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Molting question
Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 2:17 am
by hamtaro
I recently got a bigger tank and moved everything to the new one along with the crabs, except 1 crab who was buried. When I was moving everything I dug to find the last crab but he was molting. I saw the old shell/exoskeleton hanging off of his new body, so I freaked out and put him back and covered him with the substrate. It's been almost 3 weeks since then and I'm worried since he has not surfaced. Should I check on him or let him come up when he's ready? The tank does not smell like dead crab so I don't think he's dead.
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Also I took out my humidity system and put it in the new tank. Will the soil retain its wetness down at the bottom? I spray it daily. Should I move him to the new tank. Old tank has about 6 to 7 inches of substrate new tank has 13.
Re: Molting question
Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 6:31 am
by aussieJJDude
Well, for next time when you dig up a moulter refrain from covering him with substrate. They construct a moulting cave and use that as a kind of air pocket to sustain most of their breathing. Covering the hole with a large flat dish or a scallop shell would be a wiser move. I would honestly suggest digging and then letting him finish a surface moult either in this tank or a small iso in the new tank. A hide, small bowls of food and water. Place him in the hide and leave him be.
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Re: Molting question
Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 2:14 pm
by hamtaro
aussieJJDude wrote:Well, for next time when you dig up a moulter refrain from covering him with substrate. They construct a moulting cave and use that as a kind of air pocket to sustain most of their breathing. Covering the hole with a large flat dish or a scallop shell would be a wiser move. I would honestly suggest digging and then letting him finish a surface moult either in this tank or a small iso in the new tank. A hide, small bowls of food and water. Place him in the hide and leave him be.
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Do I need to put something over him for a surface moult like a coco hut? I don't know if I can keep the humidity the same as the new tank so I'm not sure if a surface moult would be better for him. I am afraid of him suffocating now though
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Re: Molting question
Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 5:36 pm
by aussieJJDude
As long as the humidity stays in the ideal range he will be fine. Ideally he needs darkness, so even a small ice cream tub with a door cut out would be ok...
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