HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I just wanted to get an idea about how many people let their crabs molt naturally in the tank and how many people either separate molting crabs in a different tank or use a barrier to isolate molters within the main tank.

I personally let my crabs molt without me interfering in any sort of way. I've gone through about 13 successful molts with this method with absolutely no problems. I attribute this to providing constant and abundant sources of calcium, chitin, and protein rich foods.

pssssst...... psssst!! You're crazy

Oops... I voted for the wrong thing.... Anyway I let my crabs molt undisturbed... naturally in the main tank.

I have a seperate ISO tank as I ISO all new crabs.

So far I'm really surprised at the results. I was under the impression that most people used isos for molts and that I was in the minority letting them go it alone in the main tank.

I let my crabs molt in the main tank undisturbed unless there's a problem, like a surface molt. So far it's worked pretty good. I've got about 40 successful molts and about 6 unsuccessful. I do iso all new crabs in a separate tank though.

The wording on the answers seemed a lil wierd so I voted for the first one as I think you ment leave them be in the main tank and molt naturally.

jbolack wrote:The wording on the answers seemed a lil wierd so I voted for the first one as I think you ment leave them be in the main tank and molt naturally.

Yeah, sorry bout that. Just read answer 1 like that.

I'm not surprised to hear this. Some people swear by the molting ISO method...........personally I think main tank molts are easier, possibly healtheir for the crabs.

I do ISO new crabs for a peroid of time, they often molt in there.

I used to let mine molt in the main tank, or use an in tank ISO when I caught a surface molt. Now, I'm going to the separate tank method. I realize it's not real natural, but I'm noticing that if I leave everyone in the main tank, they have a tendency to get dug up by other crabs after a few days. I wake up to chirps and someone's half buried by what looks like an anthill forming. Everyone else formed a tunnel, found the molter, and moved him out of the way.

I find with ISO that the crab sort of goes nuts for a day or so, climbing, exploring and digging until it feels comfortable, then seems to dig down and settle in. *points at Tiny* You hear that?!? Dig down and settle in, already!

I think leaving them to molt alone and undisturbed in the main tank is the safest and easiest way for crabs to molt. That is why I practice this method, and of course, voted for it.

I leave them alone and let them do their thing. I rarely pester them about anything unless someone is naked. I think that leaving them alone is much less stressful, and they've got 6" of substrate to burrow in and most go right to the bottom of the tank out of reach (hopefully) of curious tank mates.

I let mine molt in the main tank undisturbed and its probably less stressful for them

I'm still new and have only had 4 and a half motls. Four molts were in the main tank, the 2 pps did fine. 1 E died and the other E was dug up by yet another E. So the one dug up recovered in ISO. And the attacker was put in ISO to molt. Same story as above, he was pretty nuts for a few days but then he settled down and went under. He's my fave so fingers crossed he ends up alright.

Curious to people who always main tank or always ISO...what species do you all have? I tend to think the Es are more crazy and tend to dig up since they're always digging. Does your choice to ISO or not depend on the species you have?

I have PPs, Es and Rugs... and so you don't have to look for my previous post... I do not ISO molters.