HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Help, guys! this morning I smelled death in the 10 G Tank, since both the Hermies that are in that one where hiding under the hut I picked it up and found my new crab from Saturday ":Frodo" dead! Next to him, halfway in the dirt was Crazy Joe! I hadn't seen him in almost a week and feared he had died maybe to with dead Frodo next to him. I carefully tilted his shell back, only to find a brandnew shiny crab with his exo under him (still pretty complete, so I think he must have just molted the last 12-24 hours or so). While I'm so happy to find that CJ is ok and has moltet (wich I didn't suspect at all)I'm very scared now that I disturbed him to much by tilting him that bit and he might die too! I read so much here about crabs dying because they where disturbed while molting!Do you guys think he might be ok since he had already shedded his exo and after all I only tilted him not liftet him and put the hut right back over him? Gosh, how could I have been so stupid- but it was reeking really bad in the cage and I coulnd't tell if it was just Frodo or both since they were right next to each other!

Dont panic!!! He will more than likely be fine You are not the first or the last to disturb a molter. Just keep the conditions right and keep it dark and quiet for him and he should do ok. When my first crab Hermie first molted, she was not buried and was half out of her shell. I picked her up to give her a bath and she didnt move, not even a little bit! I paniced and started screaming "Hermie, Hermie!!". Back then I didnt know much about these guys and it took a few minutes to click and figure out she might be molting. She molted just fine and is now past her 2nd molt with me and happy and healthy. By all rights I should have given her a heart attack with the screaming I was doing, lol. Just keep an eye on your baby and make sure all the conditions are right and everything should be ok Angela

I agree, don't worry. I wouldn't handle Crazy Joe anymore for awhile, but he should be fine. I've done it too, with no ill effects. I think it's more critical not to disturb them prior to molting. They do need time to harden up after molting and they do get stressed, but disturbing them before a molt can be even more stressful, IMO.I'm sorry about Frodo.