BigglesLeCrab wrote:Basic stay down is 6 weeks. Depends on how much water he/she took on board. Size is NOT generally the issue. Crab type is. Males stay under less than females.
Don't attempt to disturb for at least 8 weeks.
Crabs build air pockets around themselves when underground. So Dont worry about leveling out soil above them, for other crabs in your tank.
But. A really strong smell of rotting fish,is an indicater that you crab has died. In this event. Do nothing. You other crabs will find it,and eat its remains. Its called 'normal behaviour'.
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??? Size does play a huge factor in molting durations. My larger strawberry hermit crabs take months and months to molt, whereas my small/medium PPs usually do not exceed two months, in most cases. The sex of the crab has never played a roll as to how long they are down. Actually, most of my females come up before the males, but every molt cycle is different. I don't think it has to do with how much water they have stored either. It all depends on if the crab is new, do they need to adjust before the molt, finding the right "spot" to molt, how long until the molt starts and how long until finished, and lastly how long it takes them to eat their exo and regain strength to return to the surface. Many crabs also hang out below ground for a while after their molt is done, even if they have hardened and are strong enough to come up. There are many, many factors, but sex of the crab and water intake really does not play a part.
What makes them change gender? And can they do it just whenever or does it happen with a molt? I swore our Clare was a male when we first got her, but after her molt I discovered she is a female. Thought it may have been my poor eyesight (and still could be!)!