Didn't Molt Properly? Looks & Acting a bit Strange... PICS

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Jemnem6
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Didn't Molt Properly? Looks & Acting a bit Strange... PICS

Post by Jemnem6 » Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:40 am

Background info:
My hermit crab Toodee I've have for a year in July. When I first started out, I had her and 3 other crabs all crammed in a 10 gallon tank because, well, that was all I had. At the time I also didn't know I could use play sand, and the "hermit crab sand" was way too expensive to buy 6 inches of...so I the substrate was deep enough were they could just fully cover themselves. Then, a crab was showing molting signs and so I freaked out and put her in an ISO tank all by herself cause I didn't want the other crabs to eat her, I didn't know what I was doing. She attempted a surface molt and died :( Then the next crab buried, she successfully molted actually and even grew back a missing limb.

That's when I got the 20 gallon long tank, along with 4 new hermit crabs. Toodee as well as the 2 other crabs (including the one who successfully molted), all buried right away when I put them in. There was much more sand, better conditions, and more space. The one who successfully molted, died buried under the sand, I think she was trying to molt again. The other crab is still buried! It's been 4 months! There have been 4 other successful molts though since I got the new tank.

The problem:
Toodee though, she molted and came up too! Then switched shells. But she's been acting funny. She's been burying for a few days up to a week, then comes back up for a day or two before she goes back down. And her skin looks bright bright red and her face looks a little pale. She looks fragile and weak, but she's climbing the fish net and cholla and walking around. Her legs look like they grew no hair...and I thought after a molt their legs get super hairy.
Here's some pics of her:
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What do you guys think? I can't spare another death, I'm really trying my best.
My Hermit Crab Blog: http://hermitcrab-freak.tumblr.com

22 PP's: Skadoosh, Curly, Lucy, Moe, Ester, Briere, Rinaldo, Bryz, Brayden, Talbot, Pedriza, Keira, Jagr, Rocky Bo, Pinecone, Mason, Wayne, Spruce, Raffl, Moose, Junio, Shiloh.
2 E's: Kimo & Giroux.

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CrabbyMom33
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Re: Didn't Molt Properly? Looks & Acting a bit Strange... PI

Post by CrabbyMom33 » Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:10 am

She looks like she has black pointy toes, which would be a sign of a recent molt. I've noticed that my smaller PPs don't have as much post molt hair as the larger ones or the Es and Straws. How is your temp and humidity? It's possible that she is digging down to get a more prefered temp or to get more humidity from the damp sand. If she is climbing around and eating and drinking I'd just keep an eye on her.
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kuza
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Re: Didn't Molt Properly? Looks & Acting a bit Strange... PI

Post by kuza » Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:42 pm

PP's seem to have more hair on the back of the leg like I see in the second picture. And the pale color is normal, they should darken up a bit still. My E's do anyway.


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Jemnem6
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Re: Didn't Molt Properly? Looks & Acting a bit Strange... PI

Post by Jemnem6 » Fri Jun 22, 2012 3:05 pm

It's always about 80-85 degrees in the tank.
I think my humidity gauge is messed up or something, I need to get a new one, because everyday I've been running the bubbler pool, have the humidifier on, put in new moss in the moss pit, and spray down the tank everyday, also I have tinfoil with holes poked in over the top of the screening. The gauge says it's only 60%. It feel more humid than that though but I don't know what else to do. In the past it's been around 70-80% humidity.

Here's a few more picture I took of her today.
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My Hermit Crab Blog: http://hermitcrab-freak.tumblr.com

22 PP's: Skadoosh, Curly, Lucy, Moe, Ester, Briere, Rinaldo, Bryz, Brayden, Talbot, Pedriza, Keira, Jagr, Rocky Bo, Pinecone, Mason, Wayne, Spruce, Raffl, Moose, Junio, Shiloh.
2 E's: Kimo & Giroux.

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kuza
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Re: Didn't Molt Properly? Looks & Acting a bit Strange... PI

Post by kuza » Fri Jun 22, 2012 3:11 pm

your gauge may be broken. And he looks good :)

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Re: Didn't Molt Properly? Looks & Acting a bit Strange... PI

Post by kip.rogers357 » Fri Jun 22, 2012 3:13 pm

she looks great, that looks like a nice deep color which means she's getting some good color enhancing foods. I really wouldn't worry, a lot of my crabs usually dig back down after coming up from a molt. They come up get food & water (sometimes change shells), then dig back down for a few days and repeat.
why do you say that he looks weak?
have you calibrated your humidity gauge?
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Jemnem6
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Re: Didn't Molt Properly? Looks & Acting a bit Strange... PI

Post by Jemnem6 » Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:53 pm

really you guys think she looks good? ...well then I feel silly lol. I don't know she just looked fragile to me, maybe it's because I've only been looking at large hermit crabs for the past few months and they look so big and strong...I don't know. She just looked a little pale to me and I didn't want to take any chances.

as for the gauge, it was already in the tank when I took it from the previous owner. So it's not new or anything and the only other humidity gauge I had is also broken.

thanks everyone! you guys always help me out so much :)
My Hermit Crab Blog: http://hermitcrab-freak.tumblr.com

22 PP's: Skadoosh, Curly, Lucy, Moe, Ester, Briere, Rinaldo, Bryz, Brayden, Talbot, Pedriza, Keira, Jagr, Rocky Bo, Pinecone, Mason, Wayne, Spruce, Raffl, Moose, Junio, Shiloh.
2 E's: Kimo & Giroux.

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Re: Didn't Molt Properly? Looks & Acting a bit Strange... PI

Post by wodesorel » Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:55 pm

That little crabby has lotsa hair. :lol: She does look good! The color change was due to the molt, but there's nothing abnormal about the way she looks.
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Jemnem6
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Re: Didn't Molt Properly? Looks & Acting a bit Strange... PI

Post by Jemnem6 » Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:15 pm

oh boy, lol sorry, I guess I just freaked out a little. I feel a lot better though thanks to all of you guys. At least now I know. Thanks everyone!
My Hermit Crab Blog: http://hermitcrab-freak.tumblr.com

22 PP's: Skadoosh, Curly, Lucy, Moe, Ester, Briere, Rinaldo, Bryz, Brayden, Talbot, Pedriza, Keira, Jagr, Rocky Bo, Pinecone, Mason, Wayne, Spruce, Raffl, Moose, Junio, Shiloh.
2 E's: Kimo & Giroux.

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