I don't understand.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

I was doing a check of the false bottom to check for flooding and noticed it isn't laying flat anymore. What would cause that? How on earth did they manage that?

Tank conditions are perfect. Just an emergency situation.

I saw on one end that one of my crabs is under there. Godzilla - the one that loves my husband. She definitely looks sprawled out but I can't tell why. I don't know if she looks like that because those are shed exo or she is squished. I think when I first shined light on her I saw a slight twitch but I can't be sure.

What do I do? My husband is trying to get me to get her out in case she is stuck. He seemed a bit freaked out saying that if she's molting or molted I can put her in iso. I don't even know how to get to her if I was going to.

What do I do?

I am going to try to get pics as soon as my phone charges enough to do it. I am teetering on the edge between worried and panicked.

I have a feeling there isn't anything I can do but watch and wait. If she's dead she'll break down. If she isn't she'll either resurface or die and then break down... I don't like feeling helpless. I just want to help her, even if she does hate me

[CallaLily]

Pics would be helpful. Are you saying your false bottom collapsed on one side? The crab is under the false bottom or just dug in a place you can see her? Sorry, I'm having trouble picturing what you're describing.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

It looks to be intact but she is under it somehow. I will go get some pics.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

[KellyCrabbieLove]

There didn't used to be sand under there either.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

I can see the weed block through the eggcrate and it looks fine. I have 2 layers of eggcrate. I am baffled and worried.

[wodesorel]

I think you're seeing exo and it's a molt. It's impossible to crab-proof everything. Either they tore through the false bottom or they managed to lift it up. My worry would be when she's done, since the way out is likely be the way she got in, and it's probably small and will be hard to find. Hermits don't understand being trapped since in the wild they can just tunnel around obstacles.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

I'm scared.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

How do I keep this from happening again?

[wodesorel]

You'd have to get in there to figure out what failed. False bottoms are still a really new invention when it comes to hermit crabs. The kinks have obviously not been worked out yet. It may be something as simple as using thicker zip ties or siliconing around the edges.

[CallaLily]

I agree looks like exo that you're seeing. Crazy that she managed to get through! Can you describe how you set up your false bottom? Were there any gaps along the edges or near the drainage pipe? It looks like a lot of sub came through too.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

I had maybe 1/4 in gaps around all edges at most. It is 2 layers of eggcrate zip tied together. Then weed block and embroidery canvas zip tied on top of that.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

The tube rests on the bottom layer of eggcrate very snugly through the first layer.

[CallaLily]

Wow, so it wasn't egg crate on top of PVC like most I've seen done. Your design sounds like it would be harder to get under. I'm very curious to hear how she managed it, when you find out. I think I'd give her time to finish up her exo and recover, then pull everything out very carefully. I'll be checking under mine more often from now on!

[wodesorel]

They can tear right through the canvas, weedblock and zip ties without effort. I'd be a little surprised if they could rip through the egg crate, but a bored crab can do amazing things. I also think that they would be strong enough to leverage up a side of the egg crate, even with substrate on top.