Surface Molt on a sponge

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 12:39 pm

I'm a new crabby mom (since Oct), and this is my very first post. Since discovering this website, I have learned tons of new things. Unfortunately, I don't think I learned them in time, as one of 2 original crabbies (jumbos) have since passed away. But on the other hand, I've already had a small crab molt. In fact, as soon as I took him home, he changed into the first shell he saw, and molted only a few weeks later- successfully!

My question is that this small's buddy (they were pruchased together) is molting (?) on top of the sponge in the water dish! He's been sitting there for about a week, so I thought maybe he was just enjoying the dampness, but yesterday, I came to say hi and saw his big pincher exo has fallen off! At first, I thought it was his actual BP, but noticed that a different colored one was still at the entrance to his shell. I've been searching for similar circumstances in the archives but could find, so was wondering what should be my next step. Should I ISO? I won't be distrurbing him too much as he is on top of a water dish! I also know he's alive because as I was reflling the water dish, he moved. I'm also worried about this b/c the others might disturb him as they try to drink water. Also I'm worried about the quality of the sponge/water as I haven't been changing due to the crab who's been on top the past week.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 2:13 pm

I would move him. If for no other reason than to change the water out. With soft, vulnerable exo he is more prone to getting an infection right now and so I'd want to clean that sponge and water.

If you have an ISO, and If your going to move him anyway, you might as well move him into an ISO just to be sure no crabs bother him.

I've had a topsider and everything turned out fine. Let us know how he's doing.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 3:24 pm

As he chose to molt on top of the sponge, should I move him to sand or put him back on top of a new sponge? I was wondering if there was some other reason he chose the sponge. Maybe the dampness helped him molt? Thanks for the suggestions. I find this very weird, especially as a new crab mom, and not having read anythign remotely close to this in the forums.

Thanks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 3:42 pm

I think you are probably correct that he used the moisture on the sponge to help him molt. They absorb water in order to swell and crack their old exo.

Since he's shed his exo he doesn't really need to moisture from the sponge anymore, I would think putting him on sand, with his exo, some food and water and he'll be ready to start on his exo soon.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 4:19 pm

is all of his exo off?

I would move him but to a damp area.... like damp sand, forest bedding, smethign like that in iso. I hope it all turns out well!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 4:22 pm

I hate to go the opposite with what you have been told but OIF and I had a crabber one night that had the same thing exactly happen to him. the post is somewhere in here and we even had the pics to prove it.. we had him just leave the crabbie be and take the other out into iso and the next day he started eatign his exo and he's still alive. it was probably about a month ago.. i really wouldn't move him if he's happy there.. he will get off the sponge when he's ready and eat his exo... take your other guy otu and put him in iso or just divide up the crabitat so the other can't get him...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 4:24 pm

I would worry about bacteria on the sponge... I mean, it's a week old.

perhaps you could move the whole sponge to iso, and then maybe he will crawl off...

OIF_VET · Post by **OIF_VET** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 4:44 pm

Sara and I werent too concerned at the time with Bacteria...Let me Find the Post...I will link the Thread...And Yes...We have the Pics to back us up...
The best thing to do is to leave the Crab alone...it will be fine...The Crab Needs to be either Iso'd in tankl or have the Tank mates removed...To prevent an attack...

OIF_VET · Post by **OIF_VET** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:01 pm

Finally Found the Thread...it was in Molting Forums...Down to page 3?
Well here is the Link...
viewtopic.php?t=30876

Basically...we had the Member, in Conference..And we talked this person thru an Emergency Heat and humidity..Got the Tank Dark, warm and Humid...the Crab did Great...Was re-united with his buddy after a week...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:11 pm

am I am very blonde... but where are the pics? they're not at the link... they are prolly somewhere obvious, but I just can't find them ! lol

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:12 pm

Sorry i think the pics we used came thru via email. we were posting in the threads with the person and then we moved to aim conference and he emailed me the pics.. i wonder if he still has them. when i see him online i will ask sorry.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:16 pm

I totally believe you - I just wanted to see some pics - but hey, what's new!

so hermitmama, how's it going?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:36 pm

it was so cool to see.. i'll have to really get those pics.. cause its so unreal looking.

OIF_VET · Post by **OIF_VET** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:20 pm

I have the Pics...But not on this Pooter at the Moment...I just sent an IM to Her...And She will be back Shortly...I am Going to Ask her to Post a reply Here...I hope She Still has the Pics...if Not that's Okay

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:20 pm

hey mama, the poster they are talking about is me.

i'm catherine. first of all, during this molt, i found out i was doing everything wrong. after yellow survived, i changed their habitat COMPLETELY, and yellow and tye are happy as ever.

i was told yellow molted on top of the water dish because of lack of humidity.

here are the pictures during his molt.

i had a tupperware over yellow until i found a shoebox to put tye into for a few days. tye is in the other corner if you can see him.

good luck! let us know how he does!