Need some help please

[Guest]

My medium sized crab Dumbeldore buried himself about 3 weeks ago. I assumed he was molting because I noticed him eating and being in the water alot more than usual before he dug down. He is a very active happy crab but I am starting to get worried. How long does a molt usually take? Is it possible he's not coming back up? I am starting to get scared. Also yesterday my other crab Harry buried himself. He also has been very actively eating more and drinking more lately. I am hoping that he just went down to molt. Maybe I am over paranoid it's just this is my first experience with my crabs digging down and burying themselves I just would like to know if their behavior is typical of a crab going to molt and how long they should be gone before I become seriously alarmed. I really miss my babies and I just want them to resurface safe happy and healthy! Any and all input, advice, or suggestions are welcome please!...Also i was thinking of adding to the family but should I wait until all crabs have resurfaced to do so?

[Guest]

My Ripley just came up after 6 1/2 weeks under.

[MudCrabDude]

Like Pumpkin Skipper said, it will take weeks. Sounds like nothing to get terribly worked over as the situation sounds very normal, but it will become boring, unfortunately.

...Also i was thinking of adding to the family but should I wait until all crabs have resurfaced to do so?

I would wait myself. There is that temptation to get more and more crabs (empty surface + relatively cheap crabs = temptation!) to get the tank more active, but there is the danger of overcrowding the existing tank, resulting in disrupted molts, shell fighting, cannibalism, spending more $$$ before you realize it, etc. There is also no guarantee that new members of a crabitat will liven up a tank (the newcomers might just end up digging down to crowd the sleepers/molters below ground).

Introducing newcomers when all or most existing crabs are above ground is recommended so that at the very least you can gauge their attitude towards each other when introduced in the first few weeks. But it's pretty much up to you and if your habitat if it can accomodate more crabs. Good luck!

[Guest]

Like the guys have said, it will take a medium-size crab weeks to molt. My mediums take anywhere from 4-8 weeks, depending on the crab & whether they have any limbs to regrow.

And about the temptation to add a new crab to the tank......I am allllll about temptation! I say, GO FOR IT!!!! (But, then again, I am not the best influence when people ask about getting new crabs.....just check out my signature!)