Half surface molt

[Vbenefiel3]

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? play sand and ee


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?
Yes 79 85

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

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 salt

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Weekly daily some green sand leafe litter dried fruit veggies meal worms ext Zilla snacks

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Purple pincher 18 mo or so

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
I think it's happening now first time

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
10 gallon tank lid with plastic wrap

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 1 small medium crab one in question 2 small crabs


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

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Wipe with paper towels when needed

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? in one wash out with boiling water


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

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.)? I recently got my crabitste up to par I didn't realize I wasn't providing the right conditions with the help of this place I got things fixed it's been about a month everyone helped thank you v


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
So since I got my sand deep so my crab could molt and my temp an humidity good an regulated now my bigger crab is molting but I think it may still be considered a surface molt as he dug down in the sand but only deep enough that the sand was level with the top of his shell so I could see the top of his shell the rest of him was in like a little hole kinda cave he made but the way his shell is made I think it made it hard for him to get the whole way under it's a murix the tip always catches on things. I need a bigger tank this was a solution I could afford to get conditions up to par fast for time being. Anyway he's there mostly surrounded by sand but the other 2 crabs have knocked in the sand a bit. I also noticed last night one tunneled up from right beside or under him. Then was def messing around with him as if the other crab was trying to get herman my bigger molting crab up out of the hole. I've been recording each night to keep a watchful eye. Where he's positioned I can't really get a bottle in. He's up against the glass I thought shell opening toward the glass but I was wrong his shell opening is toward the rest of the tank. I'm worried the other crabs can get him from under ground. He's in a big safe shell and from the surface they can't get at him I can block them away from above the sand. Do I need to block them away from below the sandal as well? How can I do that without hurting herman. Should I just scope herman out careful with all the sand that's around him ? Should I carefully just grab him by the shell? Or is he safe if I just block the top part off? I'm just not sure if the other crabs can hurt him fr under the sand. It seems like they prolly can. Would he scream if they were hurting him. As I said I watched the video the one crab def tunneled right from either beside or under him or Infront of him then was trying so hard to pick him up out of his hole. He couldn't do it he's to heavy but he was rocking him all around and disturbing the sand. And when I eyeballed around the dug up sand on the top around where herman had burrowed himself I found a piece of a pincher. That felt weird why wouldn't that be down under where he's shell opening is. I thought maybe I can use that craft plastic sheet paper stuff I can make bridges an ladders for the water pools an cut them into square prices an place then in a box like around him an that might work? I'm just afraid of messing up the sand around him. What do u guys think I should do?
Also on the video the crab that was messing with herman it was like an hr that he went under to the front of him I could see the top of his shell moving around then back to the top. So I also want to know if u guys think he's still ok. The crab messing with him is half his size for sure maybe smaller and the shell herman is in he can fully be inside of with no legs sticking out it's a nice spacious living area. I think that's why he chooses to stay in it over a lighter smaller one.
.

[CrabbyLover77]

I'll put my suggestions under your answers. Hope this helps!

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? play sand and ee

CL77- It's good you added more sand. Is it moistened to sand castle consistency using fresh or salt dechlor water?

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?
Yes 79 85

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

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 salt

CL77- Are you using a dechlorinator, and a marine salt for the salt water?

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Weekly daily some green sand leafe litter dried fruit veggies meal worms ext Zilla snacks

CL77- Are you offering calcium on a daily basis? I like to keep a constant supply of calcium in my tanks. I leave cuttlebone in there as well as a small dish of calcium powder.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Purple pincher 18 mo or so

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
I think it's happening now first time

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
10 gallon tank lid with plastic wrap

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 1 small medium crab one in question 2 small crabs


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

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
Wipe with paper towels when needed

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? in one wash out with boiling water

CL77- Sponges in water will harbor bacteria, so you'll want to take them out. You can leave them in the tank dry for the crabs to munch on though.

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

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.)? I recently got my crabitste up to par I didn't realize I wasn't providing the right conditions with the help of this place I got things fixed it's been about a month everyone helped thank you v


16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
So since I got my sand deep so my crab could molt and my temp an humidity good an regulated now my bigger crab is molting but I think it may still be considered a surface molt as he dug down in the sand but only deep enough that the sand was level with the top of his shell so I could see the top of his shell the rest of him was in like a little hole kinda cave he made but the way his shell is made I think it made it hard for him to get the whole way under it's a murix the tip always catches on things. I need a bigger tank this was a solution I could afford to get conditions up to par fast for time being. Anyway he's there mostly surrounded by sand but the other 2 crabs have knocked in the sand a bit. I also noticed last night one tunneled up from right beside or under him. Then was def messing around with him as if the other crab was trying to get herman my bigger molting crab up out of the hole. I've been recording each night to keep a watchful eye. Where he's positioned I can't really get a bottle in. He's up against the glass I thought shell opening toward the glass but I was wrong his shell opening is toward the rest of the tank. I'm worried the other crabs can get him from under ground. He's in a big safe shell and from the surface they can't get at him I can block them away from above the sand. Do I need to block them away from below the sandal as well? How can I do that without hurting herman. Should I just scope herman out careful with all the sand that's around him ? Should I carefully just grab him by the shell? Or is he safe if I just block the top part off? I'm just not sure if the other crabs can hurt him fr under the sand. It seems like they prolly can. Would he scream if they were hurting him. As I said I watched the video the one crab def tunneled right from either beside or under him or Infront of him then was trying so hard to pick him up out of his hole. He couldn't do it he's to heavy but he was rocking him all around and disturbing the sand. And when I eyeballed around the dug up sand on the top around where herman had burrowed himself I found a piece of a pincher. That felt weird why wouldn't that be down under where he's shell opening is. I thought maybe I can use that craft plastic sheet paper stuff I can make bridges an ladders for the water pools an cut them into square prices an place then in a box like around him an that might work? I'm just afraid of messing up the sand around him. What do u guys think I should do?
Also on the video the crab that was messing with herman it was like an hr that he went under to the front of him I could see the top of his shell moving around then back to the top. So I also want to know if u guys think he's still ok. The crab messing with him is half his size for sure maybe smaller and the shell herman is in he can fully be inside of with no legs sticking out it's a nice spacious living area. I think that's why he chooses to stay in it over a lighter smaller one.

CL77- Crabs drop limbs when they are sick/stresed. If you're sure he's molting and/or being picked on, you'll need to isolate him until he regains his strength/finishes molting. If you have a small plastic container (like one of those reusable glad or ziplock kind) you can put him in there (I'd put a few small holes somewhere in the container so the humidity and heat can get in there), and then place that inside the tank. This will keep his environmental conditions the same while keeping him safe from the others. If he's molting, you'll also want to cover the container to make it darker for him to finish his molt.
.

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