One by one cabs don't come up from molting

Where we discuss the behavior of our hermit crabs, as in fights, pecking orders, shell swaps, etc. Please post all naked-crab posts in the Emergency forum.
Post Reply

Topic author
Mgcrawford
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:52 am
Location: California

One by one cabs don't come up from molting

Post by Mgcrawford » Sat Jul 31, 2021 9:22 am

Bought 4 crabs in 2013. 5 years ago one went to Molt and never came up. Found empty shell months later when cleaning the tank. 2 years ago same thing happened to another molter, no smell, no bodies, just empty shell.

3 months ago one of my last 2 went down. 2 weeks ago I noticed the food dish turned over and when I picked it up he was in a hole under the dish. I only could see a little bit of his legs so I just put the dish back. Next day I picked up the dish to change the food and dispose of spilled food and found a body that looked kind of dried up but had no smell. I covered it up again. 3 days ago I saw his shell in the hut and got all excited. Yesterday i found it was empty and the body is still there no smell and my last crab seems very interested. I don't want to get more crabs if my last one is killing and eating them, they were pretty big too. Any suggestions?

User avatar

curlysister
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 4533
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
Location: Manitoba, Canada

Re: One by one cabs don't come up from molting

Post by curlysister » Sat Jul 31, 2021 10:01 am

A few questions to help. Other than the time they went down to molt and didn't come back, had they molted other times? Has the one remaining crab molted multiple times?
What do you use for substrate?
What are your temp and humidity?
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers


Topic author
Mgcrawford
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:52 am
Location: California

Re: One by one cabs don't come up from molting

Post by Mgcrawford » Sat Jul 31, 2021 11:11 am

They all have molted numerous times. The last one molted around 4 months ago and is really big (at least to me). The temperature and humidity are both in the yellow range and my substrate is Eco Terra Coco husk 8" deep. They get a variety of fruits, oatmeal, peanut butter, shrimp besides the regular food and mineral supplements and always have instant ocean salt water and spring water.

User avatar

CrabbyLover77
Posts: 3304
Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2019 11:30 pm
Location: PA
Contact:

Re: One by one cabs don't come up from molting

Post by CrabbyLover77 » Sat Jul 31, 2021 11:19 am

What is the yellow range on your hygrometer? Humidity should never drop below 70%. I always try to shoot for 80%+ though.
Also, if your crab dropped it's shell, that means it was too weak to carry it. You should always try to reshell a crab asap if you find them naked. Maybe you could fill out the emergency template so we could get a better look into your tank conditions.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

"Hunting is not a sport. In a sport, both sides should know they're in the game." -Paul Rodriguez-
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigBeausBouti ... form-mcnav


Topic author
Mgcrawford
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:52 am
Location: California

Re: One by one cabs don't come up from molting

Post by Mgcrawford » Sat Jul 31, 2021 12:08 pm

Humidty is a constant 80 & the temperature 75 in a 30 gallong tank. They were pretty large, last time I bought shell sizes 1 1/8 and 1 1/4" opening. My tank is in perfect condition, I've have never seen any of them drop their shells or be naked, but I'll complete the emergency template anyway. The last one, who has always been the largest, possibly got to the others while they were molting and vulnerable and the only reason there is still some body left is because the molter was too large to be completely eaten. I know the last one was the one to dug up the molters shell and move it into the hut, maybe to test it out. I'm hoping the body I found is actually the exoskeleton (doesn't smell) and the molter will show up soon in a new shell. My concern is getting more and them getting eaten also.

User avatar

CrabbyLover77
Posts: 3304
Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2019 11:30 pm
Location: PA
Contact:

Re: One by one cabs don't come up from molting

Post by CrabbyLover77 » Sat Jul 31, 2021 3:29 pm

Your conditions do sound good. I'll check out your emergency template too. Wish I could help more.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

"Hunting is not a sport. In a sport, both sides should know they're in the game." -Paul Rodriguez-
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigBeausBouti ... form-mcnav

Post Reply