Molting tunnel colasped

[FJrocks003]

I can guarantee everything is exactly to the care guides on here so I'm skipping the question part. Please read this tread to get background: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=125715 Basicly I needed to move my large tank and there was one small crab that had been down several months. I'm moving the tank over the weekend so I decided I had to dig today (it had been long enough that I was 50/50 on if the crab was even alive. Well I started digging and realized that I had really messed up. I hadn't paid much attention to the main tank in awhile since all the crabs are in an iso for the move. Turns out I unplugged the extension cord with the mister and heat mat when I took them out so neither had been on in weeks. The sand was super dry, not even close to sandcastle consistency. I didn't have much hope anymore but I dug through the entire tank until I found the crab. It was wedged under the freshwater pool so luckily the sand didn't collapse yet. The problem was that if I tried to remove the pool (it's 2.5 gallon so easier said than done). the sand piled next to it would fall onto the crab so the only way I thought of was to pull the crab by the shell out (hoping it wasn't currently molting, it had been long enough I assumed it finished already and just couldn't get up). I was wrong. The crab was dangling limp from the shell, twitching slightly with its exo half off. I immediately put it in an iso and that's where we are now. The crab is sitting limp half out of is shell, only moving slightly now and then. I've never had to deal with this before and this time it is definitely my fault for not checking on the main tank more. Any advice welcome.

[Hermiecrab]

Oh no! There are a ton of care sheets on this sort of thing. But if your crab is in an Iso I would but a coco hut on top of him so that it is dark. Continue to replace food and water. Try to make sure everything around the crab is quiet. The environment should be as stress free as possible. I myself have not experienced this but I have read about what to do... Does any one else have any other tips?

[FJrocks003]

Good news, the crab shed its exo and I'm just waiting for him to eat it before I put him back with the others.

[Hermiecrab]

Wonderful!

[curlysister]

Great news. Don't be in a rush to put him back in with the rest of the crowd. Be sure he eats the exo and is moving around normally.
Also consider a quick dip in the fresh water before putting him back - a crab who doesn't dig up through the substrate won't have scrubbed off the 'molt' smell.