Possible Molt

[smudge1017]

Help Me! It all started five days ago. My hermit crab has had some very restless behavior. First of all she would try to climb the glass in order to dangle off the top of the cage. She would attempt to escape constantly and and even when she went into her hide she would dangle off the top. Then all of a sudden my hermit crab went into her hut on Sunday/Monday and has not come out or moved since. She just sits there all day long and does nothing. I took her out the first full day this was going on and saw that she was putting her leg in a weird position and also was walking with her legs out to her sides instead of under her. I have had this crab for almost 11 months and she has molted once or twice with me. The last time she molted was 2-3 months ago and it was very successful. The weather has gotten much warmer and her eye stalks are facing in a V Shape. Today I took her out to make sure she was not dead and I found that she wasn't flailing about her legs like she usually does. Another thing that is leading me to believe that this is a molt is that she had been packing up on food the past few days before Sunday. Her antenna are very inactive and like I said she won't move. I am thinking this is a molt but what do you think? She hasn't buried herself and I just don't know what to do. If you want to see more about my crabitat go on my Shell Rot page, all of the information is there. Thank You and Please Help my little friend.

[megmaholm]

It's possible it could be a surface molt. Is she your only crab? I would isolate her somewhere dark, and leave her alone for the time being. If she's pulling a surface molt, she'll need peace and quiet until she's through.

I saw your other thread with your tank conditions, and just want to double check - when she molted before, did she dig down? Is your substrate sandcastle consistency?

[smudge1017]

Last time she molted she did dig down. She is my only hermit crab and she is in the hide and the tank has a very light towel on it. My sand is Eco Earth and I will keep you updated.
tank You

[smudge1017]

What do you mean by sand castle consistency, but if I were to stick my finger in it, yeas it would stay and it is very moist.

[smudge1017]

Hasn,t molted yet,mor died for that matter. She reacts when I touched and twitches every so often. but she won't move her antenna and they look tangled. Her legs look strange. For some reason I think she is ready to molt , but she is waiting. She seems to be getting worse each day, but she is acting like most of my other premolters, this will be my second surface molt every. thank You. I approciate the help and I would like to get more!

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Make a small hole and place her in it. Cover her up with her little hut so she has dark and give her time without peeking in or bothering her. Do NOT cover her with sand. The dark will help her molt if necessary because it helps the molt hormones to get moving. It may give her the push she needs.

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[megmaholm]

Sandcastle consistency just means it'll hold its shape, which it sounds like it does

Do you have a small hide you can put over her, or a plastic container? I know you want to help her, but if she's gearing up to molt she needs to not be touched. Keep her in the dark and try not to check on her. If it's a molt, she'll need the peace and quiet; if for some reason she's dying there isn't anything you can do for her and stress will just make things worse.

Good luck and keep us updated

[smudge1017]

she went into the hide on her own. Thx I will keep you guys updated.

[smudge1017]

Do you guys think she is dying or molting?
Help please!

[megmaholm]

There's no way to know for sure until something happens. If she dies, she'll have a distinctive fishy smell and if she's molting, she'll eat her exo and come out of the hide when she's ready For now, treat it like a surface molt until you have reason to think otherwise.

[smudge1017]

Ok so Eo still has not molted. She if pretty limp but moves every so often. I put her in a hole and did not cover it then I put the hut on top of that. Her limbs look weak and frail. Send your good energys to her. I think that if she would have passed she would have done so by now it has been a week. I think she is waiting for the perfect time to molt. I will try to leave her alone and keep you guys updated.

[smudge1017]

Her leg is also in a weird position!

[smudge1017]

Her legs look skinny and frail but nothing has changed. She goes limp in her shell and then if I touch her she curls back in. She might not be molting but I have a feeling that it may be the temperature affecting her. The past fees weeks the thermometer has read 85 degrees but all of a sudden since this started happening to Eo the temperature ranges between 69 and 74 degrees it is much colder at night then that swell so I put on the heater and that temp stayed the same. But the hut is closer to the heater so that may be why she chose this location. Could this be possible?

[fantasybookworm]

I don't know if that's definitely the cause of her behavior, but it very well could be. Those temperatures aren't safe (especially if it's colder at night) & you really need to find a way to get the temperature up quickly. Do you have any heating source just for the tank? What is it (heating lamp or pad) & what strength is it? I would go to the pet store right away & get something to help boost the temp. Though if you have a heating pad already & haven't tried yet, you can insulate it with tinfoil & styrofoam to direct more heat into the tank. The minimum temperature should be 75 to keep your crabs safe & comfortable.

[smudge1017]

[quote][/quote] Well thanks, I already have a heat source and I will try to get the temp up. I am going on vacation on the 10 sand I really hope something happens by then. Any idea what else could be causing this? Do you THINK she is going to die?