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Took other crabs shell while molting
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2020 6:43 pm
by Hermielover121
So one of my hermit crabs recently came up from a successful molt and came up wearing the same shell she went down in but then a day ago she switched shells and she was in the shell my other hermit crab was wearing and it was still molting. I have plenty of shells for her but she chose that one which is to big for her. I have 6” of eco earth and sand and they are in a 20 gallon. Pls help I am very worried
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Re: Took other crabs shell while molting
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2020 10:02 pm
by JoeHermits
Are you certain it is the shell of the molter and not a look-alike?
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Re: Took other crabs shell while molting
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2020 10:09 pm
by Hermielover121
Yes I am pretty sure because we only have one shell that has these white stripes on it and I am my mom took a photo of when my hermit crab just came up and that shows is not on the surface
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Re: Took other crabs shell while molting
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 12:01 am
by Hermielover121
I am just really scared would she be able to survive the rest of her molt without a shell? I am hoping that she did not eat her
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Re: Took other crabs shell while molting
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 9:57 am
by curlysister
If a crab came across another crab while it was molting and actually stole it's shell, the molting crab will not do well. If you are certain that the molting crab didn't change shells before it went down, and you have no other crabs under....you may consider digging for the crab. However, often a crab will change shells and we don't realize it. Digging up a crab should not be done lightly - you need to decide if the potential risk to the crab who is under is worth the potential benefit. Crabs do not leave their shells to molt, so if the crab has been naked under the sub for a while, it very well may have already passed away.
Re: Took other crabs shell while molting
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 10:04 pm
by Hermielover121
It has only been a couple of days since she took her shell so do you think she would come up if she wasn’t doing well. Do you think I should dig her up?
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Re: Took other crabs shell while molting
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 10:24 pm
by JoeHermits
If you are equipped to isolate the crab, then yes.
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Re: Took other crabs shell while molting
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 11:06 pm
by Hermielover121
Eeeeeee I don’t know. It’s really risky but I think I am going to do it
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Re: Took other crabs shell while molting
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2020 1:46 pm
by CombatMist
On news on the shell change saga?
Where is the old shell from the possible shell thief?
My crabs through carelessness have 3/4 buried empty shells as they tunneled and 1 fell in and they back filled it
Re: Took other crabs shell while molting
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2020 2:36 pm
by Hermielover121
The old shell is still underground but I decided I would not dig just yet and wait a bit longet
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