Dug up! exo and all!! Help!

[mossthewolf]

I was rearranging the tank and mixing the substrate up in one section of the tank. I know digging up crabs is dangerous for them and I thought my 3rd crab was in a different section of the tank, but instead I stumbledupon him with the last bit of his exoskeleton hanging off him and the rest of it in the dirt around him.

I don't have an extra tank, but I have a tiny cup that the crabs came in when I bought them and I use it to hold them when I clean the tank to keep him safe from my other 2 crabs. I put him and all his exoskeleton I could find on top of some substrate, but I'm worried! I don't know if I should go to the pet store and get another tank or if moving him again will be too stressful! Please, someone help me. I'm not sure what to do about this.



Him in the little cup.



Him in relation to the heat lamp I have (to hopefully keep him from being too cold)

If there is any advice that can be offered, please share.

[Hermit-Yote]

I'd grab a tupperware from the store, make sure it's clean, fill it a few inches high with moist coconut fiber and after poking some holes in the lid, put it in a warm quiet place. When I had to get an emergency tank I did this with an opaque container. I only added a small cap of water in it in case he wanted any.

[CallaLily]

I'd grab a tupperware from the store, make sure it's clean, fill it a few inches high with moist coconut fiber and after poking some holes in the lid, put it in a warm quiet place. When I had to get an emergency tank I did this with an opaque container. I only added a small cap of water in it in case he wanted any.

Yep, you can ISO a crab this way. You could even place the Tupperware inside the main tank to keep conditions right.

One thing that really stands out to me in your pics is your substrate looks very shallow. It should be 3x as deep as your largest crab is tall but no less than 6 inches. Also, keep in mind that when a crab digs down to molt or destress they rarely stay in the same spot they dug down at. They'll tunnel around under the substrate until they find a suitable spot so when you have any crabs down it's best not to disturb the substrate.

[mossthewolf]

Thank you. I've placed the little cup inside the main tank for now to keep him in the right humidity. I've been trying to work on substrate depth. The sand side of the tank is very shallow but the side with the coconut fiber is 3 inches deep. I just need to save up a little more money to afford more sand & coconut substrate.

The cup takes up a lot of space in the tank. I've placed it on top of their climbing branch for now. If I get a tupperware, should I get a smaller one? Is there a significant difference between this little plastic holding cup versus a tupperware?



Photo of the holding cup in the tank.

[mossthewolf]

Good news; I've seen him moving around and eating his exoskeleton. Is this a sign that he'll pull through?

[moonbeam]

I think so

Question (just out of curiosity), when crabs get to this point in molting where they're eating exo and getting hard do they still need total darkness? I haven't had an interrupted molt with any of my crabs (yet, hopefully not ever but ya know) and I'm just trying to figure out the best plan of action if it ever does happen.


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[CallaLily]

It would be a good idea to carefully place a hide over top of them to provide privacy and darkness.

[mossthewolf]

Ah, well in that case I'll try to cover my little molting crab with a cloth or something to give him said darkness and privacy since he's catching an awful lot of light from where he is now.