How Long is Too Long for a Molt

[finleyfoo]

Hi,
I've had a purple pincher, Bluey, since last August. She molted twice before and was down for a month each time. This time though, she has been down since March 30th, so over 2 months. I know not to dig up but a few days ago I lifted a wooden house up very carefully to have a look and she was right under it, having dug a sort of cave for herself. I just looked at her (her leg looked pale like after molting and I think she moved slightly) and carefully put the wooden house right back. I don't think I did any harm. Since then I have let her be. I don't smell any rotting smell (I check once or twice a week). Her heat is steady at about 79-81 and her humidity is about 85% so I think they are good. Her substrate is deep enough though she is not dug very far down (just under the wooden house).

But she is never coming up (food dish remains untouched, no tracks) and it seems like a long time! Prior to going down she was active on the surface, eating, moving around, climbing, etc. Should I just keep waiting patiently? She did do a lot of shell swapping before she went down and got into a shell that seemed a bit big for her. I am just anxious to have her back at the surface and eating again.

I have been refilling the food dish every week or so with dry food (from the Hermit Crab Patch). But when she is on the surface, I give her fresh food every couple of days.

Thanks!

[JoeHermits]

She’s likely just taking her time. I wouldn’t start to worry until the four-month mark.


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[curlysister]

Agree with Joe. Patience, grasshopper! LOL!

[finleyfoo]

Ok, will continue to be patient! Just curious, why the 4 month mark?

[Hermie escape artist]

Mine has taken 3-4 months came up fine !!!

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[JoeHermits]

Ok, will continue to be patient! Just curious, why the 4 month mark?

That’s just where most crabs start to max out, though some jumbos may take longer.


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[Motörcrab]

We have had crabs molt anywhere from 2-3 weeks for quarter sized up to 4 months for ones in Almost tennis ball sized shells. Large crabs can molt for around 8 months! They can also be sneaky and coming up at night to eat then hide by early morning. The best is to just ride it out and wait.

[Hermie escape artist]

That's good to know cause I'm at the four month mark .. giving up hope .....but ok

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[finleyfoo]

Update: still no sighting of Bluey. She went under March 30th so we are approaching the 3 month mark. She is definitely not coming up at night because the food dish is untouched and there are no track marks. Still no bad smell though I think she is ok. Continuing to be patient...

[MauiMama]

I'm with ya, I'm experiencing my first molt (though not the crabs first), and it's been a little over 2 months so far. It's been nerve-wracking! It feels like such a long time.

Best wishes to Bluey!

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[AwesomeHermit]

Mine is only 2 months, but my nerves are through the roof.

[DragonsFly]

Don't know how big your Bluey is, but a while back I thought that Major Tom had not survived his molt, because he did not come up with the other two in the spring. He came up the NEXT spring--a full 18 months without a sign of him--just fine. So. . . yeah, welcome to the WAITING GAME. It might be a while.