Crab Won't Dig Down To Molt

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:27 pm

Has anybody ever had one of these guys?Susan has been digging down and coming up after a day or two since February 17. I know he is getting close to molting but I'm not sure how many trial runs he should be taking LOL. Any suggestions on how to keep him from coming back up? After 5 weeks of this behavior I am nervous for him. Never had a crab do this kind of thing for so long.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:43 pm

Thank God I thought it was just my crabs who were difficult!!! I have a largish guy Tex who is likely wayyyyy overdue for a moult as he was bought last year from a kiosk type place at South Padre Island with a scuff of gravel on the bottom and NO place to moult. He will dig down the resurface a day or so later like a grumpy old man who can't seem to find a good chair. I even tried moving him to ISO for a week or so but all he did was sit and mope. His mate Shadow is also overdue and he is a good size as well, but he tends to be more the hidey type crab anyway and has never really dug down. All my smaller crabs have moulted and the new 100 Gal tank has LOTS of deep spots and is EE so its great moulting but NO he just can't make up his mind.....

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:44 am

Nicole that's exactly what Bill was doing and when I moved him to ISO he did the same as WanderingKat's, he wouldn't stay buried or go in the hut, would sit in the middle of the tank in the open.He's been buried now for eh, maybe two weeks and you would think that would be a great thing but as he's done time and time again, just when I think he'll stay down, he doesn't. I have a feeling this one is different though, no specific reason - he's surfaced before after 2 weeks of face plants (I think he's claustrophobic! lol he won't bury his shell completely) - I just think he'll surprise me this time. If I attempt to cover him or move him then he'll defy me and drag his tired rump around the tank again.Nicole as WK's Tex and Bill are both large crabs, I'm curious if yours is too.

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:44 am

I would call Susan a golf ball sized crab. He (yes, he!) wears a smaller shell consistently than I would put on him so he's definitely what I would call largish.I am getting so nervous! On top of that Dale Jr. (small to medium crab) has been down for six weeks now with no molt and I keep hearing scratching and the occasional chirp. Why are they doing this to me? It takes the fun out of crabbing.Susan is nesting right now in the moss pit. I just wonder if the larger crabs get, the harder it is for them to get in "molt mode". When they were babies they were such obedient molters for me. Are they teenage crabs now? Thanks for helping me to know I'm not alone.