Longest Molt Experience?

[DragonsFly]

CrabbyLover, it sounds like your Beau was accustomed to company, so losing that crabitat-buddy would leave a void for him. Major Tom and Billie Jean have also been together now since 2011, so that is why I would not want Billie Jean to have to live out the rest of her life as a singleton, since she is used to having a tank-buddy.

I can't really provide hard evidence for this, but I do think, once they have established some kind of relationship, that they know that they have a tank-buddy still, even when the buddy is down molting. This is based on observations I made when I first had the two of them, as they molted for the first time in a 10g tank. Now that Billie Jean is really only active in the dead of night, though, I can't really tell from her behavior if she "thinks" that Major Tom is still alive down there, or not.

[CrabbyLover77]

CrabbyLover, it sounds like your Beau was accustomed to company, so losing that crabitat-buddy would leave a void for him. Major Tom and Billie Jean have also been together now since 2011, so that is why I would not want Billie Jean to have to live out the rest of her life as a singleton, since she is used to having a tank-buddy.

I can't really provide hard evidence for this, but I do think, once they have established some kind of relationship, that they know that they have a tank-buddy still, even when the buddy is down molting. This is based on observations I made when I first had the two of them, as they molted for the first time in a 10g tank. Now that Billie Jean is really only active in the dead of night, though, I can't really tell from her behavior if she "thinks" that Major Tom is still alive down there, or not.

Beau and Katrina were together for 5 years until she passed. I never saw him act like that when she went missing to molt. So I think you're right, they know if there's a buddy in the tank, even if they're not up and about.
I hope Major Tom comes up soon. You'll have to post an update to let us know when he does.

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[DragonsFly]

Beau and Katrina were together for 5 years until she passed. I never saw him act like that when she went missing to molt. So I think you're right, they know if there's a buddy in the tank, even if they're not up and about.

Yeah, it seemed clear to me that Billie Jean knew where Major Tom was down molting (years ago, when I saw her more often during the day). Now, I can't tell, because she's only active in the dead of night (and God willing, I am definitely NOT! )

I hope Major Tom comes up soon. You'll have to post an update to let us know when he does.

I will. I guess it's kind of obvious I'm getting antsy about it.

[CrabbyLover77]

Yeah, it seemed clear to me that Billie Jean knew where Major Tom was down molting (years ago, when I saw her more often during the day). Now, I can't tell, because she's only active in the dead of night (and God willing, I am definitely NOT! )

I will. I guess it's kind of obvious I'm getting antsy about it.

From what I remember, you've been waiting months (or over a year?), so I def don't blame you for being antsy. It's only been a month or so for my Beau and I'm already going nuts lol. I guess because he's my favorite I worry more. Maybe you could grab a cheap security cam with night vision to see if MT decides to come up at night. I think I paid about $25 for my Wyze cam a few months ago. If only crabbies could talk and let us know when they'd be back up, that would be nice haha!

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[DragonsFly]

From what I remember, you've been waiting months (or over a year?), so I def don't blame you for being antsy.

Major Tom has been down this time since October of 2019. So that's a year and 9 months-ish. His last molt with me took about 18 months--he went down at the same time as Billie Jean, in the fall, did not come up with her the next spring as usual, then she went down again in the fall, and they both came up the NEXT spring. So I hoped he would come up this spring, or this summer. . . so far, not yet. I figured I'd give him through August before I think about taking any action.

If I still had Mr. Jones I would just say "Que sera, sera", and hope to be surprised again when Major Tom comes up three years from now or some such outrageous thing, but Mr. Jones did not survive the months they had to spend in someone else's care when I moved, so if Major Tom also has succumbed to whatever untoward conditions they must have experienced, I'd rather know it in the next couple of months, so I can make arrangements for Billie Jean when the weather is best for transporting (whether that means sending her to another home where maybe someone lost one of their pair, or bringing in another crab that lost its buddy to live here; she's never been a singleton before, so I don't want her to have to be a singleton for the rest of her life).

[DragonsFly]

Well, it has been well past two years now. Billie Jean is rambling around alone; I guess I will need to get more proactive about rehoming her.

[CrabbyLover77]

Well, it has been well past two years now. Billie Jean is rambling around alone; I guess I will need to get more proactive about rehoming her.

I know this might not help, but if you are ever in PA, I would be glad to take her. I know some people travel around a lot, so just thought I'd put that out there.

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[DragonsFly]

I know this might not help, but if you are ever in PA, I would be glad to take her. I know some people travel around a lot, so just thought I'd put that out there.

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You are so kind! I doubt I'll be up your way anytime soon, though. Although you never do know what life brings, do you? If the past few years have taught me anything. . . . .

[CrabbyLover77]

You are so kind! I doubt I'll be up your way anytime soon, though. Although you never do know what life brings, do you? If the past few years have taught me anything. . . . .

No worries! And I agree, there are surprises around every corner...

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