HELP!

[KyMart]

Moe is molting so I can't move them to their new home ((


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Aww! I know the feeling, it sucks!

[sunflower_crabitat]

Aww! I know the feeling, it sucks!

Maybe this will give them time to adjust because I just moved them into the tote 2 days ago and if I switch it up AGAIN (i was gonna do it today) it might've stressed them out.


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[sunflower_crabitat]

I have a question, how do you know if they're molting or just digging?


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[KyMart]

Maybe this will give them time to adjust because I just moved them into the tote 2 days ago and if I switch it up AGAIN (i was gonna do it today) it might've stressed them out.


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Yeah, and it also gives you time to plan and test different layouts (you can draw them out lol)!

[KyMart]

I have a question, how do you know if they're molting or just digging?


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You really don't tbh! They could be molting, digging to molt, digging for fun, or digging to destress! I have one guy who loves to dig, he has been digging around for over a month now, and he has shown zero signs molting! He's came up 3 times since I've gotten him, which the first time was the day after I got him, he came up to eat and drink some! The second time was the day they moved into the new tank, and the third time was when Frog went missing and I had to dig.

[sunflower_crabitat]

You really don't tbh! They could be molting, digging to molt, digging for fun, or digging to destress! I have one guy who loves to dig, he has been digging around for over a month now, and he has shown zero signs molting! He's came up 3 times since I've gotten him, which the first time was the day after I got him, he came up to eat and drink some! The second time was the day they moved into the new tank, and the third time was when Frog went missing and I had to dig.

Gotcha, I'm not sure where he is, how do I know? Or do I know? Is there a way for me to know? My carbs have never molted before

If he comes up, can I go ahead and move them or should I leave it?


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[sunflower_crabitat]

Oh also I just got them a climbing wall thing, and a new platform/hide!


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[KyMart]

Gotcha, I'm not sure where he is, how do I know? Or do I know? Is there a way for me to know? My carbs have never molted before

If he comes up, can I go ahead and move them or should I leave it?


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If he comes up, and is acting normal I would say it's safe to move them. If possible, you can go ahead and move the others and leave bowls of water and food for him in the current tank so that way you don't have to worry about others going down while you are waiting for him to come up. If you are unable to do this (due to needing the UTH from the tank, the substate, the bowls, etc.), then you will have to wait it out. I had to dig up my crabs and move them all when I moved tanks because I had to move the tank they where currently in due to space in my room, and needing to put a fan where the tank was (my air conditioner broke and there was no where else to put the fan), but that was a rare case, and they had been down for months, they where lucky both done molting (or they where just destressing), and when I put them back in the tank they both dug back down, but that was for me! I know one of them was molting (Bug) and one of the them was destressing (Fox). Fox showed no signs of molting before he went down, and came up once that I saw. Bug was freshly molted when I had to dig her up, she had hard gained her color back, had shaper feets and hairy legs, and she had finished her exo! I felt awful digging them up, but I had no choice due to my situation. There's no way to tell if they are molting of not if you can't see them underground, but it's better to let them be, then dig them up and risk hurting/killing them. If you have no choice (a flood, bacterial blooms, or special circumstance like I had), then you have to dig, but your at a point where you can wait it out. I know it's hard, but you can do this girl!

[sunflower_crabitat]

If he comes up, and is acting normal I would say it's safe to move them. If possible, you can go ahead and move the others and leave bowls of water and food for him in the current tank so that way you don't have to worry about others going down while you are waiting for him to come up. If you are unable to do this (due to needing the UTH from the tank, the substate, the bowls, etc.), then you will have to wait it out. I had to dig up my crabs and move them all when I moved tanks because I had to move the tank they where currently in due to space in my room, and needing to put a fan where the tank was (my air conditioner broke and there was no where else to put the fan), but that was a rare case, and they had been down for months, they where lucky both done molting (or they where just destressing), and when I put them back in the tank they both dug back down, but that was for me! I know one of them was molting (Bug) and one of the them was destressing (Fox). Fox showed no signs of molting before he went down, and came up once that I saw. Bug was freshly molted when I had to dig her up, she had hard gained her color back, had shaper feets and hairy legs, and she had finished her exo! I felt awful digging them up, but I had no choice due to my situation. There's no way to tell if they are molting of not if you can't see them underground, but it's better to let them be, then dig them up and risk hurting/killing them. If you have no choice (a flood, bacterial blooms, or special circumstance like I had), then you have to dig, but your at a point where you can wait it out. I know it's hard, but you can do this girl!

Yes I'm definitely not gonna dig him out because that's REALLY dangerous if they're molting (unless there's a specific circumstance like the ones you listed) but if he comes back up and is being normal, I'll move em! Thanks for the advice!


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[KyMart]

Yes I'm definitely not gonna dig him out because that's REALLY dangerous if they're molting (unless there's a specific circumstance like the ones you listed) but if he comes back up and is being normal, I'll move em! Thanks for the advice!


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Absolutely, there is no need to add extra danger to them when they could be molting, it's a dangerous enough process! I would recommend waiting until he comes up from his molt (that is if he's molting), acts like himself, interacts with the others like normal (no agression or strange behavior out of the norm), and until he eats and maybe even drinks something! When you move tanks, stuff is going to be moved around (food dishes, water dishes, shell shop if you have one, favorite hides, etc.), so IMO it's best to let him eat a little while he knows where the food is (or at least give him a chance to) before moving everything around on him. This is what I plan to do with my rescue, Ti, who has half of the top of his big pincher which I'm worried about getting/being infected. I don't want him to drop the limb, so I give him daily SW baths to keep it clean and disinfected. He is currently in a hospital tank (a small critter keeper with little substate so he can't hide under the sand, he also has no hides, so he is forced to eat, drink, and get better, suggested by Motocrab) within the main tank, when he comes up from his molt (I'm pretty sure he's molting atm, or at least preparing for one, fingers crossed) I plan to make sure of all of these things before transiting him from the hospital tank to the main tank with others. I also plant to send Motorcrab photos of his pincher so he can help clarity that there is no further infection and he is healed up and ready for transition. Motorcrab has experience with limb loss/infection in the past, including the big pincher of one of his crabs, so I trust his option, and have been keeping him updated. He has been very helpful throughout this entire journey (which is only getting started mind you), and I could appreciate his help more.

[KyMart]

Sorry for the rambling, I just thought I should share what I'm going to do with my rescue, because I felt that part of (specially the first part of what I'm doing when he comes up) could be helpful to you in consideration how long to wait/what to do before/when he comes up from his molt! I'm rooting for him!

[sunflower_crabitat]

Sorry for the rambling, I just thought I should share what I'm going to do with my rescue, because I felt that part of (specially the first part of what I'm doing when he comes up) could be helpful to you in consideration how long to wait/what to do before/when he comes up from his molt! I'm rooting for him!

No your good! I like hearing about your crabs!


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[KyMart]

No your good! I like hearing about your crabs!


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There's so much to tell about them, they are very interesting! They all have different stories that go with them, and I love them all dearly!

[curlysister]

Absolutely, there is no need to add extra danger to them when they could be molting, it's a dangerous enough process! I would recommend waiting until he comes up from his molt (that is if he's molting), acts like himself, interacts with the others like normal (no agression or strange behavior out of the norm), and until he eats and maybe even drinks something! When you move tanks, stuff is going to be moved around (food dishes, water dishes, shell shop if you have one, favorite hides, etc.), so IMO it's best to let him eat a little while he knows where the food is (or at least give him a chance to) before moving everything around on him. This is what I plan to do with my rescue, Ti, who has half of the top of his big pincher which I'm worried about getting/being infected. I don't want him to drop the limb, so I give him daily SW baths to keep it clean and disinfected. He is currently in a hospital tank (a small critter keeper with little substate so he can't hide under the sand, he also has no hides, so he is forced to eat, drink, and get better, suggested by Motocrab) within the main tank, when he comes up from his molt (I'm pretty sure he's molting atm, or at least preparing for one, fingers crossed) I plan to make sure of all of these things before transiting him from the hospital tank to the main tank with others. I also plant to send Motorcrab photos of his pincher so he can help clarity that there is no further infection and he is healed up and ready for transition. Motorcrab has experience with limb loss/infection in the past, including the big pincher of one of his crabs, so I trust his option, and have been keeping him updated. He has been very helpful throughout this entire journey (which is only getting started mind you), and I could appreciate his help more.

I'm not sure that all the admins would agree with Motor on this. Did you post a photo of your crab's pincher injury?
If a crab needs to molt, they can't put it off indefinately - and a surface molt because they don't have enough substrate is more risky than molting underground. A crab should be in proper conditions, including substrate, as soon as possible.
I would also not recommend bathing a crab, he will go in the water as needed, and bathing can disrupt the water balance they carry in their shell.
It is unlikely that any kind of infection has caused the problem with the pincher - so while you feel that you are 'doing something' by bathing the crab, there isn't much evidence that it won't just heal on it's own and repair with the next molt.
Also, crabs find food by smell and foraging, so moving dishes isn't going to make it less likely for them to be able to find the food.

[KyMart]

I'm not sure that all the admins would agree with Motor on this. Did you post a photo of your crab's pincher injury?
If a crab needs to molt, they can't put it off indefinately - and a surface molt because they don't have enough substrate is more risky than molting underground. A crab should be in proper conditions, including substrate, as soon as possible.
I would also not recommend bathing a crab, he will go in the water as needed, and bathing can disrupt the water balance they carry in their shell.
It is unlikely that any kind of infection has caused the problem with the pincher - so while you feel that you are 'doing something' by bathing the crab, there isn't much evidence that it won't just heal on it's own and repair with the next molt.
Also, crabs find food by smell and foraging, so moving dishes isn't going to make it less likely for them to be able to find the food.

I did not post a photo of the kincher injury, I sent it directly to Motor. Motor and me talked about what is best for the little guy, and we agreed that in order for him to get better, he needs to be closely monitored, and not aloud hide in a hide, or under the substrate, because he will do this instead of getting better, I started with giving him 4 inches (2x his hight), and he just hid in a little hole in the substrate under a log where I could see him, I watched him closely, and he never came out to eat, or drink, and he stayed there for two days, not molting, or doing anything for his health. Motor and me agreed that I have to "make him get better by making him gain strength", so not allowing him to hide, and being able to watch him and make sure he can eat is the best option. Motor agreed with me on the fact that due to his pincher that a saltwater bath every few days is the best option for him, it disinfects his pincher. It's very very shallow, and he splashed around in it, and doesn't try to climb out, if he tried to climb out every time, I would stop. I just got him from a store where he had no access to salt water, and had to fight for food, he needs the SW, and to eat, and get better. When was stayed in one spot for two days, I didn't take him out to bathe him, he's in a 1 gallon critter keeper in the main tank, he needs time to get out to walk around, and this give him that. I don't think an infection is what caused his pincher to be like that, I think that it is at risk of becoming infected if it isn't already.

When you move crabs into a new tank, I bet its a bit overwhelming with all of the new smells, sights, and sounds of the tank, so it may take a bit for them to find their food, and of they just molted, they should be allowed to eat, drink, and adjust to being above ground before they get moved into a new tank. But that's just my opinion.