Where did newly molted crab go?

Herman Coen · Post by **Herman Coen** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:26 am

A crab who has been down for a 5 week molt was up and turned almost upside down. He has been using a shell with very long spikes at each side, munching on a peanut near the food dishes, and he appeared to be trying to right himself but was unable as though he fell back into the hole he emerged from. This morning the shell is there turned sideways down. I lifted it out and it was empty. There are a big pincher tip and a leg joint in the hole but no crab. I don’t know if he went back down into the hole, ran off, or if someone might have carried him off. I left the shell at the surface for him if he comes up. I Wish I knew where he went to. I have been gone for 4+ days and didn’t get a chance to provide extra food for them, but they have four different dishes with leftovers when I returned. Waters low but sufficient.

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:30 pm

It's fairly common for a crab to abandon his shell post molt and go find a new one. Have you checked to see if he might be in another shell? The pincher and joint were probably molt parts.

Herman Coen · Post by **Herman Coen** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 5:57 pm

I wasn’t thinking. When I didn’t see the crab in the shell, I thought it was empty. In fact it is a different crab, a very much smaller crab in the shell then last I saw it. A crab was in the shell, but was so far in it appeared empty. After the molt it must have been so weak and small it didn’t move away. I placed him on the shrimp dish and he perked up.My mother passed away yesterday and after four sleepless days and nights in a hospital I got home very frazzled and in the morning thought the worst.

Shawn · Post by **Shawn** » Sat Feb 08, 2014 1:03 pm

Sorry to hear of your loss. It's tough to lose a parent. Been there, both parents gone now. Regarding your crabs, sometimes they will ditch their old shell for a new one after a molt and another crab will snatch it right away. I think of shells as apartments, once outgrown, another tenant will move in. I discovered years ago that an empty shell is often not really empty. Empty shells in my tank are boiled only after filling them with SW and letting them sit for a day. I'm deathly afraid of accidentally boiling a crab hiding inside a large shell.

Herman Coen · Post by **Herman Coen** » Sun Feb 16, 2014 12:06 pm

Thanks for the sentiment.Salt water soak, that’s a good idea, I will remember that.