My Grandma bought me crabs

Shelbykay246 · Post by **Shelbykay246** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 2:07 am

My grandma bought me crabs for my birthday and I'm kind of worried about them, so I isolated them away from the others because if they are sick, I don't want them to mess up my main colony. They're both PP's and a little bigger then a quarter, they both have all six legs/claws. They are now underground so are they dr-stressing? I don't want to bother them after they had such a rough day yesterday.

Miko · Post by **Miko** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:38 am

You did the right thing by putting them in ISO and yes leave them alone, you will want to keep them in ISO for about a month to 6 weeks.i always iso for 6 weeks just to be safe.be very hands off with them during this time, and only go in the tank to change food and water

Laurie LeAnn · Post by **Laurie LeAnn** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:51 pm

If they are dug down smooth out the substrate and you will beble to tell if they are coming up at night or not. If they are not then you can save your food. Just make sure you have water and you change it out every so often. I change mine about every 3 days. Crabs that just came up from molt will be ok until you can get food in there. They just ate their shell. I mean really why put food in there for a buried crab, that you cant leave in there because it will mold and your throwing money away..

Shelbykay246 · Post by **Shelbykay246** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:53 pm

Hmm, I'll have to check that out. I always put a little food in because I don't know if they're molting or not and really don't want to disturb them.

Shelbykay246 · Post by **Shelbykay246** » Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:58 pm

They are coming up at night.

crazycrabber · Post by **crazycrabber** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:50 am

the thing is you did good, but don't be surprised if after they molt they have ten legs, because they are suppossed to have ten, not six, they are decopod crustaceans, they must have lost limbs.

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 9:04 am

Just for clarity sake. While it is technically true that hermit crabs have ten legs assuming you are counting the claws as legs, you won't often see four of them or even necessarily think of them as legs until you know what those funny little things are. I've read posts of people concerned about what those were, looked kinda like worms because they only saw the tip of the leg running over the crab's body from inside the shell, cleaning I assume. They are tiny and inside the shell most of the time. They are not walking legs which are what most people will refer to when talking about legs which you will only see six (4 pointy ended walking legs and 2 claws).

Laurie LeAnn · Post by **Laurie LeAnn** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 4:38 pm

Just keep putting water and food out and just leave them alone, sound like distressing right now. Make sure you get them proteins..even things from out side they will love! Purple clover flowers soak in their water then drip dry and pat them dry they will munch them like crazy!!

Shelbykay246 · Post by **Shelbykay246** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 7:33 am

Unfortunately one passed two months after I got her, the other one though luckily molted and is doing well.

crazycrabber · Post by **crazycrabber** » Sat Jun 21, 2014 3:19 am

very sorry to hear that, be sure she is dead though, crabs have a tendency to be very inactive before they molt. if she smelled fishy then she probably was dead, very sorry if she is dead. can't imagine how sad i would be if mine died. they are hard to replace in your heart, but not money wise, and your other crab needs a friend!