HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I was rearranging his tank the other day, adding better water bowls and new hides. I like to smooth the sand out so he has to dig again just for more exercise because he isn’t very active. I was removing everything. Went to remove him last and when I picked him up his exoskeleton was UNDERNEATH HIM!!! I put him right back and put the hide back over him. But I know messing with a molting crab is very bad!! And advice??


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Just leave him and continue with tank conditions. Handling a molting crab isn't ideal but they can pull through. It but if his exoskeleton is underneath him it sounds like he is just eating it and recuperating. Just don't mess with the tank unless its for doing normal maintenance. Maybe a more experienced person will have some advice though.

To clarify - he is molting on the surface, correct? Not underneath the substrate?

Do you have other crabs?

curlysister wrote:To clarify - he is molting on the surface, correct? Not underneath the substrate?

Do you have other crabs?

More or less yeah, he only half buries himself. So he sticks out almost fully. When I went to pick him up he was on the surface with a hole under the shell where the exoskeleton was.
I have enough sand for him to bury himself fully. Probably about double his size atm


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If its a single crab, just keep tank conditions ideal and allow the crab to harden up and come back out when ready. Try not to disturb the crab, so avoid touching the hide.