Possible Molt? -Ender-

[soilentgringa]

It shouldn't disturb Ender if you surface clean.

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[_PandorasBox_]

Like, I do scoop up poop and food Ark has pulled out of the little food-cups, but I would have to take the entire cup out in order to clean it off, due to where the poop is. And since it's a cup, there's a large space underneath it where she could have easily buried, or where a tunnel of hers could be. Really, she could be underneath the cup right now, and I don't want to take that risk ;-;
And another mini update - Ark won't let go of the netting of the cup, even with me trying to scare him into his shell to pick him up to show to someone.

[_PandorasBox_]

Ark still hasn't gone down yet, though he's been hanging around an accidental collasped tunnel of Ender's ( I didn't mean to, but I was fixing something in there that Ark had moved around, so part of it is exposed. I've been able to mostly cover it up though so he can't get to it ) . His activity has been off and on, he'll randomly wander around, chill at the shell shop, or hang out of his shell near the cup with netting ( Not his entire body / falling out, he looks like he really is just kinda chilling, not really sure what he's doing, but he moves when I go near him, by either shrinking back into the shell or by wiggling his feelers )
He still seems to be eating / drinking a lot.
Ender is still under, which isn't really a surprise. There's a weird smell in thank, not fishy, but just kinda weird. Almost smells like nuts..? Not really sure, considering I don't give them any. I think part of the weird smell is the food defrosting and heating ( AKA, the boiled egg which already stinks, even when frozen. I always sprinkle a few chunks in to help with protien in the protien bowl ) , and then the rest is the wetish sand with the plastic scent of the tank mixing.
Any guesses as to when Ender will come back up? I think it's been around a week, maybe a little more, from when she first went down, I just need an idea so I know when to start worrying. Either way, I do hope she makes it, it being my first ever molt, and I hope she gets her missing leg back.

[soilentgringa]

They can be down for several weeks up to a few months depending on size and how long they need to destress before their molt. The actual process of molting doesn't take long, but they go underground, dig around for a bit, make a comfy cave, sit and relax for a while, and then molt. After they molt they have to harden up and eat their old exoskeleton, then maybe rest longer or come up hungry with some sassy new nails and hairy legs! My first molt experience lasted 8-9 weeks. I know it is really hard not to worry, even experienced crabbers get nervous but the best thing you can do is leave them alone right now. Change their food and water accordingly, make sure their temp/humidity is constant and correct, and just let them do their thing. They hide or run away when we come up because anything larger than them on the beach is a predator. Most land hermit crabs have already been alive for a few years by the time they are plucked off the beach, so naturally to them, if something is reaching for them, it's to eat them!
Have you read the care guides by chance? They cover molting, etc. In more depth.

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[_PandorasBox_]

She isn't that big, maybe classified as a tiny or small, so hopefully it won't take too too long. And yeah, doesn't really help me though, and asking people if better than looking at a sheet because of all the variables that could happen that aren't counted.

[_PandorasBox_]

I saw Ender! The movement of her shrinking into her shell ( She was in the shellshop, cleverly trying to diguse herself ) made me notice her when I was about to spray them. Now I'm confused. Was she just destressing the entire time? Or did she just do a really quick molt since I haven't seen her in around a week or two? She wouldn't come out of her shell, so I can't really check to see the black tips around the claws / any color changes / new leg, the usual signs of post molt. All I got to see was her BP. But, at least she's okay! She's easily the shiest of the two, it's so cute. Ark is just everywhere, no matter if someone is near / watching him or not.