My new PP Ruby is molting. She dug down completely this morning and covered her tracks just like krusty did in the beginning. In the week I have had her she has been very active, has all her legs and pinchers, eating up a storm and regularly going to her water dishes. Last night alone she put away two meal worms and a pinch of shrimp and nibbled on her cuttlebone. The only thing that concerns me is her big feelers are shorter than my other crab and she doesn't have toenails. Anything to be worried about?
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Should I be worried about pps?
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Krusty2015
Topic author - Posts: 137
- Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:42 pm
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Krusty2015
Topic author - Posts: 137
- Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:42 pm
Re: Should I be worried about pps?
Edit after 16 hours of no sign of her I walked by her tank and there she was! Could she still be in the process of molting?
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Re: Should I be worried about pps?
The fact that Ruby has no toenails is a definite sign that she's due for a molt (post-molt, she'll have nice black toenails along with those attractive hairy legs and longer antenna). When it's molt-time, the crab will dig under and move around a bit to find the ideal subterranean spot; it will then just chill in that spot, not moving around or coming up for food or water, until the time is right for it to actually molt. As you know, after the molt, the crab will remain in the same place to consume its shed exoskeleton before it actually emerges.
A smallish crab can take a month or more to molt and the larger they are, the longer the molt process. My small crab, Charles Paris, was down for a good 5-6 weeks before suddenly appearing on 12/22, all hairy and sharp-nailed. One of the mediums, Mr Pinch, was under for over 8 weeks before popping up yesterday, beautifully molted. The other medium, Felix, has been under for only about 5 weeks now while the large guy, Big Enzo, is still under at the 8+ week point.
Since she's new to your crabitat, she may also just be destressing. Either way, there's nothing to worry about, especially as she has been eating and drinking regularly.
A smallish crab can take a month or more to molt and the larger they are, the longer the molt process. My small crab, Charles Paris, was down for a good 5-6 weeks before suddenly appearing on 12/22, all hairy and sharp-nailed. One of the mediums, Mr Pinch, was under for over 8 weeks before popping up yesterday, beautifully molted. The other medium, Felix, has been under for only about 5 weeks now while the large guy, Big Enzo, is still under at the 8+ week point.
Since she's new to your crabitat, she may also just be destressing. Either way, there's nothing to worry about, especially as she has been eating and drinking regularly.
PPs are Big Enzo, Charles Paris and Mr Pinch
On the Big Beach in the Sky: Murray, Gino, Oscar, Gordon, Ignatz, Harry and King Felix the Pale
Also Mom to Imogene the Syrian Hamster
On the Big Beach in the Sky: Murray, Gino, Oscar, Gordon, Ignatz, Harry and King Felix the Pale
Also Mom to Imogene the Syrian Hamster
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Krusty2015
Topic author - Posts: 137
- Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:42 pm
Re: Should I be worried about pps?
Thanks I'm glad to know I don't have anything to worry about! She dug down again this morning but I'm not going to assume she's molting until I don't see her for a few days. Krusty my smallish medium was down for 4 and half weeks. He came back up a few days to Thanksgiving. At least this time I know what to expect!