Molter maybe have been eaten/disturbed

[Emmystar]

What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
3/4 sand 1/4 EE ~5.5 inches deep.
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
Humidity and temperature gauges Temp reads 75-85! And humidity is 80-90%
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heater on side all the time, lights during the day.
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
Fresh water and saltwater, too fin decolonization and marine salt
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Pellets, blood worms, and fresh fruit every three days
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
4.5 years two purple pinchers
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
One is currently molting and the other molted about a month and a half ago
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20 gallon tank, screen lid
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Two crabs and I think they are medium
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Five or more
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Sifting of sand once a week, half substrate change monthly
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
A new hide
15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
N/a
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

Hi all,

I have had two crabs together for about four and a half years. I usually separate them when one is down but this time they took a backseat to other events occurring in my life. One morning I found Loki my nonmolter coming up completely covered in sand right from where my molter is. This was on Monday. After seeing this I grabbed Loki and moved him to another tank so now they are finnally separated. However, I have no idea if my other crab is alright and no way of knowing how to tell if he’s dead since I’m not sure what death smell smells like. I don’t want to dig him up both because this could further harm him and I don’t think I could handle it. I have also lyrics to look up at him through the bottom of the tank which usually works fairly well but now I can’t see anything, except a small patch of uncovered glass where I’m assuming he is. The crabs are roughly the same size the molter is slightly bigger than Loki. My worst fear is that Loki started to eat or ate all of the other crab killing him and not leaving much chance for a scent.

Any suggestions you have would be great. This guy has taken forever to molt in the past so I’m hoping he wasn’t too far in the process when Loki dug down to him.

Thanks!

[Hermiesguardian]

I'm still pretty new here but I'll share what I have learned. Where they go under isn't always where they end up. They tunnel. So Loki may have been nowhere near the molter. Resist the urge to dig for him. He may vwry well pop up one day.

[JoeHermits]

There’s not really a whole lot that can be done but wait. It’s possible that your two crabs never met underground.

If there was a death, the smell of old fish will eventually emerge, though it may take time.

Just so you know, we don’t normally separate our crabs during molts if the substrate’s deep enough. HCA recommends six inches or three times the height of the crabs, whichever’s deeper.

Also, you mentioned regular sand changes and sifting? What do you do when a crab is down?

[GotButterflies]

Hello! I replied GB for GotButterflies

What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
3/4 sand 1/4 EE ~5.5 inches deep.
GB: Substrate should be 6 inches or 3 times the height of your largest crab (whichever is deeper). It should also be mixed with dechlorinated marine saltwater or dechlorinated freshwater to make the substrate sandcastle consistency.
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
Humidity and temperature gauges Temp reads 75-85! And humidity is 80-90%
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Heater on side all the time, lights during the day.
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
Fresh water and saltwater, too fin decolonization and marine salt
GB: Both pools should be deep enough for them to fully submerge in and safe enough for them to get out of.
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Pellets, blood worms, and fresh fruit every three days
GB: Most commercial foods are not safe. Make sure you cover all aspects of food pyramid Foods should be organic when possible. Hermit crabs are sensitive to pesticides and fertilizers.
Safe food list: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92557
Unsafe food list: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92556
Food pyramid: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92554
Commercial foods: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=92555
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
4.5 years two purple pinchers
7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
One is currently molting and the other molted about a month and a half ago
8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
20 gallon tank, screen lid
9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Two crabs and I think they are medium
10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
Five or more
GB: The HCA recommends 3-5 shells per hermit crab. I personally recommend more. It never hurts to have more There are incorrect shells to buy. Here is the shell guide: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=92552
11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No
12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Sifting of sand once a week, half substrate change monthly
GB: Wow - that's a lot of work. Definitely not necessary to change half of the substrate once a month.
13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No
14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
A new hide
15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
N/a
16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

Hi all,

I have had two crabs together for about four and a half years. I usually separate them when one is down but this time they took a backseat to other events occurring in my life. One morning I found Loki my nonmolter coming up completely covered in sand right from where my molter is. This was on Monday. After seeing this I grabbed Loki and moved him to another tank so now they are finnally separated. However, I have no idea if my other crab is alright and no way of knowing how to tell if he’s dead since I’m not sure what death smell smells like. I don’t want to dig him up both because this could further harm him and I don’t think I could handle it. I have also lyrics to look up at him through the bottom of the tank which usually works fairly well but now I can’t see anything, except a small patch of uncovered glass where I’m assuming he is. The crabs are roughly the same size the molter is slightly bigger than Loki. My worst fear is that Loki started to eat or ate all of the other crab killing him and not leaving much chance for a scent.

Any suggestions you have would be great. This guy has taken forever to molt in the past so I’m hoping he wasn’t too far in the process when Loki dug down to him.

Thanks!

GB: I personally would wait. You can do damage to him by digging him up. Good luck!