Tunneling in poor substrate, safe to remove?

[Sean Risley]

I've got 2 crabs, Felix and Lola, who have spent all their time above ground enjoying the luxuries of the tank, but my other 2, Cave and Willow, have buried themselves for weeks. I ordered some Eco Earth to replace their inadequate Jungle Mix substrate. Would it be safe to dig them up when the new substrate arrives? I don't want them molting in this Jungle Mix. If I touch it I get a thousand splinters, god knows what a molting crab would have to endure.

[wodesorel]

How many weeks have they been down? Within a few days I would personally do it, but if it's been over a week - especially if you're looking at week 2 or 3 - it may actually be safer to wait. If they did somehow manage to molt, they could be soft that this point, and digging for them could severely injure or kill them. Of course, if they haven't molted then moving them would definitely be safer for them. This is one of those judgement call cases where there is no clear-cut answer and both choices have risks.

[Sean Risley]

How many weeks have they been down? Within a few days I would personally do it, but if it's been over a week - especially if you're looking at week 2 or 3 - it may actually be safer to wait. If they did somehow manage to molt, they could be soft that this point, and digging for them could severely injure or kill them. Of course, if they haven't molted then moving them would definitely be safer for them. This is one of those judgement call cases where there is no clear-cut answer and both choices have risks.

Its been about 2 weeks. I read that digging helps them de-stress, and removing them would only cause them more trouble so I figured they would come out when they wanted to.