** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:57 am

Your tank looks awsome

It is so good knowing that Lary will survive a molt in the main tank. I am personally scared to death that Lary will have some probblems with his 1st molt with me, It is kinda annoying to waiting for him to come up, I only have a 29gallon tank for 2 mediums and 1 small/tiny haha I hope he has a little better colouring and a bigger exo. haha

Mr.Krabs · Post by **Mr.Krabs** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:17 am

Glad all your molts are going well

I tried to ISO molt one crab but it never worked. all my molts have been in the main tank.

great tank BTW

Crab Addict · Post by **Crab Addict** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:01 pm

I have a slightly crowded 20g and have had numerous successful molting in the main tank.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:48 pm

Laura, I'm so glad to hear that the main tank molts are going great, thanks for letting us know!