Surface Molt/Naked Crab

[Julsie]

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Eco earth. Not deep enough ~ i just transferred all my hermies to a 40gal recently and the substrate was deep/good enough for the old tank so im buying more when i get paid to get it to the right level for the 40gal

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
Yes. Located on the back wall of the tank where most of my hermies spend the most time. Humidity is usually 73-80% and the temp is always around 80

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? UTH is used but its placed underneath the tank because it wasn’t giving good enough results on the side of the tank it does much better underneath. I also use a daytime heat lamp and its turned on for 12hours a day. The lid of the crabitat is saran wrapped to hold in humidity as well


4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
Fresh water and salt. 1 large fresh 1 large salt 1 small fresh 1 small salt for my different size hermies. I use room temp bottled water. I have thrive hermit crab soaking salt it says use 1tble spoon

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Currently using a store bought food but i’m buying hermit crab diet mixes on etsy when i get paid for better food for them.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Ive had the crab since around nov 27th its a purple pincher

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? I believe hes a surface molt right now. I found him out of his shell the beginning of December (he could of burrowed) hes not that big and my larger crabs can burrow.


8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
40 gal breeder in my bedroom , lid has saran wrap on it

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 8 but i had 5 when he began his surface molt. They all range from tennis ball to quarter size


10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? theres about 12 turbo shells that are extra in the tank


11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? no


12. How often do you clean the tank and how? i clean their water bowls when they become dirty and change the food out frequently


13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? two sponges are used. 1 in the large salt and 1 in the large fresh water just incase of emergency. I soak them in hot water.


14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? lots of decor.


15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
I haven’t hand held him much before he did this. He was always burrowed before. I mist the crabitat daily 2-3x.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

I posted this in the wrong forum so i was told to post here. Please help with any advice.

Around the beginning of December I found my PP Popeye outside of his shell and I didn’t know what to do. At the time I had 4 other crabs in the tank. Two were burrowed and the other two were out. I left him alone for a few days unsure and scared to move him. Went back to check and he was still outside of his shell next to it so scooped up the substrate underneath him and very gently I placed him in a bowl and grabbed some shells and put them in the bowl with him. The bowl remains inside the tank and I keep the other hermits away from it because I read that other crabs will kill a crab who is in the molting process? Its going on the end of the month of December and Popeye is still lifeless and hasn’t moved since I placed him in the bowl. My tank doesn’t stink or have an unusual odor so is he alive? Will I really be able to tell if he was dead by the smell? This is my first molting experience as a crab owner (I just recently got serious into hermits in October). Should I be concerned? Any suggestions as in should I place some food inside the bowl or something?

[Hermiesguardian]

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
Eco earth. Not deep enough ~ i just transferred all my hermies to a 40gal recently and the substrate was deep/good enough for the old tank so im buying more when i get paid to get it to the right level for the 40gal

HG - if you have any crabs buried you can only add an inch at a time and don't pat it down. It must be sandcastle consistancy, mixed with dechlorinated water.


2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
Yes. Located on the back wall of the tank where most of my hermies spend the most time. Humidity is usually 73-80% and the temp is always around 80

HG- if you have analog, dial gauges, they are very unreliable. Digital is best.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? UTH is used but its placed underneath the tank because it wasn’t giving good enough results on the side of the tank it does much better underneath. I also use a daytime heat lamp and its turned on for 12hours a day. The lid of the crabitat is saran wrapped to hold in humidity as well

HG- you need to remove the heater ftom under the tank as soon as possible. It will cook your crabs. Under the tank is made for reptiles. You need a heater that covers the entire back of your tank from the top of the substrate (minimum 6 inches or 3 times the height of your largest crab, whichever is deeper) to the top of tank.

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
Fresh water and salt. 1 large fresh 1 large salt 1 small fresh 1 small salt for my different size hermies. I use room temp bottled water. I have thrive hermit crab soaking salt it says use 1tble spoon

HG- most things marketed for crabs aren't good for them unfortunately. The most recommended dechlorinator is Prime and for saltwater add to dechl water, Instant Ocean.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Currently using a store bought food but i’m buying hermit crab diet mixes on etsy when i get paid for better food for them.

HG - in the meantime they can pretty much eat what you eat. No seasonings. Raw or cooked meat, before you season it. Eggs, raw or cooked, with shells. Grest calcium source. Read the safe/unsafe food list. They need protein and calcium daily.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Ive had the crab since around nov 27th its a purple pincher

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen? I believe hes a surface molt right now. I found him out of his shell the beginning of December (he could of burrowed) hes not that big and my larger crabs can burrow.

HG- they don't leave their shells to molt. A naked crab is a sign things are very wrong with your conditions or he is sick and too weak to carry a shell. If he's still alive I'm very surprised. They need their shells to live. Is he moving at all? If not he is most likely gone. I'm sorry.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
40 gal breeder in my bedroom , lid has saran wrap on it

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they? 8 but i had 5 when he began his surface molt. They all range from tennis ball to quarter size

HG- Tennis ball size is pretty large to have 8 total in a 40 gallon. You will actually need a larger tank.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? theres about 12 turbo shells that are extra in the tank

HG- the HCA recommends 3-5 extra shells per crab.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently? no


12. How often do you clean the tank and how? i clean their water bowls when they become dirty and change the food out frequently


13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned? two sponges are used. 1 in the large salt and 1 in the large fresh water just incase of emergency. I soak them in hot water.

HG- throw out the sponges. They harbour bacteria. The pools should be large enough for them to totally submerge with a safe way in and out.

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently? lots of decor.


15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
I haven’t hand held him much before he did this. He was always burrowed before. I mist the crabitat daily 2-3x.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

I posted this in the wrong forum so i was told to post here. Please help with any advice.

Around the beginning of December I found my PP Popeye outside of his shell and I didn’t know what to do. At the time I had 4 other crabs in the tank. Two were burrowed and the other two were out. I left him alone for a few days unsure and scared to move him. Went back to check and he was still outside of his shell next to it so scooped up the substrate underneath him and very gently I placed him in a bowl and grabbed some shells and put them in the bowl with him. The bowl remains inside the tank and I keep the other hermits away from it because I read that other crabs will kill a crab who is in the molting process? Its going on the end of the month of December and Popeye is still lifeless and hasn’t moved since I placed him in the bowl. My tank doesn’t stink or have an unusual odor so is he alive? Will I really be able to tell if he was dead by the smell? This is my first molting experience as a crab owner (I just recently got serious into hermits in October). Should I be concerned? Any suggestions as in should I place some food inside the bowl or something?

If he is still alive, rinse out his shell to make sure there's no dirt in it. Then gently back him into it. If he won't go leave him in a dish with a very small amount of fresh dechl water and 2-3 shells.

[RiNiKy506]

It sounds like he is too weak to carry his shell, a molt should be underground where they shed their outer layer of “skin” (exoskeleton). A surface molt will be an above ground molt where they shed their exoskeleton and it can seem like their dead but when you look in the shell, they’re still inside, they will be pale and very soft. A crab should never leave his shell, even to molt. Try to offer him some healing foods to get his energy up. Do you have any shells in his size that are lighter that you can give to him?
What size heat mat do you have? It should be on the back covering the back of the tank from the top of your substrate, to the top of the tank. Add some sand to your eco earth, a bag of play sand it usually $5 at a hardware store, it’s recommended to do 5 parts play sand to one part eco earth. I’ve probably missed a few things but I’m sure others will have stuff to add and more info for you as well. I hope he pulls through for you.

[Julsie]

If he is still alive, rinse out his shell to make sure there's no dirt in it. Then gently back him into it. If he won't go leave him in a dish with a very small amount of fresh dechl water and 2-3 shells.

Is it safe to pick up his naked body? Im scared to disrupt him because i read that could potentially cause an alive crab to die.


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[Julsie]

It sounds like he is too weak to carry his shell, a molt should be underground where they shed their outer layer of “skin” (exoskeleton). A surface molt will be an above ground molt where they shed their exoskeleton and it can seem like their dead but when you look in the shell, they’re still inside, they will be pale and very soft. A crab should never leave his shell, even to molt. Try to offer him some healing foods to get his energy up. Do you have any shells in his size that are lighter that you can give to him?
What size heat mat do you have? It should be on the back covering the back of the tank from the top of your substrate, to the top of the tank. Add some sand to your eco earth, a bag of play sand it usually $5 at a hardware store, it’s recommended to do 5 parts play sand to one part eco earth. I’ve probably missed a few things but I’m sure others will have stuff to add and more info for you as well. I hope he pulls through for you.

I believe the heat mat is the size small recommend for hermit crabs for a 10gal tank (not sure) i’m going to buy a larger one though because I had no luck with this heat mat on the side of my tank (it did better underneath). I placed his old shell next to him and cleaned the dirt out i’ll place more next to him. And okay i always read that sand was not good for them but i will look into that. Thank you


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[curlysister]

HG has given some excellent advice.
Be sure to read the care sheets. The HCA recommends play sand and EE mixed together - many of us use a 5 parts play sand to 1 part EE, but other ratios have been used successfully.
A naked crab will die. If the crab won't go into a shell on it's own, it very gently needs to be re-shelled.
For crab tanks, don't go by the number of gallons the UTH says it heats - get the biggest one that will cover the back of the tank from the top of the sub to the top of the tank. Or use multiple UTH's - I have one on each side and two on the back, because the room temperature varies greatly between the seasons in my house.

[RiNiKy506]

I believe the heat mat is the size small recommend for hermit crabs for a 10gal tank (not sure) i’m going to buy a larger one though because I had no luck with this heat mat on the side of my tank (it did better underneath). I placed his old shell next to him and cleaned the dirt out i’ll place more next to him. And okay i always read that sand was not good for them but i will look into that. Thank you


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Just the calcium sand that is sold at the pet store is not good for them, playsand is recommended.

[Julsie]

HG has given some excellent advice.
Be sure to read the care sheets. The HCA recommends play sand and EE mixed together - many of us use a 5 parts play sand to 1 part EE, but other ratios have been used successfully.
A naked crab will die. If the crab won't go into a shell on it's own, it very gently needs to be re-shelled.
For crab tanks, don't go by the number of gallons the UTH says it heats - get the biggest one that will cover the back of the tank from the top of the sub to the top of the tank. Or use multiple UTH's - I have one on each side and two on the back, because the room temperature varies greatly between the seasons in my house.

Thank you. How do i put him back inside without hurting him?


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[Julsie]

Just the calcium sand that is sold at the pet store is not good for them, playsand is recommended.

Thank you that will be my next purchase


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[Hermiesguardian]

Thank you. How do i put him back inside without hurting him?


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I've never had to do this but it's what I've read on here. You can gently pick him up and back him into the shell. I may have read you can use a pencil to gently uncurl his abdomen. I guess you need 3 hands. Maybe someone can hold the shell for you.

[Julsie]

I've never had to do this but it's what I've read on here. You can gently pick him up and back him into the shell. I may have read you can use a pencil to gently uncurl his abdomen. I guess you need 3 hands. Maybe someone can hold the shell for you.

Sounds awfully scary but thank you I will attempt this ):


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[Crabby in NJ]

Good luck

[Julsie]

Its been a few days since I posted this and i’m posting a picture now to show what my crab has looked like for the past month


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[Julsie]

Its been a few days since I posted this and i’m posting a picture now to show what my crab has looked like for the past month


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Im new to crabbing. Is this an “exoskeleton” or is that the actual crab? Ive had him isolated for a month since I found him like that. No awful smell comes from the tank. I haven’t tried to place him back into a shell yet. I kept a calcium food block in front of him and a small cup of water near him And two empty shells.


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[aussieJJDude]

The crab in the shell (scallop), does it have an adbomen? (Ita long greyish squishy thing, usually wet.) If soz then no. Its not its exoskeleton of a moulting crab since an exoskeleton wont contain the adbomen.

If it is the crab, try to get it reshellled ASAP. Wash out crab and shell to remove debris prior to reshelling. I found great success in inserting the crabs adbomen by uncurling it on/in the shell, and then a few gentle taps on the head forcimg the crab to retreat into the shell. With any luck, the crab shpuld stay.


Once done so, keep isolated in a small container to restrict movement. Offer plently of mineral and protein rich goods (bee pollen, honey, shrimp, cuttlefish bone, egg yolk) and monitor closely.

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