HCA: Hermit Crab Association

the dude in my avatar has molted 4 times in ONE year. Is this normal? He has survived all 4 molts, and just came out of his most recent one with nice long nails and fuzzy legs! He is about 3x the size he was when we got him in September 2009. He was about the size of a quarter when we got him... in the picture he was just out of his first molt. Now he's bigger than a toonie (canadian $2 coin) He's in a Big Turbo shell now. Each time he went down to molt, he grabbed a new bigger shell. I'm just wondering if 4 molts is normal in a year. I only have 1 other crab who has successfully molted, and he has only molted once (an E) in also almost 1 year (nov 2009). Our 3 other PP's havent molted yet... but we've only had them since July.

It sounds like your guy may have been in captivity for a long time and wanted to grow...or your conditions have made him so happy he's willing to take advantage of the opportunity and feels comfortable with the environment. Younger crabs will molt more often than bigger older crabs. Most of my current hermits were purchased last fall all have now gone through two molts one during winter and a second while AC was on this summer and now 9 of 10 are up and super active.

Four molts in a year is normal for a crab that size. Rapid growth is a testament to good health which stems from good care and good feeding, the highest compliment a crabber can receive. Kudos to you both.