Hermit molting in water dish?!

[ThePinkHermit]

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

half play sand half coconut fiber 8 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?

i have two located on either side of the tank and i like to keep both above 75


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

two heat pads on the side of the tank

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)?

both fresh and salt water 3 in deep with ways to climb out declorinator in both and a pinch of salt for the salt water

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

i have a bunch of custom mixes from etsy and i feed whenever the dish is empty

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

purple pincher, three months

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

crab has not molted yet

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

55 gallon tank with a grated lid wrapped in plastic wrap

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

three large two medium

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

there are about ten shells that they can grow into

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

no

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

i just changed them into this tank, i have isopods to manage waste, ill only clean if it has mold which it rarely does (i also have springtails)

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

no sponges

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

i just transferred them into a new tank

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.)?


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

the crab is half out of the shell, looking pale and like its molting, i did tap it with a scoop to see if it would react and it did, i dont know why it would water molt like this


.

[ThePinkHermit]

EDIT: crawled out of the water, out of shell, not molting, and looking at shells

[ThePinkHermit]

has reshelled itself! that was real spooky for a moment there

[curlysister]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

half play sand half coconut fiber 8 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?

i have two located on either side of the tank and i like to keep both above 75


3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

two heat pads on the side of the tank

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)?

both fresh and salt water 3 in deep with ways to climb out declorinator in both and a pinch of salt for the salt water
Curly - Be sure that you are using a marine salt, and mix as per the instructions (1 Tbsp per 2 cups) so that the concentration is correct.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

i have a bunch of custom mixes from etsy and i feed whenever the dish is empty
Curly - Be sure that they have a source of protein and calcium daily. Do you feed fresh foods sometimes too?

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

purple pincher, three months

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

crab has not molted yet

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

55 gallon tank with a grated lid wrapped in plastic wrap

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

three large two medium

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

there are about ten shells that they can grow into
Curly - HCA recommends three to five extra shells per crab. Not all shells are appropriate - be sure to check the 'shells' care sheet, and to offer some similar sizes as to what they are currently in.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

no

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

i just changed them into this tank, i have isopods to manage waste, ill only clean if it has mold which it rarely does (i also have springtails)

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

no sponges

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

i just transferred them into a new tank

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.)?


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

the crab is half out of the shell, looking pale and like its molting, i did tap it with a scoop to see if it would react and it did, i dont know why it would water molt like this
Curly - I am glad to see taht it is back in a shell. Keep a close eye on it - ditching a shell and going into the water can be a sign that something has gone quite wrong. Be sure to offer some high energy foods, like honey, peanut butter, etc.